Cammie Healy - Jennifer Foor Page 0,31
wonder if it would even be possible? A child was a huge responsibility.
Wes motioned to leave. “You ready?”
“Yeah, get me out of here.”
Chapter 13
Wes led me out of the barn to a brand new Ford. The four-door vehicle was raised up, making it difficult for someone petite like me to climb into. He offered me a push and closed the door once I was in securely. Upon climbing in, he pointed to the seatbelt and fastened his own. “Safety first.”
I gave him a friendly smile and buckled up. “So where are we headed?”
“One of the branches of the bank. We’re having a new security system installed and I’m to oversea. Obviously I’ve been screwing around all day at the ranch.”
“Are you taking over the family business?”
“I guess in some ways yes, but the old man won’t be retiring until I’m finished with college. I still have a semester left before I take the reigns.”
“You’re lucky to have a career waiting for you,” I said as we pulled out onto the main road. “Some of us have to work hard to find our break.”
Wes tapped on the steering wheel as if it were to a beat, though there wasn’t any music playing. “So, are you home for good?” He inquired.
“Honestly, I have no idea. I’m hoping this problem of mine can be fixed, but I don’t see a way for that to happen.”
“How big is the problem?”
“Huge.”
“Damn. I can’t wait to be done with school. Duke is a great school, but their expectations are high. If my grandfather wasn’t alumni I don’t think I would have been able to keep up. I’ve worked my ass off to make him proud. My mom never went to college, since she got pregnant with me out of high school. It’s a big deal that I graduate.”
“I bet. After this semester I am planning on attending Stanford. Their medical program is fantastic.”
“Stanford. That’s in California, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you have something against the east coast?”
“No. I’ve spent my whole life on the ranch. I wanted a change of scenery to find myself.”
“And have you, found yourself that is?”
“I’ve found more than I bargained for. It doesn’t matter now. I’ve screwed everything up. I’m lucky if I get to keep my scholarship.”
Wes glanced at me for a second with a worried grimace. “That bad?”
“I screwed my professor kind of bad.”
“Damn,” he said with a snicker. “You know how to make a statement.”
“It wasn’t a statement. It was a lapse of judgment.”
“So, I’m assuming you got caught?”
“By his wife.” It made me cringe admitting it out loud. “I shouldn’t be talking about this. The less people who know the better.”
“Actually, your sister text me when I left the house earlier. She may have mentioned what she knew.”
“Great, blabbermouth Callie strikes again. I feel like we’re teenagers.”
“Yeah, well I didn’t know you then. It sucked when I had to move away. Josh was my best friend. I still remember telling him the news. He didn’t talk to me for months.”
“He was broken up about it. You spent every second together and then you disappeared.”
“I had to go where my mom went. It wasn’t like I could run away. She’d know where to look.”
“True. You seem to have done well for yourself. Duke is a hard school. You said you’re in your last year? I thought you were a year behind me.”
“I graduated high school a year ahead. When you move and don’t have many friends it’s easy to cram more classes in. I went to regular school during the day and took night classes while my mom worked to put food on the table. The only thing my grandfather provided us with was a top-notch education for me. It was rough, even after she remarried. That guy was a tool, so I preferred to stay away.”
“Do you live on campus?”
“I have a house a mile down the road. It was a gift from the old man after I completed my second year. He even furnished it.”
“Wow.” I gave him a once over, playing around like I was looking for something.
“What?” He asked.
“I’m looking for the silver spoon. It’s got to be on you somewhere. I’m thinking I could borrow it for a little while, at least until I figure out what to do next.”
“Funny. I’ll have you know I work. Everything I spend I’ve earned.”
For some reason I believed him. Wes didn’t seem like he was spoiled. He acted appreciative, but also determined to make his own name in the