Chapter 170 The Gift She Leaves Behind
POV Maya:
As soon as I open my eyes, the brightness of the sun bothers me. I look for Sebastian and see him in Salazar’s stall, brushing him. He is only in his boxer briefs and could not look more beautiful. I sigh, remembering yesterday—how he took me, how he made me his. What we shared was much more than a goodbye. Yesterday, he made love to me. The way he touched me, kissed me, the way his body moved against mine—Sebastian completed himself in me. I pick up his shirt and put it on, walking on tiptoe as I approach him, and the moment his eyes land on me, he gives the most beautiful smile of all.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, pepper,” he says, winking, and my heart melts for him. “I think we overslept.”
“Maybe the reason was because we took a long time to go to sleep,” I tease, and his cheeks quickly turn red. I feel a twinge of pain between my legs and smile, feeling better with it than without it.
“We’d better go inside. You need to eat something, and I need to see if Dominic will need my help with Salazar,” he says, and I nod. He is right.
Which reminds me that I only have today with the brothers. Their parents arrive tomorrow morning, which means I will not stay much longer after that. I need to spend these last hours enjoying everything I can, and tonight say goodbye to the last brother. They have no idea, but every night I spent with one of them, I left a part of myself behind. A part I will never get back—and do not even want back—because it belongs to them, to my five cowboys.
...
Lunch went so well. This was the first lunch we all cooked together, which made me wonder—why did we not do this more often? With every minute I spend beside them, a part of me leaves, and sadness invades me as the hours pass. I did not want to hear it, but I ended up overhearing Dominic talking to his mother and confirming they arrive tomorrow morning. I am happy about it. I miss Norah. She is an incredible woman who raised five wonderful men.
Which reminds me that I need to have a little talk with her. When David told me she was the one who explained the marriage and why, I understood her. It was not right for her to act behind her sons’ backs, but her sons were not honest with them about what they had with Scarlett. They are not into polyamory—they only got into it because of her. That is why I know it would never work between us.
They do not want to share me among them. Yesterday made that clear. They may have feelings for me, but not enough to share me. They think I am not in love with all five of them. They fear the past repeating itself, and unlike the first time, Sebastian would not be the only one left heartbroken. If only they gave me a chance to make them happy, I know in little time they would believe in me and in my feelings. They would see that everything I have given since I met them was real.
“Can we talk?” I stop painting my nails and look up, seeing Dominic towering in front of me.
“Of course. I’m testing this new color,” I say, showing him my toenails. “What do you think?”
“It’s too green.”
He did not like it.
“Alright, the color didn’t work,” I shrug.
“Can you sit with me on the bed?” he asks, pointing to the bed I have not slept in these past few days, since I have been jumping from bed to bed like the good little slut I am.
“Is it that serious?”
Worried, I hurry to sit on the bed, not even caring if I smudge my nails. Dominic sits in front of me, and by his expression, the conversation is very serious. I grow uneasy instantly. I hate these kinds of talks—at the end of them, a bomb is always dropped in our faces without warning.
“I want to tell you what is the most important thing in my life, so you can understand why I am selling Salazar. And why I treated you badly that day you asked why we were selling the horses. I spoke that way because I was ashamed,” he says. I nod, paying attention. I had already forgotten about that, even though his words had reopened old wounds.
“It’s alright. I don’t even remember it anymore.”
“It is not alright. I should not have been harsh with you, much less said you are not important, because to me you are. You are very important, Maya.” I swallow hard, my eyes filling with tears. “Will you forgive me?”
“Of course I forgive you.” Dominic kisses my forehead and rests his head against mine.
“This farm is everything to me, Maya. As the eldest son, I saw it grow. I saw it at its best, and I had to see it at its worst. The years were not kind to it. My parents always did—and still do—everything to continue the legacy my paternal grandfather created years ago, when this farm was only a piece of land and a big dream for a farmer.”
He falls silent, emotional. I swallow hard and hold his hands, wanting him to know I am here to support him. I keep my eyes on his and see all the sadness he carries. Something serious is happening.
“The farm has a lot of debt. The bank has already notified us that if we do not pay everything, the farm will go to auction.” My eyes burn, but I stay strong for him. “That is why my parents traveled. They went to try to get loans in Dallas, but unfortunately they did not get any.”
“Dominic, is that why you are selling the horses?” I close my eyes, finally understanding everything. “To pay the debts?”
“Yes, but selling them does not even cover twenty-five percent of the total debt. Selling Salazar is to try to delay the auction for another month.” I open my eyes, climb onto his lap, and hug him. “I want to believe we will make it, but I know we will not, and that is shit, Maya. Watching a lifetime dream slip through your fingers and being unable to stop it.”
“Do not lose faith,” I say, hiding my face in the curve of his neck. “How much is it?”
“It is a lot of money, Maya. I do not know what will become of us without this farm. If I let my parents lose it, I will have failed them and my brothers, and that is unacceptable. I am the eldest son. It is my duty to take on the farm and its debts.”