Raina tapped on the notification. The text from Asher read. 'I'm glad to finally hear from you... I was really getting worried about you. Do you wanna go out for some coffee with me?' Raina sat for a moment, trying to decide if she was ready to go out for a bit. In the end, she decided she was not ready to deal with the interactions from people. The town they lived in was not very big and everyone knew everyone and everything. There were no secrets in this town. However, she did want to see Asher dearly. 'I don't feel up for a town visit yet... instead, would you wanna pick up coffee and come see me here? I'm staying with Leon and Luke for a while. I'll explain when ya get here.' This was the response she decided to give him. After a couple minutes, she felt her phone vibrate to see the text from Asher saying he would be out there in around twenty minutes or so. Raina texted back ok. Then she decided that maybe she should eat something and made her way out to the kitchen. At the kitchen table, she found Luke scrolling through his phone.
"What ya doing?" Raina asked as she opened the cupboard, searching for something quick to eat. Luke glanced up at her.
"Oh ya know, trying to find a job. Leon keeps making comments about me pulling my weight while I'm home..." he said as he continued to scroll. Raina sat down at the table with a bowl of cereal. Luke let out a groan as he sat his phone on the table in defeat.
"I know something that might cheer you up... I was talking to Leon this morning while tending the horses. Thinking about doing a camping trip this weekend, like we used to. You in?" Raina asked as she took a bite of her cereal. Luke got a smile on his face.
"You actually got that wet blanket to agree to something fun again??? I have to hand it it to you Raina, you know how to make miracles happen." he said as he eyed her up and down. Raina gave him a confused look. She really did not do anything besides bring it up to him. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Alls I did was ask him... Asher is gonna be over in a while. Gonna ask him as well." she said as she took a bite of her cereal. Luke's face seemed to sour a bit at Asher's name. Raina was confused. "Is something wrong with that??" she asked. Luke just looked back down at his phone. He could feel her staring at him.
"We just haven't been on the same page... that's all." he said with a shrug. Raina did not understand. The same page about what? Silence swept over them as Raina continued to eat her breakfast, and Luke scrolled on his phone. Soon, there was a knock on the door. "That's my cue..." Luke said as he walked out of the kitchen towards his bedroom. Raina got up to answer the door. She stopped and turned towards Luke as she heard him start to speak. "Raina, don't let him talk you into anything you don't wanna do..." Luke said as he turned and walked away. Raina turned back to the door and opened it. Asher was standing there with both coffee and flowers in hand.
" Here these are for you... thought they'd make ya smile." Asher said with a warm smile. Raina took the coffee and flowers from him.
" Come on in." she said as they made their way into the kitchen. Asher sat at the table as Raina found something to put the flowers in. Then she joined him at the table.
"How are you doing?" Asher asked. He watched her carefully. Raina shrugged.
"Doing a little better now... thanks to Leon for bringing me back to reality..." Raina said as she looked down, rubbing her hands together. Asher nodded at her.
"I was worried about you when you holed yourself up in the house for so long. Leon thought it was best to give you some space for a while to allow you to process everything... I didn't want to leave you alone. Have you thought about what you'll do now?" Asher said, still watching her carefully. Raina shook her head. To be honest, she had not thought of anything. In fact, she tried not to think. "Well, you need to... need to start thinking about school and selling the ranch..." he began. Raina's brows furrowed. Sell the ranch?? School??
"Excuse me?? Sell the Ranch?? School?? Do you even hear yourself? Granted, I'm not completely sure what I want to do... but who are you to come in and start telling me what to do??? You're not my dad, Asher. This is my life! Yeah, things are obviously different, but I'm not just gonna run away!" Raina was slowly getting mad the more she spoke.
"I'm just speaking the truth. How are you going to run the ranch alone??? Do you have money to hire hands?? You can't live off your music, Raina. It's time to put all the dreaming in the past and start now before you're penniless and on the street." Asher said. Raina shook her head in disbelief. She then stood up.
"I think you should leave." Raina said coldly as she pointed to the door. Asher looked at her with worry.
"Raina, I'm just saying this because I'm worried about you and want things to be easier..." Asher said. Tears welled up in Raina's eyes. She was beyond furious.
"Out Asher!" She said as she grew impatient as he stood up slowly. She quickly moved to him and started pushing him to the door. "Being worried is fine. Wanting to talk to me is fine, but to just come in and start running your mouth like you know everything... hell no! Get out!" Raina said with one more push on him out the door.
"Raina?!" he said as she shut the door on his face. Tears ran down her face. What in the world...
"I told ya... different pages." Luke said as he walked into the kitchen. Raina wiped her tears away. A sigh escaping her lips. This is not how she wanted their talk to go. She wanted to talk about the camping trip. How could he just come in and start ragging on her? It had only been a week. Why did all of her life plans now need to be made in a split second? Raina knew she would have to figure out things eventually... she just wanted a weekend of peace before thinking and working towards the future. Was she wrong?