Rewrite Our Story (Sutten Mountain, #1)

by Kat Singleton

For all my besties who prefer their book boyfriend to have a backwards hat, a pair of cowboy boots, and a filthy mouth. I hope you have the ride of your life with Cade Jennings.

“You might not see me anymore, my dear Marigold, but I know—I swear—you’ll still feel me.” I look up at Momma through blurry, tear-filled eyes.

“You’ll feel me right here. Forever. Until we’re together again.”

“You’ll see me again. When it’s time, I’ll meet you in a field of marigolds. Just like the one you were named after.”

His copper eyes take in my face. “I don’t like seeing you cry, Goldie.”

Cade Jennings is never soft. Even at thirteen, he’s rough around the edges. Our mommas always joked about how wild and untamed he was. Like the mustangs us kids love to observe from afar. I’ve never quite seen Cade’s eyes go soft the way they are right now.

I always found some excuse to avoid going back to the place that held so many happy—and so many terrible—memories. The truth is, I never really intended to return home. Not really. At least not until my broken heart had mended. I’d loved Cade for so long, and when I finally came to the catastrophic realization that he’d never loved me in the way I wanted him to, I was gutted.

Just like Cade always felt me when I’d shown up at his bedroom door late at night, I can feel him. In any room, any place, I can feel him. Just like right now. Taking a deep breath, I look up and into the eyes of the boy who broke my heart. Except, it’s no longer a boy that looks back at me. It’s a man, and he looks better than I could’ve ever imagined.

My eyes flick down Mare’s body as she gawks at me in what looks like disbelief. Her gloss-coated lips part as she stares a hole right through my head. I’m not sure I blame her. The last time we saw each other—the last time she saw me—we were standing at this very airport. She’d offered to give me everything she had to give but I denied her. I walked away from her. It seems she hasn’t forgotten how we left things. I haven’t either.

Mare rolls her blue eyes at me. “It’s a figure of speech, Cade. Trust me, if anyone knows how much of a dick you are, it’s me.”

Damn. She’s going there already. Apparently living the big city life has strengthened her backbone. The Marigold that left for college and the Marigold glaring back at me right now are two very different people. This new version of her has way more bite, it seems.

“I don’t remember asking what you wanted.”

“Well that makes sense because you never cared about what I wanted.”

My hand falls to hers instinctively. For a few moments, the rest of the world fades away, and it’s just Goldie and me again. Things aren’t complicated. It’s just her hand in mine and the feeling of immense comfort. The angry tension is gone, at least for the moment. For a few short seconds, I remember why I gave her the nickname Goldie in the first place. Aside from it being a shortened version of her name, she always reminded me of the sun. She brought light into my life. And for right now, even if it’s only for a brief moment, she brings a little bit of light into a darkness.

I should’ve come back more. It was just too hard. I was too afraid to face the man seated next to me. I was naïve enough to think one day it wouldn’t hurt to come back. And that I’d have countless more years with Linda. I was wrong about both.

“Years have gone by. I’m not a teenage girl anymore. Of course I’ve changed in that regard.” Her blue eyes stare into mine. “But deep down, it’s still me.”

Really, I’m just angry with her because not only did she leave this place and leave Pippa and my mom behind—but she left me, too. And even though I told her to go all those years ago, I never could’ve imagined she’d take me so seriously.

With a smile on my lips, I make my wish. I wish for Cade Jennings. I wish for him three times, hoping maybe the extra two times will be the reason it comes true. When my eyes slowly open, I find him watching me with hooded lids. My lips pucker before I blow out the flame.

“That’s the thing about marigolds. They’re all beautiful.”

I try not to focus on the veins on the tops of his hands. I want to trace them, feel them, and remember what it felt

like to feel the rough skin of his fingertips against my skin.

want things to go back to the way they were, but without me still being hopelessly in love with him. I want my best friend back without the ache in my chest of wanting him as much as I want my next breath.

When I’d first picked out Mare’s

room, I’d put her in the room farthest from mine on purpose. Now I hate it. There’s only one person I want to see right now. Only one person I need. And it’s her.

“Where were you going?” I manage to get out.

“What? Nowhere. Why?”

“You opened th...

“I don’t know. I just felt something. It just felt like you nee⁠—”

“Like I needed you?” I finish for her.

She’s always been my kryptonite, my favorite drug and sobriety was never an option. But the problem is—I’d rather deal with the addiction to her than the suffocating realization that my mom is gone forever.

“I know there’s still so much fucking baggage between us, Goldie. And I know that I’ve been shitty to you since you showed up, but I really need you right now.”

The moment she presses her cheek to my chest I feel like, for the first time since my mom died, I might be able to get through this. At least as long as she’s here.

“Anything for you, Cade. Always,”

“Talk to me,” she whispers.

hers. “I don’t even know what to say,” I confess.

“The truth. Someone needs to know how you’re feeling, Cade. Let someone be there for you.” She pulls her hand from mine and tenderly brushes her thumb across my jaw. “Let me be there for you.”

“The only time I really ever slept was when I’d escape here to see you,” I confess. Even as a child, something about Cade’s presence made me feel safe. When he was next to me, the bad thoughts couldn’t follow me into my dreams. I could get some rest. But only when I was with him.

“Take the pain away,” he pleads, his voice breaking. There’s no more anger in his face, it’s all pain.

“I don’t know how.” My voice shakes.

“By just being you, Goldie. By just being here.”

“I’m here.”

“For how long?”

“For however long it takes.” “However long what takes?” I place my palm against his heart. It’s been years since I’ve felt his bare skin against mine. His muscles are hard against my touch. “However long it takes for this to heal.”

It’s a completely inappropriate time for my body to feel so electrified from his touch. But I can’t help it. I’ve dreamed of feeling his touch again for years. Now that his scent surrounds me, his body engulfs me, and his touch destroys me, I’m lost in him all over again.

he turns my body and pulls my back to his front. I still fit against his body perfectly, a realization that causes a wash of pain. We could’ve been so perfect.

“I wish it was that simple.” I grab his hand and pull it over me so our intertwined hands rest against my middle. “Me too, Cade,” I answer sadly.

I’d do anything to help heal his heart. Even if it means breaking mine again in the process.

As soon as our lips collide, it feels like everything in the world has fallen into place. Kissing him is familiar but exhilarating. It’s like seeing your home through a whole new lens.

“There’s nothing for you to worry about. For me, it’s always been you.”

I’ve always envisioned leaving this town and seeing what else the world has to offer. But Cade is convincing. Maybe I’ve been wanting to get out of this town for so long that I haven’t appreciated it for what it is. It’s home. And maybe sometimes home has the best view of them all. Right now, I can’t imagine anything being better than the view of him lying next to me.