“Yeah, the hat, the boots,” Leona says, running her eyes over Grace.“Yeehaw and all that…”
“Asher,” I interject lightly, forcing a smile.“Why don’t you go say hi to the guys?”
“Yeah,” he says quickly, tipping his Stetson.“Girls. Have a nice evening.”
He guides Leona toward the bar, her heels clicking sharply against the wooden floor.
“Summer,” Grace says, still glaring after her,“I already liked you a lot till now, but the way you’re looking at Leona right now? Girl, you’re my spirit animal.” She tips her glass at me.
We all burst into laughter.
“Why don’t you like her, Summer?” Penny asks, still giggling.
I shrug.“I guess I grew up around people who walk, talk, and dress like her. And I do not care to relive any of that.”
“I need to go to the bathroom,” Penny says, a wary look on her face. Just a month ago, her abusive ex-boyfriend kidnapped her on Halloween night. Cas saved her, and Mark, the bastard ex, was arrested, but I think that wound is still healing.
“Want me to come with you?” I ask.
Penny straightens and shakes her head.“I need to win this fear. He’s behind bars. I can go to a bathroom by myself.” She nods.
“Ok, but take your cell, if you get scared, you call me, okay?” I ask.
She nods again and gets up. I see Cas’s eyes follow her, and he makes his way over to the hallway that leads to the bathrooms, his gaze fixed on the door. I don’t think he’ll ever let his guard down in public places where Penny is concerned. That night, I saw him, and I had never seen a man look so scared and angry at the same time.
Five minutes later, Penny walks out, and as soon as she sees Cas, he pulls her into his arms, kisses the top of her head, then lets her go.
“You okay?” I ask as she sits down.
“Yeah. One step at a time, just as my therapist told me.” Penny smiles.
“I’m here if you want to talk.” I take her hand and squeeze it.
“Love you.”
Penny squeezes my hand back.“Love you too, Pen.”
Right then, we hear the microphone crackle, and Dex takes the stage.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, we still have room for some karaoke,” he announces, eyes landing on our table.“And one tiny redhead in particular asked for this karaoke, so she better sing tonight.”
We all laugh as Penny blushes.
“You asked for it,” I shrug, and she tosses a napkin at me.
“But for now,” Dex continues,“we have someone I really cannot wait to hear.” He gestures toward the bar.“Ethan Hawthorne, get your ass on this stage!”
People start cheering as Ethan strides over and picks up the mic. He leans toward the man behind the karaoke machine,whispers something, and then a song I’ve heard on the radio a few times starts to play:Mystical Magicalby Benson Boone.
“This one’s for a special someone,” Ethan says, looking right at me and smiling.
“Whooohooo!” Penny claps her hands, and Grace puts a hand to her mouth, whistling like a true cowgirl.
Ethan begins to sing, his eyes locked on me, voice lower than Benson’s but smooth and strong. He starts dancing a little, and the women cheer, hooting as he shows off some moves. By the bar, his brothers and Asher call out, catcalling and yelling yeehaws.
“That’s my big brother!” Jace shouts over the crowd, which laughs and cheers.
Then Ethan points directly at me, and my heart rate spikes. Torn between loving that he’s doing this for me and terrified at how much it tugs at the walls I’ve built, I down my beer in one go. Penny watches me with wide eyes.
