I keep my attention on her as Lacey catches Bailey up on the contract we’ve finalized.
“Yeah, just not the first encounter I’ve had with her today.” My eyebrows raise in question, but Monroe doesn’t explain exactly what she meant by that. Shit's about to get a whole lot worse if I find out Indy’s been harassing Monroe.
“Need me to step in?” Beau asks, and she laughs, patting him on his shoulder in a teasing way.
“And do what exactly? How are you going to big brother your way in this one?” It's meant as a joke, but Beau doesn’t laugh.
“If he isn’t treating you?—”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Beau,” I say, not going to tolerate him thinking he knows what is going on. “I get why you want to protect her, but there is a lot here that you don’t know about, and it really doesn’t concern you.”
“She’s my sister.”
“She’s my girlfriend.” The moment I say the word, it’s like the world stops. No one breathes, no one moves, and I realize it’s the first time either of us has said it out loud.
“I mean it,” I say, my voice low and steady. “Indigo’s in the rearview. You’re my girlfriend, and that’s all I care about. I won’t let her make you think otherwise.”
For a long beat, Monroe doesn’t answer, just looks at me, like she’s weighing the truth in my words. Suddenly, Lacey clears her throat, grabbing her case from the bar as the corners of her mouth tug up in a grin.
“Well,” Lacey says, reaching out to shake my hand. “I think I'm all done being a third wheel. It looks like you have some things to deal with. I’ll get out of your hair.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Beau says, and Lacey shifts nervously as the tall cowboy steps beside her.
Bailey stands and grabs her purse before reaching over to hug Monroe. “I’ll let you two continue whatever this is. I’m meeting Nash over at the ranch before we come over to your place tonight.” She winks. “We’ll talk later.”
“Hey brother,” she calls out to Beau, “give me a ride, yeah?”
“Are all of you guys related or something?” Lacey asks, confused.
Bailey laughs, linking her arm with Lacey. “Oh, sweetie, it’s a long story. How much time do you have? Actually, are you in town for another night? We have a party tomorrow night, and there’s no better way to spend New Year's Eve in Crossroads than here at Stingers Tavern.”
When the door shuts behind them, everything that’s been simmering between Monroe and me bubbles to the surface.
“Moonshine,” I say, reaching for her hand. A low gasp leaves her as she stares down at our intertwined fingers. “Let me take you home.” Her shoulders tense, like she wants to argue, but then nods. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, of us.”
She lets out a shaky laugh, shaking her head. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It is easy.” I reach over to brush my knuckles against her face. “Everything else is noise, but you? You’re the part that feels right.”
Her eyes close, and for a moment I think she’s going to pull away again. She surprises me when she whispers, “Let’s go home, Jase.”
News has always traveled fast in Crossroads. You can call it small town charm. However, I've recently learned that when it’s about you, it travels at damn near lightning speed.
By the time Monroe and I arrive at the house, it’s nearly four in the afternoon. Brynn has already arrived, grinning at us from the front porch like a little girl watching her favorite celebrity couple find love in real time.
Brynn barely lets us get to the front door before she ambushes us. “Heard your girl here laid Indy out in the middle of Clementine’s while they were all out shopping earlier.” I laugh as Brynn locks her arm with Monroe and leads her into the house. “I wish I had been there to see the look on that viper’s face.”
Before she can answer, Billie, Nash, Monty and Beau follow us through the front door carrying large cardboard boxes over into the living room.
“Since when were we having a family reunion?” I ask, but everyone just ignores me and goes about as if it’s the most normal thing. Monty doesn’t look impressed by my comment, nor does he look at all happy to be here.
Monroe and I stopped by the Red Barrel on our way home from the bar to pick up some items I needed to continue redecorating. I told Monroe we’d redecorate to make this housefeel like her home. I ordered some new pieces of furniture that are more baby-friendly. Almost everything was delivered earlier today, so I asked Nash and Beau if they could help me get started with putting together some pieces but wasn’t expecting a party at my house this evening.
“So what exactly went down between you and Indigo?” I ask, turning my attention back to Monroe. She looks down at the ground as if she’s embarrassed or something, trying to avoid my gaze.
“Just letting your fan club know you’re taken.”
Well shit. It is true. It’s no wonder she seemed to be a little on edge and so pushy when she came by the bar. Monroe had just confirmed we were in a relationship, so she came to me and tried her luck.
