“Same old, same old,” I say, my warning look before I swallow down another shot making it clear that the non-answer is all he’s going to get. “Dad gave him a job, so I’m just trying to avoid him. Wound up coming to drop one of the horses off with him this weekend since I couldn’t trust him not to fuck everything up without supervision.”
“Of course, my Jenny’s always making sure things go right. You’re such a boss bitch. Slay, or whatever the kids say.” We both burst into giggles at his deadpan delivery, but halfway through, he gasps like he’s just had a revelation. “Wait, wait, he’shere? Like in Bozeman, here, with you? You drove four hours with him?”
I scoff at him, already knowing where this is going. “Yes, and I managed not to kill him the entire time, be proud of me. We’re staying in a hotel for the night and driving back Sunday,” I say. “Inseparate rooms.” I tack on the last bit when his gaze goes sharp and teasing.
He purses his lips and nods, but I can see the smirk he’s fighting back, and I huff out an exasperated sigh.
“Whatever you’re thinking,no,” I say, but I can’t help the laughter in my tone.
“I’m not thinking anything!” he defends, dark eyes lit up with amusement. “Just curious if he gave you an extra key to his room. Y’know, for emergencies.”
I shove at his shoulder, a little harder than I mean to in my drunken state, but he just laughs.
“Freak,” I say affectionately. “Nothing is going to happen between us. Not now, not ever again. I’ve had my fill of him, trust me.”
“Whatever you say, princess,” Elias says with a disbelieving hum. “I expect to be the first person you call when he begs for you back.”
I carefully don’t tell him anything about that night in the barn, unsure how to explain it even if I tried to. An argument? An almost-make-out-session? A mess of feelings and desperation that only made it harder to be around him?
No, it’s all better off forgotten about. Which is exactly what I’m doing.
In fact, I’ve already forgotten about it.
I don’t remember a single thing about what Lucas felt like pressed against me, or how wet I was walking back to the house. Not a thing.
“Nothing is going to happen between us.” I say it a little more sharply than I intend to, but it’s more for me than it is for Elias.I’m sure he knows that. “He’s not important, anyway. You owe me a few dances before your man shows up.”
Elias snorts at my entirely unsubtle topic change, but goes along with it without arguing. He really is such an angel.
Better than Lucas in every aspect.
Not that I’m thinking about Lucas.
“Alright, missy, let’s go scoot the ol’ boots,” he says, hopping off his worn leather bar stool and holding a hand heavy with glittering rings out to me.
I’m glad for the support, because the world spins when I stand, but it settles back into stillness once I catch my footing. Dancing might not be a great idea right now, but I’ll have fun even if I make a fool of myself.
It’s been way too long since I’ve had a chance to properly let loose, and Elias is one of the only people I’m ever fully comfortable around.
I’m excited to meet the man who’s been making him so happy recently, and it’s nice to shuck off all the weight of responsibility that I wear so often. Here, with Elias, I can just be Jenny. I can just have fun and not worry about tomorrow, keep all the memories and what-if’s that have been plaguing me at bay. It feels like I'm ten years younger tonight, like I’m myactualage, and I intend to take full advantage of that.
Tonight is all about having fun, and I’m not going to ruin that for myself.
Especially not with thoughts of Lucas fucking Cross.
No, right now, it’s time to dance.
LUCAS
Jenny shows back up almost five hours after she leaves me at the hotel.
I’ve already gotten settled in, but I’m restless without her here. Not that we’d be hanging out if shewas, but knowing she’s out — and not knowing anything else, since that’s all she told me — has me on edge.
After a while of pacing, I go down to reorganize the truck. As I’m packing a few things into a storage tub, a sleek green sedan pulls into the parking lot.
I pay it no mind until the door opens and I hear Jenny laughing.
The sound is immediately followed by a man’s voice, and my vision clouds with jealousy before I can form a single coherent thought. They trade jokes back and forth as they exit the car, and when I get a good look at her, my anger spikes further.
