How the hell hadn’t he seen her? “Are you here alone?”
“I’m with my family.” Her smile softened as she glanced over her shoulder. “It feels good saying that.”
He followed her gaze to a couple of tables that were pushed together. Now that he was looking, it was hard to miss them.
Ethan reached out a hand across Zane. “I’m Ethan.”
Bonnie smiled and shook his hand, forcing Zane to lean back. “Bonnie. Are you local?”
“No, I’m from Deep River, two hours south of here.”
“That’s quite a drive.”
“Zane’s a childhood friend. He’s worth it…most of the time.”
“I grew up in Deep River,” Zane added. “Lived there with my grandmother for most of my life.” Why the hell had he gone and added that? Because he wanted her to know more about him?
“I didn’t know you were raised by your grandmother,” she said softly.
“It’s why he’s such a gentleman,” Ethan added with a laugh.
Zane shoved his shoulder.
Bonnie grinned. “What’s it like in Deep River?”
Zane lifted a shoulder. “Similar to here, but also different.”
“We’re near Yellowstone National Park and known for the large river that cuts through our town,” Ethan said.
“They also have a hard time moving into the twenty-first century,” Zane added.
Ethan dipped his head. “It’s true. Our town has one bar, which hasn’t changed since the eighties. Still has its old-school TV and karaoke. We have a town square, where all the older women congregate and gossip. And a community center with bingo and dances.”
“That sounds—” Someone bumped her hard from behind.
All three of them turned to see a woman standing behind her.
Bonnie frowned. “Maisie?”
The woman’s eyes were glazed. “Bonnie! M’sorry, I didn’t see you there. But I’m glad I do now!” Her words slurred, and she threw her arms around Bonnie, but she didn’t return the hug.
“Are you drunk?” Bonnie asked
She held up two pinched fingers. “A teeny-tiny bit.” She cocked her head. “You know, I’ve been meanin’ to tell you it’s really cool of you to not tell anyone what happened that night. People could’ve turned onmelike they turned on you.”
“You should go home.” There wasn’t a hint of a smile on Bonnie’s face. “Sleep off the alcohol.”
“Wait! I need to tell you something first. Something I’ve been hangin’ on to for a long time.” The woman’s chest rose as she sucked in a deep breath. “It wasn’t the first time I fucked him. We’d been having sex for a while. Two years kinda while. God, it’s good to get that out.”
Bonnie’s lips thinned. “I have to go, Maisie.”
She stepped around the woman, only for a guy to walk straight up to her—and tip the entire contents of his beer onto her face and shirt.
The fuck?
Bonnie gasped while the guy laughed. “Whoops.”
Zane was in front of her in a second, grabbing the piece of shit by his shirt collar and shoving him against the bar. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
