“What are we doing here?” I ask.
“Getting you some new boots.”
I look down at my favorite pair. They’re like an old friend. “What’s wrong with these?”
“Nothing whatsoever. I just thought you might like a new pair for going out, or just for fun.”
“Cody.” I stop mid-aisle. “You don’t have to buy me boots.”
“I want to—if you’d like some.”
“What girl doesn’t want a new pair of cowboy boots?” I ask him.
My smile overtakes my face. I couldn’t stop smiling if I tried.
“Good,” he says, leading me into the store and standing back while I try on pair after pair until I find the ones I love.
We check out and walk out of the store, Cody carrying the paper bag with my boots in their box.
“I can’t believe you just did that,” I tell him. “Thank you.”
I stand on tiptoe and kiss him. He smiles into our kiss. “I like buying you things.”
“Well, far be it from me to keep you from that sort of happiness,” I tease.
We carry my boots back to the truck and then Cody says, “Let’s walk down Broadway.”
We stroll through downtown Nashville, holding hands and taking in the crowd. Music filters out of nearly every doorway, each song different from the last. A few straggling bachelorette parties stand out, the bride-to-be in a sash. It’snothing like it can be on a Saturday night here. Tonight it’s mostly tourists milling around like us.
My eyes land on a man a block away. He stands a few inches taller than everyone around him. He’s laughing, one hand securing the guitar case he’s slung over his shoulder.
“Is that … Dustin?” I whisper even though we’re at a good distance from him.
Cody goes on instant alert, following the line of my sight and nodding. “It is.”
He quickly ducks us back into a doorway of a building, his face only tense for a half a second. As soon as we’re hidden, he’s got a hand over his mouth, muffling his laughter.
“Man, that could have gone differently,” he says, laughing with relief.
My heartbeat thuds in my ears. I grip Cody’s hand.
“What should we do? Did he see us?” I’m torn between panic and hysterics.
“No. He didn’t.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, and if he did, I’d swear him to secrecy.” Cody’s calm in the face of danger—as always. “It wouldn’t be ideal, but he’d have my back.” He’s still smiling, like we’re the brunt of some cosmic joke.
I nod. If we told Dustin, I’d have to tell Emberleigh. How would I tell her without telling the rest of my friends—especially McKenna?
“Are you okay?” Cody’s eyes find mine. His brow draws in with concern.
“Yeah. I am.” I shake my head and let out a short laugh, Cody’s relief finally flooding through me too. “What should we do?”
Cody steps forward, glancing down toward where Dustin was standing. He tucks himself back in with me.
“I think he’s gone inside that building. He must be here for a gig.”
