Wes tries to extricate himself from her koala-like grip with little success. “Hannah, what in the fuck are you doing?”
“Saying hi. I haven’t seen you in so long. I’ve missed you, baby.” Her eyes are wide, and a sultry smile plays on her lips.
Her hands roam over his chest, and I know she’s feeling the new muscles he’s gained from working on the ranch these last six weeks. Jealousy flares underneath my breastbone. The way she touches him with such familiarity has my jaw clenching so hard it aches.
“Last time I saw you, you threw a vase at my head,” Wes reminds her.
“Oh, honey. You know I can be dramatic sometimes. I was just anxious with all the wedding planning. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Wes’ eyes catch on the ring decorating her finger and his brows knot in confusion while she whispers something in his ear. He sighs as he leans away. “Hannah, how much have you had to drink tonight?”
“Oh, you know.” She waves her hand in a gesture like how much she drank is insignificant. “I was nervous to see you again. We had that fight and then you left before we had a chance to make up afterwards.”
Wes’ gaze hardens, and he grips her hands. “Hannah, no. We aren’t doing this here. We aren’t—”
"I just want to talk," she says, looking up at him with glassy eyes.
He pinches the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger and then glances my way, eyes pleading. “Sawyer, I’m sorry. I need a minute.”
His statement steals the breath from my lungs. What could he possibly have to say to his ex? What conversations have they not had yet after he and I...?
Hannah’s smug smile tells me this is exactly what she was hoping for, and I struggle to rein in my desire to slap the smirk off her pretty face.
It’s another twist of the proverbial knife. He’s leaving me so he can talk toher. Why bring me in the first place? Was he using me so he could rekindle things once he got back to the city?
Wes searches the vicinity and finds his sister watching this all unfold. He waves her over. “Do you need me to take out the trash?” Quinn asks, glancing toward Hannah.
I knew I always liked Quinn.
Wes gives her a censorious look. “Will you keep Sawyer company? I just need a few minutes to talk to Hannah.”
Quinn nods at him and he leads Hannah out of the hall.
“Well, that looked awkward,” Quinn says.
I put the second glass of whiskey on a passing server’s tray, my stomach suddenly clenching painfully.Quinn gives me a gentle smile.
“Hannah never shies away from making a big scene of things.”
“I don’t need a babysitter. If you want to go back to the party, feel free.” I nod toward the center of the hall.
“Oh, hell no. Mom’s parties are always boring as hell. Why do you think I was over here eavesdropping? This is the most fun I’ve had all night.”
I cringe because I am definitely not having fun. Wes is downstairs with his ex-fiancée after promising he wouldn’t leave my side all night. And I’mquickly surpassing shock and moving on to fuming mad.
Quinn must sense as much because she gives me an apologetic look and steers me toward a small table off to the side. She sips her champagne as she studies me. “Don’t be too hard on Wes. He’s probably just getting her an Uber.”
I nod noncommittally, the burn in my throat adding fuel to the fire of my already ignited temper. I can’t stop thinking of the way she’d touched him and how he’d left withherinstead of keeping his promise and staying with me.
But then again, what even was I to Wes?
Not his girlfriend, just a good time while he was bored“in Hicksville”as Hannah had so eloquently put it.
Quinn tries to engage in small talk, but I’m sulking and can’t seem to pretend I’m not. I’m horrible company for the bubbly Quinn. That much hasn’t changed about her. She’s still the sweet, exuberant, pristine princess she’s always been.
“Wes told me you’re training horses now?” she asks, trying to pull me from the vicious edge of my thoughts.
“Yep,” I reply without looking at her. My gaze is pinned to the door, waiting for Wes to return.
