I sigh. “We don’t even know him. And I’m going to make an effort to change that.”
“Fine. So, bring him along,” she says.
“No. I’m not inviting him to the bar again, where the music is too loud and everyone’s drunk and distracting. I’m going to dinner. With him. Like a normal date.”
She stares at me like I’ve announced I’m joining a cult. “Are you serious?”
“I am.”
“You’d rather go on some boring dinner date than come out with us?”
“I’m not ditching him this time, Harleigh,” I say firmly. “And I’m not running off with some infuriating cowboy either.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh my God. This is about Waylon.”
“This is about me making better choices,” I snap. “Now drop it.”
She begs. She pleads. She offers bribes. But I don’t budge.
So, when evening comes, I stay behind with Matty while Harleigh, Charli, Bryce, Cabe, Royce, and Axle pile into Cabe’s and Bryce’s trucks and head out, laughing and shoving each other, like they always do.
There’s a twinge of regret in my stomach as I watch them go. But it’s small. Manageable.
Matty sits at the kitchen island, sipping ginger tea. “You made the right decision,” she says. “You should put yourself out there. See what all your options are.”
“I know.”
“But don’t settle,” she adds quietly. “Safe and dependable are great qualities, but they’re not enough if there’s no spark.”
I smile faintly. “That’s a pretty big thing to say from someone who just got engaged to a very sweet and dependable man.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, Caison has plenty of fire underneath all that sweetness, trust me.”
I snort. “Oh, I know.”
She blushes, and it’s freaking adorable.
“Who knows?” I quip. “Maybe Dixon does too.”
“You’re right; you’ll never know if you don’t try.” She hesitates, then adds, “Caison thinks you should hear Waylon out.”
I stare at her. “I bet he does.”
“I’m not trying to meddle,” she rushes. “I promise. But Caison swears Waylon didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Of course he swears that,” I say. “He’s Waylon’s best friend.”
“He’s about to be your brother-in-law,” she points out. “He’s not taking sides. He loves you both.”
“Right,” I mutter. “He loves you and doesn’t want to piss off your pregnant ass.”
Matty laughs despite herself. “He has been tiptoeing around me lately. I’m gonna have to make it up to him as soon as this morning sickness eases up.”
“I have a feeling he’ll forgive you,” I say.
There’s a knock at the door.
“That must be your date. Have fun,” she says.
