“Don’t worry, boys,” Charli says. “He’ll be clearing the path for you soon.”
“Not soon enough,” Axle grumbles playfully.
“Yeah, we can’t wait for that sexy son of a bitch to retire,” Royce says, taking a seat next to Grandpa Earl. “Not like he’ll be hurting when he does. You guys should see the billboard off the side of Highway 119.”
“Picture it,” Axle says, spreading his hands dramatically. “Bryce Raintree’s muscular fourteen-foot-tall ass in a pair of Duluth Buck Naked underwear. Even I creamed in my panties a little when I saw it.”
Grandpa spits tea across the table. “Geezus, son,” he wheezes as everyone bursts out in laughter.
Grandma Evelyn is pleased as pie as she sends Cabe and Royce to grab a few extra chairs from the dining set on the porch as she gathers more place settings.
The table feels full in that rare way it only does when everyone’s home. Even Caison is here, sitting close to Matty, his hand resting on the back of her chair.
Harleigh clinks her fork against her glass.
“Since the entire family is home,” she announces, “we need a girls’ night.”
A chorus of agreement erupts from all us girls immediately.
Caison looks at Matty. “You sure?”
“Yes,” she says.
He nods, but a few minutes later, he asks again, “You really want to go out tonight?”
She shoots him a look. “I said, yes,” she hisses through gritted teeth.
I watch the exchange from across the table, unease settling low in my stomach. Maybe Cabe’s right, and there is tension between her and Caison.
The thought makes me sick to my stomach. She’s been happier than I’ve ever seen her this past year. But something about the tightness in her jaw now makes me wonder.
When dinner breaks up, I hesitate. I already agreed to meet Dixon for drinks. But as I watch Matty plant a fake smile on her face, I pull out my phone and text him.
Me: Change of plans. Harleigh came home for the weekend and wants us all to go out tonight. Want to meet us at The Soused Cow?
The reply comes almost immediately.
Dixon: Absolutely.
Me: See you there around 9 p.m.?
Dixon: I’ll be there.
We hurry to help Grandma with dishes and quickly change. By the time the nine of us roll into town, The Soused Cow is already hopping. We grab a table near the dance floor, and us girls waste no time ordering tequila shots.
The band begins to play a song we like, and we’re on our feet, laughing, spinning, falling into our rhythm. It feels good to let loose.
Then I see Dixon walk in.
He spots me immediately, smile spreading. I slip off the dance floor and meet him at the bar.
“Wow,” he says, eyes sweeping over me. “You look incredible.”
I glance down at my outfit—long-sleeved cream bodysuit, high-waisted brown suede miniskirt with a fringed hem, knee-high suede stiletto boots. I don’t usually get this dolled up to goout. That’s more Charli’s and Harleigh’s style. I’m more a jeans-and-tank-top girl, but the two of them talked me into putting in a bit more effort tonight since he was coming.
“Thanks. You clean up pretty well yourself.”
He laughs as he glances down at his jeans and flannel. “What’re you drinking?”
