I shake my head. "No. We're basically already married. Just haven't said the 'I do' in front of people yet or signed any papers."
Lawsyn laughs softly. "You twoarelike an old married couple already," she notes.
I stare across the room at Cass and she's right. I hope that the rest of our life together feels just like this. Just like this moment. Where I stare at him with so much love and admiration, my heart feeling as though it will swell too big for my chest as it fills with all of the emotion that I have for this man.
"How long are you here for?" she asks, taking a swig from the red solo cup in her hand.
"I'm not really sure. A week, maybe less," I say.
"There's a rodeo in town this weekend. The girls and I are going, if you want to join, you're more than welcome," she says.
"That sounds good, actually. I'm sure I will have plenty of time on my hands," I say, over exaggeratedly.
"It's a date, then. You hear that Cass?" she says loudly. Cass turns his head in our direction and raises a hand to his ear as if he couldn't hear her.
"I'm taking your fiancée on a date!" she says louder.
Cass chuckles and gives her a thumbs up. He steals a glance in my direction, winking at me and blowing me an air kiss. I giggle and blow one back. The clubhouse begins to fill with Baton Rouge members as they arrive and more OKC members show up. They all disappear into the chapel while me, Lawsyn, and Violet, the only ol' ladies here, play a few rounds of cards. We talk about the wedding, Lawsyn fills me in that Junk made a call and got everything straightened out for Buddy to be in attendance, which makes my heart so fucking happy. I couldn't imagine saying 'I do' without our best boy present. He's as close to a kid as I'm going to get.
"Y'all are the best," I tell her.
"Oh, I one hundred percent did it for my own selfish reasons. My own selfish reasons being I need to meet this Buddy of yours and snuggle him," she says excitedly.
"He really is the best. You're going to love him."
"I'm just excited about the party to follow and the cake!" Violet beams. Come to think of it, she's always snacking on something sweet. She's got a bag of M&Ms on the table in front of her right now, shoving a few into her mouth between her turn. Watching her eat the candy makes my stomach growl. I could snack on something.
"Here, have some," Violet offers, sliding the bag of M&Ms across the table in my direction.
I take a handful and pop them in my mouth, savoring the rich chocolate. We play cards until the guys come out of the chapel, which is around three in the morning. I'm exhausted and I barely realize it until I sit back on the couch. My eyes are dry and heavy, beckoning me to close them. I blink them closed and keep them closed for a few extra seconds, trying to help the burn.
I open them and see Cass walking toward me. Violet and Lawsyn left a few minutes ago and I'm sitting here alone, trying not to curl up on this couch and give in to the sleep that calls to me.
"Come on, love. Let's go get some sleep," he says, offering me his hand. I take it and follow him to the sleeping quarters in the basement. Our bag is already on the bed we slept in last time and I can't recall him going to the truck to get it. I don't question it, though. He sets it on the ground beneath the bunk and I climb into the bed, nestling myself between him and the wall.
Scott, Digger, Snapper, and Aaron mosey their way in and each climb into different beds around the room.
"Well, this is going to be fun," I whisper with my eyes closed and my head resting on Cass's chest.
"What is?" he asks.
"Trying to sleep with five snoring men in one room," I whisper.
Cass chuckles, his chest shaking my head as he laughs.
He takes my hand in his and I begin drifting off to sleep before the sounds of snores can keep me awake. I wake a few timesthroughout the night and struggle to fall back asleep over the sound of one snore in particular. I know immediately that it's Scott. He snores louder than any person I've ever met.
I wriggle in Cass's grasp and slip my head beneath the edge of the pillow in an attempt to block out some of the sound. It helps a little and I'm able to finally fall back asleep. I don't know how anyone can sleep through that, though. I don't sleep soundly the rest of the night, waking up every so often. Cass's alarm goes off and he gets out of bed quietly so as not to wake me. He goes to each of the bunks and wakes the guys. They all get themselves gathered and head upstairs. Cass kisses my forehead and tells me he loves me before I'm left in the peaceful silence of an empty room. I take advantage, dozing back off a few minutes later and finally getting some good sleep.
When I finally wake, it's the middle of the day. I look at my phone, checking the time. Almost one-thirty. I get up and head to the bathroom to shower before I make my way upstairs. I know there's a kitchen in the back and I'm starving. I didn't see anyone in the bar when I came through and I don't hear any movement now, but someone's got to be here somewhere. I open the refrigerator and find a hot dog. There's bread on the counter and ketchup in the fridge. I make a hot dog on bread and have that for lunch.
The door to the clubhouse shuts loudly and I toss my paper towel I used as a plate into the trash on my way to see who is here.
Lawsyn and Violet nearly run into me in the doorway of the kitchen.
"I was just about to come wake you up. You ready to go?" she asks.
"To the rodeo?" I ask.
