As my *friend*, it’s none of your business who gets into my pants.
RYDER Rivers
Where are you
BILLIE
GO TO BED
RYDER Rivers
Not until I know you’re safe at home. ALONE. Also you’re the one who texted me. Don’t pretend you don’t enjoy stirring the pot
Ugh, he’s right.
He’s right because he knows me in a way that Xander never will.
Ryder cares.Why, then, did he turn me down? I’m not sure that I buy the idea that someone would turn you down because he cares too much. In my experience, people don’t have that level of self-control.
Or maybe that’s just me.
BILLIE
No comment.
RYDER Rivers
Ha. But really, you shouldn’t rub shit in my face like you did tonight
BILLIE
You have to be kidding. You know what? Screw this. Screw you. Maybe I did rub it in your face. You did turn me down, and yeah, maybe I need someone to help lick my wounds. He makes me feel better, even if just for tonight
My heart is pounding when I hit send. I wait, barely breathing, for Ryder to respond. But he doesn’t.
“Hey, sweetheart. Whatcha doin’ over here all by your lonesome?”
Glancing up from my phone, I see Xander holding out a Solo cup. He’s wearing his signature smirk, the one that he uses when he wants to get laid.
Then again, Xander wants to get laid all the time, so I’m not sure why he feels the need to add a smirk to the mix. Feels a little overkill.
Whatever. You need relief, and he’s offering it to you. Beggars can’t be choosers in a small town like Hartsville.
This field party is Exhibit A. There’s maybe twenty people here, all of them hanging out around a huge bonfire. I’ve known all of them for most of my life, with the notable exception of Xander and the handful of friends he brought with him. They competed in a rodeo outside of Austin last night, so they decided to make a pit stop here in Hartsville. They’re staying in the bunkhouse at a ranch down the road from here.
I thought for sure Xander would want to head to my place after the Rattler. But his friends insisted we come to this field party, and I was a little surprised when Xander agreed.
“Don’t worry,” he’d said in my ear. “We’ll sneak out right after we get there.”
Only that hasn’t happened, which is why I ended up texting Ryder. Xander’s been too busy shooting the shit with everyone to pay much mind to me.
I almost wish I’d taken up the girls on their offer to come with me. But I could tell Mollie and Wheeler were beat, and Sally and Ava were just as horny as I was—am—so they went home to their cowboys.
I paste on a smile as I take the Solo cup. “I’m just waitin’ on you to make good on your promise.”
“Aw, sweetheart, I ain’t good at keepin’ promises.” His eyes meet mine over the rim of his cup as he sips. “But for you, I’ll try.”
He’s so full of shit it’s almost painful. Really, what did I ever see in this guy? I don’t remember him giving me theickwhen we first hung out.
