Tatum bumped into me when she shifted to the right. I quickly pulled myself out of my daze and moved along with the group as Tyler Childers belted out lyrics about whiskey easing his pain and everyone sang along.
Jovi and Melody were completely off the beat, which made me laugh.
When the song came to an end, Tatum hooked her arm through mine as we walked off the dance floor. It was a perfect night, with warm weather and a light breeze moving around us.
“Don’t worry about Cutler. He’s not interested in Sydney,” Tatum said as she leaned close to my ear, making sure no one else heard her. “I’ve watched her try time and time again eversince she and her ex broke up, and he never bites. I think he only sees her as a friend.”
I startled at her words. “I wasn’t worried. He’s my best friend. He can do whatever he wants. I’ve seen him with plenty of women over the years.”
She studied me for a long moment. “So you’d be fine if he went home with her?”
A pit settled in my stomach, and I pushed the thought away. “Of course I would.”
“Oh, okay. I thought I was picking up on something, but maybe I misread it.” She pulled out her stool, and I took the seat beside her. My gaze moved around the table to see Sydney standing between Cutler’s legs, her hand on his chest.
Why did that bother me?
I had no right to be bothered.
I shook it off and took a sip of my beer as Melody came up and leaned her head on my shoulder. “I had too much to drink. I think I’m going to be sick.”
I pushed to my feet, reaching for my crossbody purse. “I’ve got you. Can you make the walk home?”
“Yes. I just think I probably need to leave now so I don’t hurl in front of everyone.”
I nodded. “Let me just tell Cutler.”
I walked over to him and stood beside his stool, feeling like I was intruding on a moment.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt—” I cleared my throat, and he turned to look at me, a lazy smile on his face. “I’m going to get Melody home. She’s had a little too much to drink and she’s not feeling great. Just wanted you to know.”
“I can come with you,” he said as he started to move, but Sydney put her hand on his chest.
“You promised me a dance, Cutler Heart. They are two grown women—I’m sure they can walk a block or two alone,” Sydney said before wincing when she looked at me. “No offense.”
“None taken. She’s right, enjoy yourself. We’re totally fine on our own.” I held my hand up to wave, and I saw the struggle in his eyes, but he nodded.
He’d had more to drink tonight than he’d had since I’d been back. I’d felt like he was a little distant this morning, and I think whether he wanted to admit it or not, the things Melody had said last night had affected him.
And tonight, he was going to drink and have a good time and probably go home with Sydney to prove a point that he was fine with the way that he lived his life.
And maybe he was.
We all wanted different things, and that was okay.
But I wasn’t going to lie—I didn’t love seeing Cutler with a woman.
I really never had.
Even when I’d been in relationships, I’d always felt a weird heaviness in my chest whenever I’d see him leave a bar with a woman. It was selfish and it made no sense, but I’d never liked it.
I said a quick goodbye to everyone, and Tatum, Jovi, and I made plans to meet for lunch tomorrow.
“Come on, Drunkody,” I said as I wrapped an arm around Melody, and we started walking home.
“Drunkody!” Her head fell back with a laugh. “I’m going to regret this tomorrow when I have to drive home, aren’t I?”
“You’re still young enough that you will probably rebound just fine.” I chuckled as we walked along the dirt path along Blue Sky Lake.
