A laugh bubbles out of her as she gazes out at the pasture. I follow her line of sight to where Phoenix is rolling around in the grass near Misty. Misty’s ears pull back, and she snorts at him, clearly displeased with his persistent attempts to get her to play.
He stands and gallops farther down the field, wind whipping through his dark mane.
I steal a glance at Angie's side profile. She hasn’t changed a bit in the last five years. She’s still as beautiful as ever. I can’t help but wonder where we’d be today if things were different. What if I hadn’t assumed the worst? What if I had reached out to Jess for Angie’s phone number instead? Would we be together now? What would a life with Angelina Rossi even look like?
“Ange—”
“I should?—”
She laughs. “You go first.”
“Are you hungry by any chance?”
“Starving.”
Chapter 11
The F Word
? Don’t Mind If I Do - Riley Green, Ella Langley
Griffin
While Angie’sbusy checking on Sadie again, I pull out my phone and text Olivia.
Me: Are you still at the big house?
Olivia: Yeah. Why?
Me: I’m with Angie at the sanctuary. Would you mind bringing over some leftovers?
Olivia: Is this a date?
Me: You could call it that.
Olivia: Be there in fifteen.
After tucking my phone in my pocket, I pull out a few pillows and a quilt I keep in the saddle box in the back of the truck for picnics with my nieces, laying them out on thetailgate. I step back and look at my handiwork, but something still feels off, so I rearrange everything for a second time. I’m not like Wilder and Jaxon. I don’t know how to do this romance shit. When was the last time I went on a date?
My stomach plummets when I realize the last date I went on resulted in Angelina’s engagement to Tyler.
It was last spring. Mama entered me into the bachelor auction as per usual. With Wilder happily married and Jaxon well on his way, it was the first year I had to stand up on that stage alone to be auctioned off like prize cattle for Mama’s charity fundraiser.
The prize was a trail ride to the waterfall right here at the ranch. Everything was going smoothly until Tyler’s arm shot up. I pinned him with a glare, but he didn’t let up. Competition waned, and eventually, my dipshit best friend was declared the winner. I could see him laughing in the back row.
When the day finally came to fulfill the date, Ty showed up with Angelina in tow. God, she looked so fucking beautiful in a pair of skintight jeans and a cropped blouse that showed off a sliver of tan skin at her midriff. She had on a pair of floral cowboy boots, and her hair was braided down her back with a few waves framing her face. I remember staring at her red lips, wishing I could feel them on me one last time.
I felt like an asshole for thinking of my best friend’s girl like that, but it wasn’t the first or last time it happened. Angie had already burrowed her way under my skin, and no red lights or warning signs were going to change that.
Tyler insisted on riding double despite Angie’s protest. She mounted Storm with ease. Tyler took the space behind her, caging her between his arms. I had to look away.
I wordlessly rode out to the waterfall like the third wheel of a goddamn tricycle, leading the way down the familiar paths of my family’s ranch while Angie’s laugh broke through the silence.
The best sound in the fucking world, and it was all for him. I wanted it to be mine. I wanted to keep all of her laughter and her smiles for myself.
The sound of rushing water drowned out their chatter as I dismounted Maverick and tied him to the hitching post. There was a picnic set up on the grassy patch near the creek bed with two glasses and a bottle of wine—probably Wilder’s idea of a joke. He knew I’d be coming out here with Tyler, but he couldn’t have known Angie would be with him.
He gripped her hips and helped her down off the horse. She practically beamed at him when she saw the setup.
