I turned to Hux, who stood beside me, and leaned into him, placing a hand on his forearm that was rested on the table. “Hey, do you know who the other cowboy with Cash and Ryder is?” I asked quietly.
“That’s Maverick Holstrom. Cash’s cousin. They’re more like brothers though.”
“How come he doesn’t drink?”
“He ain’t the drinkin’ kind. Or the talkin’ kind really.”
“Why?”
“Just never has been.”
“Must take a lot of patience for him to come out and be sober,” I mused.
“Yeah, let alone deal with Cash. Don’t think there’s a more patient man on the earth.”
I glanced at the cowboy once more, but he was busy scanning the room as if looking for a potential threat. I turned back to Hux again. “How’re you doing, cowboy?” I asked quiet enough for hopefully only him to hear, but it was hard to whisper over the loud Country music.
He grabbed my hand and squeezed gently. “Some liquid courage will help,” he replied back. “But overall, I’m good. Really good.”
Pressing a soft kiss to his cheek, I whispered in his ear, “Good.”
Chapter twenty-eight
Belong Together
Hux
Ihadn’t felt thisgood in a long damn time. So long I didn’t even know I could feel like this again. Not even the fact I was in a new place, surrounded by a shit ton of people could dwindle how I felt—much. The nerves still fought back a bit, but the moment I’d felt Quinn at my side, they’d just, well, disappeared. The alcohol helped too.
A couple shots and a beer or two in, and my worries were like ash on the wind.
“Wanna dance, darlin’?” I asked Quinn.
“You dance?” Surprise rang in her voice from my side.
I chuckled. “I used to, a lot."
"Really?"
I nodded. "I might not be able to do those fancy turns and dips anymore, but I can spin you round the dance floor a few times.”
“Well, aren’t you just full of surprises.” Her hand slipped into mine, a silent yes as she led me to what I assumed was the dance floor.
Her hands settled into position, one of them coming up to my shoulder, and I instinctively placed a hand on her hips, drawing her in close as I started up to the beat of the song. It was slower. Exactly why I’d picked this one. I wanted to ease back into it. It’d been a while since I’d danced.
“It’s nice to get a moment alone with you,” Quinn said softly.
I swayed to the music and spun her around before pulling her against me once more. “It’s been a pretty wild night, hasn’t it?”
A giggle. “It has. I still find it a bit crazy that this is the real you.”
“You don’t like this side of me?” I asked, a hint of worry sprouting in my chest like a weed.
“Oh my God, no, no, no. That isn’t at all what I meant. I love this version of you. I’m so happy that you’ve found yourself again. I’m just blown away that you’re, like, abigdeal.”
I huffed, some of my tension easing, even as a sense of wistfulness settled in my bones. “Wasa big deal.”
“Hux, you had a line of people waiting to meet you at the rodeo. At least a dozen more have come up and asked for an autograph since we got here. Youarea big deal still.”
