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Stevie’s mouth fell open. ‘You’re going on a date with Triple J?’

Andrea leaned back on the restroom sink. ‘Wait, Stevie, you know this guy?’

‘Oh my God, you don’t even … Girl.’ Stevie fanned exaggeratedly as her face. ‘Hold up. I’m sending you his Instagram.’

Stevie’s camera blacked out while she used her phone, but in less than ten seconds, a post came through to a new group Instagram DM. The photo was one of TJ on a huge, black bull mid-buck, his left hand in the air, black Stetson shadowing his eyes. His wicked smile was the only part of his face that wasn’t in shadow.

‘Holy cow. Literally,’ Andrea said.

Skye clicked through to his profile. Sure enough, he had over half a million followers. His aesthetic was all dark and dangerous. Professional pictures, all action shots, the shadows amplified, the highlights dimmed. Even what he wore – black chaps hiding his jeans, black shirt, black boots, black Stetson – was pure sex appeal.

Seeing it for the first time lodged a fist in Skye’s throat. ‘I’m so out of my depth. Oh, God.’ She groaned and covered her eyes with one hand.

‘No. No, no. This is good. Right, Dre?’

Andrea looked less sure. ‘You said he’s a good guy?’

‘I think so …’ Skye thought about how to explain. ‘At the very least, he makes me feel safe. When I’m with him, I want him,’ Skye added, and even though she was talking to her two best friends, she blushed furiously. ‘That’s new for me.’

‘Does he know about Holden?’ Andrea asked.

‘No. He definitely suspects something, but I don’t want him to get that look or start treating me differently. I just want this feeling to last.’ She rubbed a hand over her heart. As the truth of that washed over her, Skye exhaled a deep breath. ‘I think he’s going to be my first. And I know I’ve said that before, but this time, it feels right.’

Andrea just stared at her over the screen.

Skye knew why her friend was sceptical. The last time she’d said those words, Andrea had had to come and pick her up when she’d changed her mind.

But TJ was different. Skye knew that, even if she couldn’t explain why.

Needing to defend herself – or perhaps convince herself – Skye hurriedly added, ‘I mean, why wouldn’t I? He’s single, he’s interested, he’s experienced, and if I asked him to stop, I believe that he would. It’s like the universe dropped him in my lap at just the right time.’

Stevie nodded slowly. For the first time since hearing about the date, she seemed cautious. ‘While I trust that you know yourself, please go slow. If this guy is genuinely a good guy, he won’t pressure you. Just remember that one thing, okay? It’s important.’

‘Okay.’ Skye shifted, met Andrea’s eyes. ‘Dre? Just say it. I can hear it.’

‘Are you doing this because you want to or because you have something to prove?’

Skye didn’t get defensive. She knew that both of her friends loved her and that, sometimes, loving people meant asking the difficult questions. ‘Both.’ Her answer was firm. ‘I do have something to prove. To myself. Because I’m ready. But I also want him.’

Stevie didn’t give her humiliation space to grow. She said, ‘Amen. Because, again, have you seen this guy, Andrea?’

Andrea sighed, but when Skye just smiled at her, she shook her head. ‘Okay.’

‘Say it,’ Stevie whisper-chanted. ‘Say it. Say it. Say it.’

Andrea rolled her eyes. ‘He’s smoking hot, okay? I have eyes. It’s not his looks that I’m worried about,’ she stated. ‘Call us tomorrow?’

‘I promise.’

‘Love you!’ Stevie blew them a kiss and ended the call.

Alone again, Skye flopped back onto the bed as the immensity of what she’d decided to do rose within her. She couldn’t say why, but it was different this time. She’d meant what she’d told her friends: she wanted TJ. And that was new and exciting – and yes, a little terrifying.

When TJ pulled his truck up to the front of the house at six, Smokey and Kai in the trailer behind him, Skye was sitting out on the front porch with his parents. His mom and dad shared a two-person wicker chair. Skye sat on the single tiled step leading up to the house, her legs stretched out in front of her, her hand on Bandit’s head.

It was a shock to see them there together, so comfortable, Skye simply slotting in.

‘Ready to go?’ he asked as he got out.