Page 119 of Wild River

I liked the note better than King’s first idea, which was tattooing it on his chest and tearing his shirt off.

Hayes

That was definitely a little much. Most of King’s ideas suck.

Kingston

Hey, now. Un-fucking-true, you dick weasels. The tattoo was a stretch, but Ruby’s the kind of girl you go big with. The sticky note seems to have flopped, but we don’t know for sure if she saw it, right?

Of course, she fucking saw it. She had to have signed the contract by now. She’s moving in two days. She said goodbye to Grammie and the kids at Fresh Start yesterday. Obviously, she saw the note. It probably freaked her the fuck out. I should have explained it.

Kingston

How do you explain it? I love you kind of says it all, right?

Romeo

You do realize you’re taking advice from a man who’s never been in a relationship, right? No offense, King.

Hayes

That’s a very good point.

Nash

We should have killed the sticky note idea right away.

Kingston

Let’s all shoot the fucking messenger. I’m the only one getting shit done. None of you bring anything to the table.

Hayes

Romeo is proposing to his girl, so why don’t we let him throw an idea into the hat?

Kingston

Let’s hear it, Golden Boy.

Romeo

Well, you could just go down to the bar and tell her how you feel. It would be a lot easier than wondering if she got the note.

Nash

This is a better plan.

Kingston

Hindsight and all that, you judgy fuckers.

I’m done with this conversation. I’ll check back in later.

My phone continued vibrating, but I shoved it into my pocket and decided to take the goddamn bull by the horns. I’d never been afraid of anything, and I sure as shit was not afraid of Ruby Rose.

What do I have to lose at this point?

I walked the short distance to Whiskey Falls and pulled open the door. Evie shouted my name, her words already slurring from where she sat with a few of her friends. I held up my hand to briefly acknowledge her as my eyes scanned the bar. No sign of Ruby.

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