Page 56 of Wildest Dreams

“I don't mind sitting up there?” he offers, and Riggs laughs at him. “What?” Tripp answers, back clearly up.

“Trust me, you do not want to have to sit up in that field for two to three weeks whilst they birth and look after their calves,” Riggs smirks, “plus we need you down on the ranch.”

“I'll put a call into Marty on Monday, see if he can help,” Tripp responds, taking a swig of his beer.

“Ew, why are we talking business?” Harlow rolls her eyes and Pacey sighs.

“Because we have to,” he snipes at her and Riggs raises a brow, Aspen shaking her head towards Harlow.

They fall into chatter, and I feel his gaze cast over to me. I am lost, I have no idea what they're even talking about, so I just sit, lost amongst the chatter of cows and calves.

“You doing okay?” Tripp asks, sinking the last of his beer and placing the bottle on the table. He turns his body to face me, so his back is to Harlow and Pacey.

“Yeah,” I say softly.

“You're bored aren't you,” he smirks, eyes not leaving mine.

“No,” I lie, and my cheeks betray me as I laugh.

“You are allowed to admit it,” he leans closer to me.

“Okay, I’m a little bored.”

“Well, what can I do to cure that?”

I sit for a moment, eyes gliding around the table at the group before they're back on his.

“Tequila,” I wiggle my brows and deep down I knew this was a terrible idea.

“Tequila it is,” he slams his hand down on the table before he stands and walks towards the bar and I follow. I order two trays of tequila shots knowing full well I will regret this in the morning, but right here, right now... I'm living in the moment.

And that moment was Tripp and Tequila.

The trays are placed down, and everyone reaches in for one except Riggs.

Placing the salt on my hand, the salt shaker is passed around the table as Pacey shouts out, “Lick, shoot, suck!”

My eyes land on Tripp as I lick the salt, knock back the shot and ignore the burn as it slips down my throat before I suck on the lime.

“Woooo!” Pacey shouts out as he slams his glass down, “Again!”

Three trays of shots down and everything is hazy. In a good way. It feels good to just sort of let go of all the tension that has been brewing deep inside of me. Clay. Coming back home. Tripp. All of it has built up to something so big that I feel like I am ready to snap.

But tonight, being able to let go just that little bit has me feeling slightly better.

Aspen drags Riggs up and leads him towards the jukebox as he slips a quarter in and she selects the song, and within a few secondsHead Over Boots - Jon Pardibegins to play.

Conrad is up, holding his hand out for me, but I shake my head from side to side as I watch Riggs spinning Aspen around before his hand skims around her lower back, pulling her body close to him. Her head tips back slightly, they're muttering quietly between themselves, lips pressing into smiles just before they kiss.

Conrad drags one of the bar girls out and spins her around and I smile at them. I hear shuffling beside me and when I turn to look at Tripp, he is standing in front of me, hand held out, cowboy hat tipped down slightly.

“Ma'am,” he smirks as I place my hand in his and my heart stutters in my chest, “may I have this dance?” and my cheeks pinch crimson.

I nod, and for a slither of a second I feel bad for turning Conrad down.

But this is Tripp.

The only man who has ever had my heart and soul.

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