Page 13 of Wyatt

I shake my head. “Water’s the last thing I need.”

“You sure?”

“Well, yeah.” I suck down the dregs of my margarita, all the while wondering at what point interacting with men had become the opposite of fun. “I’m clearly a mess, so I probably need something a little stronger. You know, to, um…”

“Loosen up a little?” Mollie looks at me.

The sympathy in her eyes makes me wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

“Yes, that. Exactly. It’s been a long day. I mean, we’ve all had long days, am I right? Because days here are long. And hard. Not that there’s anything wrong with long and hard things. I just—oh. Oh wow, that…came out wrong. I was just trying to say that, sometimes, I enjoy thingsbecausethey’re long and also hard?—”

“How about we get you another margarita?” Mollie begins pulling me back toward the bar before offering Beck a smile. “We’ll be right back.”

CHAPTER 2

Wyatt

COWBOY KILLER

I’ve gottwo girls on my left and one on my right.

They’re easy on the eyes. Fun to talk to.

But the only girl I’m interested in right now is the one across the bar, who looks like she’s about to puke.

The Rattler’s bar is U-shaped. When I’m in my usual spot by the back, I can see clear across the other side of the counter. That’s where Sally is holding her head in her hand, her cheeks bright pink as she blinks and blinks again.

My stomach twists.

Shit, she upset? Why? What the fuck happened over there with Beck Wallace?

I’d seen Mollie drag Sally that way. Or maybe that’s just me thinking—hoping—Sally was dragged. Beck’s a good guy, but that don’t mean he’s good enough for my best friend.

“So, Wyatt,” Brianna, the girl on my right, says, “you have a date yet for the potluck?”

Sipping my beer, I keep my eyes on Sally. She’s saying something to Mollie, who has a hand on her shoulder. Sally looks up. I let out a sigh of relief when I don’t see any tears. Still looks a little queasy though. I know she wouldn’t want me meddling—she made it clear when we were texting earlierthat she was having a girls’ night with Mollie—but I’m having a hard time resisting the urge to march over there and fix whatever’s the matter.

“Not yet, no. What about you ladies?”

Every year, Hartsville comes together to host a charity potluck. Everyone dresses up, brings a dish, and participates in a silent auction, bidding on various items donated by community members to raise money for our local animal shelter.

Caitlin’s lips twitch. “Not yet.”

“I’m single as hell.” That’s Lennon, a redhead who works at the pharmacy next door. “And I’m definitely ready to mingle. I’d love to go, but no one’s asked me. Care to rectify that, Wy?”

I’ve never gone to the potluck, mostly because it’s a little stiff for my taste. But I like Lennon. She’s fun, and she’s suffering from a bout of unrequited love for a bull rider who came through town a few months back.

In other words, she’s perfect. Not interested in anything serious, but always game to party.

But Sally’s clearly having a shitty night, and I can’t concentrate on anything else. Maybe she’ll hate me for getting involved, but whatever. I don’t like not knowing what’s going on with her.

I glance at the tattoo of a sunrise on my left forearm. Sally’s remarked on it in passing, but she doesn’t know I got it for her. She also doesn’t know about the other tattoo I got for her, the one on my leg. That one, more than the sunrise, is a dead giveaway of how obsessed I am with my best friend.

“Excuse me, ladies.” I put a hand on Caitlin’s side at the same moment she puts one on my stomach. “I’ll be right back.”

“Promise?” Lennon grins.

I grin right back. “Promise. Y’all don’t talk to strangers, you hear?”

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