Page 27 of Lassoed Love

Isla raises her hands in surrender, and mutters, “I’m fucking done,” and then wipes at her eyes, forcefully shoving past me and everyone else in the crowd, heading towards the door.

Noticing that people are still gawking, I bark out, “What the fuck are you all looking at? Carry on, move!” My voice reverberates through the pub, and people instantly scatter back to their tables and toward the bar.

I pivot back toward Richard, now red-faced, and the other two lowlifes next to him, glaring at them. “You should fucking know better than to disrespect a young woman like that. Grow the fuck up!” I growl, my voice low for only them to hear.

The girls, Claire and Imogen, still stand by the booth, rooted in place, wearing expressions of disbelief. Now well and truly riled up, I shoot them a glare, raising an eyebrow as I storm off in the direction Isla left.

As I step out of The Loose Lasso, I scan the area, but there's no sign of Isla to my left. I turn to my right, and about fifty metres down the street, there she is, walking away into the distance.Where the fuck is she going?

Growing increasingly frustrated, I grit through clenched teeth, “For fuck’s sake!” as I stride around to my Tacoma parked on the side. I hop in and accelerate down the road, catching up to Isla.

Pulling up alongside her, I roll down the car window and yell, “Isla, where do you think you’re going?”

But she’s stubborn, refusing to acknowledge my request. “Go away, Xavier, seriously!” Frustration building, I raise my voice. “I'm not letting you walk home drunk.”

“I'm not drunk!” she fires back, her voice defiant.

I persist, frustration evident in my tone, “There ain't no way you're walking home in those boots of yours,” nodding toward the small heel she's sporting.

“You don’t know where I live; it could well and truly be only a few minutes away.”I couldn’t give a fuck.“Just go, Xavier. I’m not your problem.” The back-and-forth continues as our words clash, creating a tension hanging thick in the air.

Her words fuel my frustration even more. I swerve my car in her direction, careful not to get too close, and slam on my brakes. Startled, she stops abruptly on the spot. I get out, slamming my door with a force that echoes my frustration, stepping in front of her.

“Get in the fucking car, Isla, please,” I growl, my anger radiating off me in waves. “Don’t make me ask again or I’ll throw you over myshoulder.”

As I stand there, my heart pounding in my chest, I can’t help but wonder—What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I care so much? Why am I dragging this out?Deep down, I know the answers. I care because… well, I just do.

“Ugh! What the fuck is wrong with you? What do you want from me?” She counters, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “I told you to leave, Xavier. I just need to be alone,” her voice cracks on that last statement.

She doesn’t want to be alone, I might not know much about women’s emotions, but this I’m certain of. Not when her mind is probably running a kilometre a minute.I don’t want her to be alone.

As Isla continues to resist, her words a mix of frustration and desperation, I reach a breaking point.

That’s it.

If she wants to be stubborn, fine. Without hesitating, I step forward, lift her effortlessly, and settle her over my shoulders. Despite her protests, a mixture of anger and defeat, her attempts are futile. She’s not really putting up much of a fight.Maybe my assumptions were correct.Swiftly, I move around to the passenger door, swing it open, and gently place her in the seat.

Isla, caught between shock and disbelief, scoffs in astonishment. As I settle into the driver’s seat, I glance over at Isla. Her arms are crossed tightly over her chest, her expression a mix of defiance and resignation. I start the car, the engine roaring to life, breaking the tense silence between us.

“Isla, I’m not doing this because I enjoy it,” I say, my voice softer now, tinged with frustration. “I just... I don’t want you to be alone right now.” I don’t even know what I’m saying.

She doesn’t respond, her gaze fixed out the window, lost in her own thoughts. I shift the car into gear and accelerate down the road, the palpable tension between us hanging in the air. I drive in silence, the only sound the hum of the engine and the occasional sniffle from Isla.

13

The Cowboy in Me - Tim McGraw

Thenerve of this fucker. Who does he think he is?

I sit in the passenger seat of Xavier’s ute, the silence between us thick, except for the distant hums of country music playing in the background. It’s ‘The Cowboy in Me’ by Tim McGraw—fitting for the surreal situation I have currently found myself in. I can’t help but wonder why the fuck he cares so much to go out of his way and take me home…? It’s confusing, and I’m grappling with the whirlwind of emotions.

I just wanted to be alone, to sort through my thoughts and feelings in peace. But deep down, right now, I don't want to be alone. This man is infuriating, and I don’t even know why. Maybe it’s the way he looked at me, like he could see right through me. Or maybe it’s the way he stood up for me, even when I was pushing him away.

As we drive, my mind keeps circling back to him. Why did he have to be so damn stubborn? Why couldn't he just leave me alone like I asked? And yet, a small part of me is grateful for his persistence. It's unsettling, this mix of frustration andgratitude.

I glance over at Xavier, his jaw clenched in concentration as he drives. What is it about him that makes me feel this way? Why does his presence affect me so much? I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. This is ridiculous. I just need to focus on getting home and putting this whole mess behind me.

As we continue driving down the road, heading farther away from The Loose Lasso, I try to make out the streets around me. There’s a hint of recognition slowly forming, but despite being away for quite some time, the streets now blur into each other, creating a disorienting landscape.

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