Page 33 of Broken Player

He narrowed his eyes before turning to his parents. "Mother, father. I'm sorry to cut the visit short, but we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other better. We're going to be family after all."

I didn't wait for them and stood. "It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Rutherford."

"Yates, you'll leave me Ryan's contact information so we can discuss wedding details," she commanded without returning my pleasantries, fake as they were.

"Of course, mother," he agreed. I could never be with someone as spineless as Yates appeared to be. We said goodbye to his father, who I wasn't sure had even said one word the entire time we'd been there and finally, blessedly, made our way outside. I didn't wait for Yates to open the car door for me before diving into the passenger seat and shutting the door behind me. I was desperate to put as much space between me and his family as I possibly could.

Yates slid into the seat next to me and started the engine. "Well, that went better than I thought it would," he mused.

"You can't be serious. That was horrible," I retorted, folding my arms across my chest.

"For my mother? That was downright civil," he laughed. I didn't think any of what had just happened was funny.

"Can you please take me home?" I asked, sinking down into the seat and staring out the window. I wasn't in the mood to talk to him after what I'd just seen. I needed to do some serious thinking about whether I could tie myself to this stranger sitting next to me for the next year of my life. As Yates turned on the radio, I got lost in my thoughts, thankful for the space he was giving me.

I watched as Yates's taillights disappeared in a cloud of dust as he drove down my driveway back toward the road. "The asshole couldn't even be bothered to come in and say hi?" Quinn questioned from where he must've walked up behind me. I spun around and flung myself into my best friend's arms, relishing the comfort he always provided me.

His chuckle rumbled in his chest under my cheek, and I smiled my first real smile all day. For the past four years, Quinn had been my home, my person. I was so thankful for his friendship. "I know what you need, Lancelot. Go get changed. We're going out," he stated, leaving no room for argument.

I let him go, stepping back and smiling mischievously. "What, you mean we don't have to go hand-feed five hundred plus cattle?"

Quinn's laughter had me laughing, too. "Hey, it worked, didn't it?"

"It did," I agreed. "Thank god. It was absolutely miserable."

"None of that. We're forgetting about the future in-laws and drinking and dancing the night away. So get your cute butt in something hot, and let's hit the bar before it gets crowded."

Twirling on my heel, I went inside the house to change into my slinkiest dress, already feeling the day fall off of my shoulders. I was determined to have a good time tonight with Quinn.

An hour later, freshly showered, hair perfectly wavy, I pulled on a skin-tight black dress that highlighted what curves I did have. Swiping smokey eye makeup across my lids, I took one last look in the mirror before I stepped out of my room and knocked on Quinn's door. He swung the door open and looked me over. "Good thing you've got me to run interference between you and every guy who's going to hit on you tonight," he commented with a crooked grin.

I rolled my eyes. "And I'll be there to fend off all the ladies that will inevitably be trying to get in your pants tonight, too, like always," I promised.

"Glad we understand each other," he laughed before closing his door. I followed him out to his truck and climbed inside. His truck was ridiculously tall. I wasn't short, but I almost needed a ladder to climb into the damn thing.

The drive to the bar was short, but Quinn and I managed to sing along to almost a full song on the radio before we pulled up into the gravel parking lot. Fancy, this place was not. But it was the only place in town with a dance floor, loud music, and alcohol where we could all go to let loose. Since it was Sunday night, I hoped it wouldn't be too busy, but there didn't ever seem to be an off night atOn Tap.

Quinn held open the door for me, and I stepped inside, noticing the faint smell of old cigarettes from back when smoking inside was allowed. Glancing around, I noticed there were already several booths filled with people. The faded black and white tile dance floor was empty, but it was still early. Quinn set his hand on my back and guided us forward to the dark wood-paneled bar, and we both hopped up onto the high back tufted green vinyl barstools. This place was quirky and dark and everything you'd want out of a dive bar, and I loved it.

They served cheap liquor and only local Texas beers on tap. "Hey, you two," Garett, the bartender, greeted us. As long as I'dbeen of legal drinking age, Garett had been serving beers up atOn Tap."Your usual?"

Quinn glanced over at me, and I knew that look, and I nodded once. He grinned and turned back to Garett. "Me and my girl here are going to try something new. How about two Electric Jellyfish?"

Garett reached to the cooler behind him and pulled out two beers, popping off the tops and sliding them across the bar toward Quinn and I. "Thanks, G," Quinn said.

I raised my eyebrow at my best friend. "Electric Jellyfish?"

He shrugged with a laugh. "I heard they were delicious, and I've wanted to try for a while. Last time I was here, I asked Garett if he could get them." Quinn had always been into trying every local craft beer he could get his hands on, no matter how weird. I drew the line at anything sour. Beer shouldnotbe sour.

I held out the neck of my amber bottle toward Quinn, and he clinked his against it. We both sipped, and I rolled the bitter liquid around on my tongue before swallowing. "Citrusy," I observed.

Quinn took another small sip, considering. "And I think mango?"

I shrugged and laughed, taking a huge sip and not bothering to really taste it. At least it was refreshing. "So, how was your night, Quinny? Do anything fun?"

"If by fun, you mean binge Netflix and chill with myself, then yep." He lifted his beer to his mouth and gulped it down.

"Sounds like we both deserve a night out, then," I said, jumping off the stool and leaving my empty bottle on the bar. Crossing the bar to the jukebox, I made my pick and then grabbed Quinn and dragged him out onto the floor with me. I wasn't shy, and I didn't care that we were the only ones out here. Usually, it took just one person to get started, and everyone elsewould pile out onto the floor. I didn't mind being the first person if it meant I got to shake my hips to the beat.

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