Page 134 of The Wife Situation

“You keep saying that,” she says.

“Don’t worry about me, okay?” I grab her cheeks in my hands. “Promise.”

“I hope I don’t have to say I told you so.” She sighs.

I squeeze her shoulder. “Let’s get out of here.”

We take the long drive back to the bed-and-breakfast, not saying much to one another.

When I park, I turn to her. “You know I have to meet up with them tonight. I can’t skip that.”

“I know.”

After we eat dinner at the B & B, I grab the keys to the car. “I’ll be back.”

Brody stands to go with me.

“No. I have to do this alone.”

Weston meets my eyes. “Try to protect your face, for my sake.”

“Oh, sure, I’ll try to remember that,” I say, shaking my head. “Like I’m concerned about our face.”

Lexi walks with me outside, smelling like a fresh shower. We look up at the dark purple sky, and she hooks one of her fingers with mine.

I open the door, leaning against the car. “Any words of advice?”

“Stay quick on your toes,” she says, sliding her mouth across mine. “And good luck.”

Itake the driveway onto her family ranch, then turn onto the dirt road her brother mentioned. My headlights lead the way. After I park, I get out of the car, cracking my knuckles. The lights are on in the barn, and I walk inside.

“Hello?” I yell.

“Out back,” a deep voice says.

I make my way toward their laughter. A small fire is built, and five guys are sitting around it.

Brett and Chris stand, each giving me another bone-crushing handshake.

“Easton, this is Beckett and Harrison Valentine, and Hayden Shaw. They’re some of our best friends. We planned a small get-together tonight and thought you’d like to join us,” Brett says.

“I’m staying at Horseshoe Creek Ranch,” I say to Beckett, knowing Summer mentioned they’d recently gotten married when she made us one hundred pancakes for breakfast.

“Ahh, yes.” He smiles. “Harrison is my brother, and he works with me at the training facility behind the B & B. Hayden is supposed to marry my sister at some fucking point, but we’re still waiting for that to happen.”

“You were in the bookstore earlier today with Lexi, right?” Hayden asks.

“Yeah,” I tell him, and they offer me a seat and a bottle of moonshine. I can’t help but laugh. I’m sure this isn’t what Lexi expected.

Harrison points to the bottle. “Be careful with that shit. You won’t be able to drive if you have too much.”

“Noted,” I say, passing it to Hayden.

Another guy enters from inside the barn. “Hey,” he says.

“This is Cash. He’s a vet. Runs the clinic,” Brett tells me.

“Ah, yes.” I give him a nod, stand, and greet him. “I’m Easton. I’m dating Lexi.”

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