Page 38 of Somewhere We Belong

Getting into college was hard, but I ended up getting my degree in agriculture and with all the information I learned, I knew I could help my family out. There were so many things we could do with the farm but a bitter part of me wanted them to suffer. They never helped me, so why should I?

When my uncle passed his ranch to me, it was sweet relief that he gave me a sense of purpose. I never gave the farmanother thought, other than moments of weakness when I missed having family.

Iris was six years younger than me and too young to understand what I had to go through, so when she blamed me for things not working out at the farm, it hurt, but she didn’t have the entire story. My brother blamed her, but she was only a product of my parent’s lies, and now that she was here, I was excited to really get to know my baby sister.

Izzy found a job at a bar just outside of town called the Boozy Bandit. While I hated that she worked at a bar when she could have worked for me, she needed to live life for her and no one else. I had a feeling she needed to prove to herself that she could do things on her own.

I was never a fan of bars, the noise level was always too much for me and drinking expensive drinks at a place never made sense to me. I could buy a twelve-pack for the cost of two beers, so why would I want to spend more?

Jude suggested we visited her and support her. Colt had been to the bar a few times and heard that Tuesdays were slow and not so crowded, with possibly less noise. My nerves were getting the best of me as we arrived.

“Just say the word and we leave, ok?” Colt laid his hand on my thigh.

I nodded, opened my door and helped Atlas out of the back. He kissed me, grabbed my hand and led me into the bar. I braced myself for the onslaught of overstimulation, but when we walked in, it was calm and not too noisy.

Atlas led me to a table, looking around curiously. I pulled out the seat for him and Colt, waiting till they sat before I did.

“I love your southern manners, babe.” Atlas grinned at me.

I blushed.

Colt chuckled, laying his hand possessively on my thigh. Iris was taking orders at a table near us, laughing with the customer. She looked good here.

“Should we order or wait for Jude and his best friend?” Atlas asked, looking around.

“We should?—”

Colt didn’t finish his sentence as I looked at him. His mouth was slightly open, his eyes wide and a look of disbelief on his face.

“Jesus Christ,” Atlas groaned.

I followed their line of sight when my heart stopped. Nova was leaning over the bar talking to a woman. Her shorts were hugging her ass, leaving nothing to the imagination of how much of a nice ass she had.

She laughed at something the bartender said, and grabbed a drink to deliver it. Our eyes all followed her to a table not too far from us. She smiled at the man who was devouring her with his gaze. I wanted to growl, bring her over to our table and sit her on my lap so that no one could catch a glance at her ass. The possessiveness startled me, but unfortunately it wasn’t a surprise.

“Hey, you made it!”

Iris’ voice was the cold bucket of water I needed.

“I have never been here,” Atlas said, saving me. “I like it.”

I was tongue-tied, sweating and hard for a woman that I had no business being hard for because I had two boyfriends, who just so happened to be right next to me.

“I like it, it’s not so bad, the crowds are good, except Fridays, when the mechanical bull is up and running.” She looked slightly uncomfortable.

“You ok working here?” I asked, feeling protective.

“Yeah, it’s been different, but I think I needed that,” she said, patting my shoulder. “Now what can I get y’all to drink?”

“Beer,” I said, not really a big drinker.

“Surprise me,” Atlas said.

“Top Bourbon,” Colt added. “Get Theo a Sam Adams.”

“Great, I’ll be back.” Iris walked away as my eyes instantly looked for Nova, who was nowhere in sight.

“Those shorts should be illegal,” Atlas murmured.

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