Page 70 of Bourbon and Secrets

FOXX

Yup!

Some people might expect kids to be a deterrent when it comes to dating men. Ninety-nine times out of one hundred, I would have agreed. Except now, this one time, I find a single dad whose kids are just as charming as him.

FAYE

I’m surprised you went for texting me random facts and not online shopping or something else when the world is at your fingertips.

FOXX

Nope! Lark and I pushed it with Dottie and Kit. We found Kit, but Dottie was curse purse money, which was still technically dad’s money...

Texting you seemed like the better choice.

FAYE

Where is your dad?

FOXX

Currently staring at your house. But don’t tell him I told you that.

Would you want to help me find more rocks and gemstones to add to my collection sometime?

Why does my dad have your name in his phone as Peach?

My cheeks heat at this news, and I smile at the nickname.

“So is that a yes?” Cortez asks, pulling my attention back to what he asked.

I shake my head and focus. “What? Is what a yes?” I glance at Maggie again, trying to understand what’s going on here between them.

Cortez smiles at me. “Come with me to the rodeo tonight.”

And as much as I really don’t want to, I know there’s one way to get answers from both him and Maggie.

“Pick me up at six,” I say as I move toward the stairs and focus on answering Lily.

FAYE

I would love to help you find rocks and gems sometime.

“Areyou going to tell me the real reason you showed up at the house today?” I ask Cortez from the passenger seat of his SUV.

“Better question, baby girl: are you going to stay in Fiasco?”

I know when someone is deflecting. And I’m just about over him calling me a pet name he hasn’t earned. “Faye,” I correct.

He glances at me, head tilted.

“Not your baby girl, Cortez. You can call me by my first or my last name.”

With a nod, he clears his throat.

I’ve made it uncomfortable, but I’m not interested in making him feel comfortable right now. There’s only one person I want to hear call mebaby...orPeach.

I lean my elbow on the car door and watch as he hits a few station buttons until he settles on some classic rock. It’s a quiet car ride after that until we’re pulling into the packed parking lot, uneasy tension swirling around us.

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