Page 76 of Stuck with my Mountain Daddies

Garrett danced with her first. Of course he did. Smirking like he wasn’t completely into it. Except he was. His hand rested a little too comfortably on her lower back, like he didn’t plan to give her up anytime soon.

Then Beckett stepped in. Said something that made her blush deep enough, I felt it like a slap.

I turned away, jaw tight. Pretended not to see Lucy watching me from across the square, arms folded, daring me to make a move. Or a mistake.

Then Mason Grady cut in, spinning Riley as if he was auditioning forDancing with the Stars. She laughed loudly, and Evie clapped from Aurora’s arms.

Ethan and Owen grinned from the sidelines like they’d seen this movie before and knew how it ended.

Ryan. Colt. One after another. Colt dipped her low enough that Lila almost chucked a marshmallow at his head. Riley came back up breathless, hand on her chest like she couldn’t decide if she was dizzy from the spin or the way he smiled at her.

Still, she hadn’t seenme.

Not until Jaxon stepped aside and, with a look that said he knewexactlywhat he was doing, nudged her straight toward me.

And just like that, she was standing in front of me.

Everything else? Gone. Muffled. Distant. As if someone hit mute on the rest of the world.

“You gonna make me ask?” she said, breathless, teasing, holding out her hand.

I didn’t answer. Just took it.

The music shifted into something achingly slower.

Her hand slid into mine. Her other hand landed gently on my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her waist like it was the most natural thing in the world.

It wasn’t. It was terrifying.

Her eyes lifted to meet mine. A little unsure. A little steady. It seemed she wanted to say something, but wasn’t sure if now was the time. Or if she evenshould.

And honestly, in that moment, time suspended.

I never wanted it to end.

But of course, I couldn’t hold onto her forever. By the time the music sped up, Samantha was ready, spinning between us, grinning wildly and stealing Riley away with a dramatic twirl.

And just like that, she was gone.

Out of my arms. Back in motion.

I stood there with my hand half-outstretched, caught in a song that didn’t belong to me anymore.

Couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. I watched as Riley laughed, spinning into the crowd. Like she belongedhere. This could have been just another scene in some picture-perfect romcom.

And I was the one watching from the sidelines.

Again.

But there was someone else who caught my attention, too.

Lucy.

She was dancing. My sister, dancing. And not just with anyone.

Nate Harper.

I nearly choked on my own spit.

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