Page 69 of Ridin' Solo
“My mom wanted you to have the family ring, but I also know you can’t wear that to work, so I got you a smaller one.”
I ignored both rings and cupped his face, more precious than any jewel. “You think of everything, don’t you?”
His eyes sparkled. “When it comes to you, hell yes.”
I kissed him then, not needing the words, or the rings, or the people around us. I only needed him. I gave him my answer with my kiss and I’d give him my answer later tonight with my body.
A throat clearing had us both backing off, remembering the entire town watched us. Wyatt stood and Dad clapped him on the back. The girls rushed in, along with Mom, to see the rings in the box.
“Oh, I know which one I’d wear!” Vee exclaimed.
“I think they’re both beautiful,” Izzy declared.
Emmeline popped her head into our huddle. “That big diamond could be a weapon, right, Oakley?”
I grinned at her, realizing how excited I was to get yet another sister in the deal. Wyatt pushed back into our group. “May I?” He nodded toward the ring box.
I put my left hand out and let him place both rings on my ring finger. He’d been right to get me a smaller ring. The family ring would take some getting used to. Might have to do some hand-strengthening exercises before I wore it again. Hell, even my Glock was lighter than that thing.
The music cranked up again and Wyatt spun me away from my family, where we danced most of the night away. When the parents had all left and the alcohol was flowing freely, I tapped out of dancing and headed over to my sisters while Wyatt got us some drinks.
“Will you help me plan the wedding, Esme?”
The girl could plan a presidential inauguration in her sleep. Organization was her middle name.
She smiled so brightly I knew it was worth it to have her nag me for months on end about every detail. “Yes, I’d love to!” She pulled out her phone and scrolled. “Let me just check my calendar. Okay, so I can meet you Monday of next week after I get back from Tahoe. Does that work?”
I nodded, not having anything planned but work. While that might have made me feel inferior six months ago, now I knew there wasn’t anything wrong with me for not being a social creature like Esme. We were sisters, but we were also very different.
Vee squealed. “Tahoe? Why are you going to Tahoe and can I come?”
Esme rolled her eyes. “Find your own friends, Vee. I’m actually going there for a bachelorette party. You remember my friend Ashley? She’s getting married in October.”
“But I just turned twenty-one, and your friends are my friends, right?” Vee pouted. All of us could see by the look on Esme’s face, there was no way she’d change her mind.
Amelia rubbed her extended belly. “You’re still friends with Ashley? Wasn’t she the one who stole your prom date senior year?”
Izzy snorted. “You’d think that would kill a friendship, but these two are more like frenemies.”
Em nodded enthusiastically. “I totally understand. I have a lot of frenemies too.”
“I don’t get it,” I interjected. Why be friends with someone if you hated them?
Esme stood up straight, loving any moment when she could appear the expert. “A frenemy is someone you’re friendly with, but you also compete with and want to always do better than.” Then she slouched, very unlike her. “I’m so not looking forward to going. She’s got a rock almost as big as Oakley’s on her finger, and I don’t even have a boyfriend.”
Izzy patted her on the back. “Ahh, it’s okay. You’re freaking gorgeous, E. You’ll find a man in no time. But you may want to drop the business suit. It scares men off.”
Esme gave Izzy a look that only a sister could give. “It’s not the suit. I went out last weekend to some janky bar and this guy was hitting on me and he wasn’t horrible looking. I’d probably had one too many martinis, and I said I’d only go home with him if he could promise me a good twelve inches.”
“Life’s too short to go home with small dick men. I get it.” Vee sighed like she’d spent so many years dealing with substandard men.
My cheeks burned. I really hated when my sisters went off about their sex lives. I just wasn’t one to share the details. I mean, Wyatt gave me all the inches I needed and then some, but you didn’t see me bragging about it.
“You know what he said back?” Esme looked positively appalled. “He said if I wanted that, he could just fuck me twice!”
Emmeline snorted, I shut my eyes in horror, and Amelia grabbed her belly like she might pee herself from laughing so hard. Vee’s lips twisted in disgust, and Izzy looked around the party like she was looking for an excuse to get out of this conversation.
When we’d all calmed down and Esme had finished off her drink, I tried to be positive. “I think you need this trip, then, Esme. Go have fun, but never compare yourself to Ashley. The girl knits cat costumes for a living.”
