Page 134 of Boots, Bucket Lists & Bad Ideas
“It doesn’t mean ride a fucking mechanical bull in a dress.” I don’t know why I’m getting involved, and why I’m doing itso aggressively. “Have any of you met Jade? She doesn’t wear dresses.”
“She’s wearing a dress here.” Bronx taps out book, and he’s lucky I don’t leap across this table and tackle him.
“Nope, it ain’t no picnic.” Bronx tosses the book on the table.
It lands open to the exact page. I swear it’s just staring at me, teasing me, and baiting me.
Bronx smirks at me. “But I like the way you think. I’m gonna tuck that away for another time.”
My hands fist. He better fucking not. And he better fucking not with Jade.
“Maybe the swirling dress means dancing,” Hannah suggests. “Like a night of dancing and riding a mechanical bar. She was young, so it could be some fantasy to go to a bar before she was legally of age.”
“Let’s vote.” Josie collects the book and stands on the bench of the picnic table.
“Watch it, kid.” Bronx crosses his arms over his front and leans back. “You don’t want to fall off and break that little neck of yours.”
She points the book at him. “You, fuck off. Everyone else, who thinks it’s a night of dominating picnic in the middle of nowhere? Show of hands.”
Bronx slides his arm in the air.
“You would,” Josie mutters.
“Or, a wild night at the bar, dancing and riding a mechanical bull? Show of hands.”
All hands go up.
Josie makes a drum sound on the picnic table. “And, the final say is...” She swings her arms to Jade, and we all wait for her to tell us exactly what the pages mean.
This oughtta be rich.
24: OGRES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR STRENGTH
JADE
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ALL EYES ARE on me.
I’m not used to it.
And I don’t like it.
But the first thing I notice is that Hart’s dark gaze doesn’t unsettle me like it used to.
My eyes don’t even seek his out first. My instinct isn’t to snap back or prepare a fight.
Instead, a slow smile tugs at my lips. My bucket list is over ten years old, and I’m not that same girl anymore. Hell, I’m not even the woman I was yesterday.
And you know what?
I like this change.
I like me.
Today, the weight of a lifetime has been lifted from me. And as the sun dips below the horizon, it’s like a final confirmation that the heaviness I once carried for Hart is gone. I’m left feeling light, free, and sure of what I want, so I raise my arms in the air.
“Drinks and dancing.”
