Page 37 of Playing it Country

“Sorry, that’s a soapbox I have a hard time getting off of.”

“Hell no, girl, that wasamazing. You’re definitely the right person for this. How much do you charge?” Isla asks and I wave her off.

“Don’t be silly,” I say and the girls exchange a look.

“She has no idea who she’s dealing with.” Rhea snickers and I let my gaze bounce around to each of them.

“Okay, so what else do we need? Outfits?”

“I know a woman who has a lingerie shop in Blackstone Falls,” Cheyenne says and then she points to Isla. “Do you think the girls at the spa will do hair and makeup?”

“I’ll make the call.” Isla looks at me. “Give me a price for each of us, and if you don’t, then I’ll be forced to look up some prices, and I won’t choose the cheapest one when it comes time to write the check.”

“You’re terrifying, you know that, right?”

She lifts a shoulder. “It’s been said.”

“She’s all bark,” Rhea says as she hugs Isla to her side and then grins as she adds, “Well, mostly…”

They all crack up and I find myself laughing too. I can’t remember ever sitting down with a group of girlfriends for drinks—let alone initiating it. Sure, every new town has a couple of people I connect with but never anything like this.

This group of women is fierce, and their loyalty and friendship is unwavering, and I can’t help but pretend like this could be mine too.

“Is photography what you want to do full time?” Cheyenne asks, but it quiets the room and my cheeks heat at the attention.

“I do some freelance photography, but I’m waiting to hear back about a traveling position. Until then, I’m working at the bar for my aunt and uncle but…” My words trail off as I debate my next words. “It feels different here and I like that.”

Isla smirks. “I was only taking a sabbatical from my life in Chicago when I landed here if that makes you feel better.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I’ve never wanted to settle down. Staying in one place has always felt stifling, but I actually like it here. For now at least.” I add the last part on instinct, but somehow it doesn’t hit the same as it usually does.

“What would you do if you did settle somewhere? Would you do photography full time?”

Popping a grape in my mouth, I bob my head from side to side. “Honestly, I’ve always wanted to open a bookstore. I read a lot of different things, and I love the smell of books.”

“Do you read romance?” Rhea asks.

“I mean, sometimes, but I tend to gravitate toward thrillers or something with suspense. Why?”

“No reason.” The girls all chuckle and I stare at Rhea expectantly. “Sorren and Hayden like to buddy read together, and I was just wondering if you had any recommendations I could pass along.”

“Oh, hmm, I’ll have to think about it.” The names give me pause and the question is out of my mouth before I can think better of it. “Hayden and Sorren have a book club?”

“Buddy read,” Fallon corrects like that makes that dynamic any less shocking.

“They do. There’s this really interesting balance between them,” Marlee says. “Hayden is my age and he just knows Sorren now. There’s no history between them, so where I tried to smother him when he was discharged from the military, Hayden just lets him be…himself.”

“It’s been good for both of them, I think. Sorren is extra broody and Hayden is just extra so it works,” Rhea adds with a soft smile, and I wonder if there’s something else she’s not saying.

“On the plus side, if you settled down here, you know you’d at least have those two to keep you in business,” Marlee says with a chuckle.

“Plus, I know a really great location you could rent,” Rhea adds with a wink, and I shake my head with a laugh.

We talk and laugh about everything and nothing, and by the time they’re all headed home I find that I actually had fun. Honestly, there hasn’t been one event with these people that I can say I didn’t like.

I’m happy here.

Maybe I should be terrified or cautious of the implications, but I’m not, and I won’t allow myself to spiral any more than I already have with what may or may never be.

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