Page 71 of Alive and Wells

Party-pooper?These guys turn into complete ten-year-olds when they’re drunk. Sitting back down, I take a headcount.Oh, for fuck.Colt’s shirtless on stage with the band, but I’m too tired to give a shit. They’ll kick him off if they don’t want him there. Denny’s making out with a girl on a picnic table. Sundial’s dancing with Jacky and Austin. And Red’s next to me. Good, everybody who should still be here is accounted for. I let out a relieved sigh.

“Havin’ fun, Filly?” Red shouts my way.

“Yeah, my feet hurt and I’m getting tired though. Why aren’t you out there?”

“I’m a lot of things, but not a dancer.” He swigs from his beer bottle and we both watch the crowd jumping in time with the song’s bass. “He loves you, eh?”

How do I respond to that?“Oh… yeah.”

“He hasn’t been back to this rodeo since the year their mom died. Sav barrel raced and he wouldn’t even watch her race here. So I don’t know what you said to get him here but it’s good. I’m glad he came.”

“Yeah, me, too.” Truthfully, I said nothing except that I was going to be here. I smile at Red and then go back to watching Austin, acting like a complete idiot as he twirls shirtless Colt around.God, I love him.

When the band stops playing to announce last call for alcohol, the crowd groans while I bite my tongue to stop from cheering. It’s been fun, but I’m painfully sober and no longer enjoying my babysitting duties. The boys grab their final beers and huddle around my picnic table.

“Heard there’s an after party down at the roughies camp,” Colt announces as he rushes up to us.

They all look at me intently and I shake my head with a firm no. “Not happening, I’m going home. It’s too late and I’m too sober.”

Austin comes up behind me, pressing his chest to my back and sloppily wrapping his arms around me tight enough to make me groan. “Might be fun.”

“Do I need to remind you about the jizz situation happening in my underwear right now?” No amount of cleanup in a public rodeo bathroom was enough. My lips brush the shell of his ear. “Consider yourself lucky I stayed here this long.”

“Fuck, are you trying to get me hard again?”

“Always.” I wink.

With a kiss on top of my head, he looks at the guys and says, “Home time, boys. Listen to the lady.”

“I’m taking all of you? How?” There are definitely not enough seats in Austin’s truck. Or Red’s. If I absolutely had to, I suppose I could make two trips, but it’s really late and I’m exhausted.

“It’s cool, we’ll ride in the box.” Denny slams his empty beer bottle down on the table. “Let’s go.”

“That’s dangerous. No way.”

“We do it all the time, Filly,” Denny retorts.

I look to Austin for confirmation and he nods. This is absolutely not something that would be acceptable back in the city. Then again, it’s probably not much more dangerous than sitting on your friend’s lap in the back of a taxi. I’ve done that dozens of times to save on fares.

“Ugh, fine.” I start toward the gated exit. “If you’re not all at the truck in five minutes, I’m going home without you.”

Austin’s hand holds my waist as we walk through the half-empty parking lot to his truck. We’re swaying, hips repeatedly bumping into one another. He laughs more on the five-minute walk than I’ve ever heard, and I’ve never been so in love.

Once the guys pile into the back, I start the truck and crawl it out to the main road—anxiously checking the rearview mirror every few seconds to make sure the guys are safe.

For the first ten minutes of the drive, Austin’s so quiet I assume he must be asleep. Hearing his voice in the dark cab makes me jump. “I’ve been thinking.”

Holding a hand to my chest until my nerves unscramble, I ask, “Thinking about what?”

“I decided I’m fine with being your second husband because I’ll be your last.”

I nearly veer off the road as I spin to look at him.Good God, where did that come from?My brain’s mush. I’m unable to think in words, let alone form a meaningful sentence.

He turns sideways in his seat to continue talking. “You’d be my first and only. But you know what’s funny?”

No, I don’t because I have no idea where this conversation is heading. He’s shared small, happy bits about his mom and his childhood, but the only time we touch on hard topics is when they’re about my life. I’ve been dying for him to fully open up and let me in. Although, I’m not sure doing it while he’s wasted is the best way.

“If Sav had said yes, I would be so fucked because you can’t have two wives and I still would’ve wanted you. You’re everything.”

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