Page 57 of Butter My Biscuit

“No, no, you’re not. If anything, I’d be the third wheel because you two have a higher chance of getting together than me and him, ya know?” I tell her.

Things like that just roll so easily off my tongue that I don’t have to think about it anymore. Even though he just stole my breath away and we almost went too far. We lost control—that’s all it was.

“You’re right,” he says, agreeing with me. “Are you hungry? I cooked homemade pasta.”

I look over my shoulder at Harrison, and he’s in the kitchen, calm and collected.

“Yeah, you should join us. I even kinda made the sauce with a lot of help. We were just about to eat and watch some TV—that’s it. We’ll be the Three Musketeers.”

Harrison walks into the living room and hands Haley a glass of wine. Then, he returns with two plates.

I look up at him and smile. “Thank you.”

“Thanks,” Haley says, and we sit next to each other on the couch.

I sit in the middle; Haley is on one side, and Harrison is on the other.

“So, tell me what happened.” I try to focus on Haley as Harrison’s leg brushes against mine.

The temperature in the room rises, and I feel like I might internally combust. Stupid-as-fuck goose bumps trail my arm, and rub them away.

“He … he … he called me up and told me that he didn’t love me anymore and couldn’t pretend anymore.” She sniffles, then blows her nose on her napkin. “You can’t even fix that. It’s over.”

I wrap my arms around her. “I’m sorry you’re going through this.”

“Aww, but you’re going through it too. It’s the only reason I came over.” She wipes her face.

I nod and glance at Harrison before turning to her. “I’m doing okay.”

“I hate men!” she says, shaking her head.

“Me too,” I tell her.

“Me three,” Harrison says, and we all laugh.

“Don’t act like you’re innocent,” Haley tells him. “You’ve made hundreds of women cry.”

“Is it hundreds? Lost count. Might be thousands at this point.” He shrugs. “There’s one thing about me though: I don’t lead people on. What you see is what you get, flaws and all.”

I swallow hard. “Harrison is proof good guys still exist.”

She laughs.

And I squeeze her. “Now, no more crying over delicious-as-fuck pasta and Daddy Kevin Costner. That cowboy hat.” I fan myself. “Oh, I met someone,” I tell her. “Landon.”

I think Harrison tenses beside me.

“Is he single?”

I nod. “I can introduce you two. I think I’m gonna live in my single-girl era for a little while before rushing into another relationship. Next time, it has to be forever.”

“Okay,” she says. “He’s cute?”

“Girl, like, ten times hotter than Harrison.”

“Ten times?” he huffs. “Landon is a bull rider. That dude wins. Gotta have the balls to do that shit—balls that you don’t mind losing. I’m good. Hundred times hotter.”

I howl. “See, even Harrison approves. I’ll introduce you to one another, and who knows what will happen?”

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