Page 34 of Butter My Biscuit

“So …”

Before she can finish, Grace comes to my side. She’s laughing and smiling. “Landon, this is my best friend who’s basically like my brother, Harrison.” Then, Grace looks at me. “This is Landon.”

I hold out my hand. “Hey, Landon. Nice to meet ya.”

His handshake is firm, and he’s dressed nice. “Good to meet ya.”

“So, what do you do?” I look him from head to toe, noticing his nice-as-hell boots and the huge-as-fuck buckle he’s sporting.

“He’s a bronco rider.” She’s beaming. “And he trains horses.”

I tilt my head. “Really? Landon … Wells?”

He looks at me curiously. “Yeah? How’d you know that?”

“Dude, I’ve watched you ride on the internet. Damn. You’re a champ.” I give Grace a slight nod, and she grins, understanding. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Nah, I’m good,” he says. “Just wanted to come introduce myself. Grace told me about you and your brother’s business. I’m gonna have to look it up.”

“You should,” I tell him. “Come check it out if you’re in the area. My older brother is a huge fan.”

“I might.” He glances at Grace, who is looking at him with googly eyes. “Nice meetin’ ya.”

He wraps his arm around her, and she looks over her shoulder at me. I give her a thumbs-up, and when I turn around, River is gone, chatting with someone on the other end of the bar. I notice she refilled my whiskey though; maybe she knew I’d need it. I sit on the barstool, not paying any attention to anything that’s going on, lost in my thoughts.

Eventually, River returns, and she makes a face at me. “Why do you look so …down?”

I shake my head with a smirk. “I don’t.”

“Yeah, you do. You look like someone knocked your tricycle over.”

“I barely know you, and you’re giving me shit. I feel like I’m at home.”

“All small towns are the same, you know. Some have beaches. Others have mountains. At the end of the day, same old shit,” she tells me, then looks out to the crowd of people dancing and sees Grace with Landon. “Ahh. Got my answer.”

“What?” My brows squish together.

“You have a thing for her.” She grabs the towel and wipes off the bar.

“No, I don’t.”

She slides me another whiskey. After this one, I’ll stop, sober up.

“I grew up workin’ in a bar. I own the most successful one on the island. We see millions of tourists in here during the summer. You really think you’re the only man I’ve ever seen look at a girl like that when she’s dancing with someone else?”

I roll my eyes.

“Hardheaded Taurus.”

“I’m not sitting here and having this cliché-as-fuck conversation with some bar owner who acts like she knows everything about relationships.”

She snickers and wrings out her towel, cleaning off the empty glasses sitting next to me. “If this were like in the movies, the conversation we’re having right now would be the one that changes your entire life.”

“So, tell me something so good that I’ll never forget it,” I suggest, knocking back the rest of my drink.

She leans her elbow against the bar. “If you don’t tell your best friend who isjust like your sisterthat you have a thing for her, you’ll lose the fucking opportunity. Trust me on that one.”

She looks past me, and I turn and zero in on them together, having a good time.

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