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“Definitely in a good way.” He laughed. “I mean, I half-expected you to be one of those psycho stalker types.”
My body went cold. What had Liam said to him?
He reached across the console and took my hand. “It’s so nice to find out you’re normal.”
I laughed awkwardly. “Ha. Normal. Yep, that’s me.” I definitely sounded anythingbutnormal right now. “Well, listen, have fun with your sister and tell her hi for me. Maybe someday I’ll meet her.”
I couldn’t help hinting at it one last time. If I was going to be invited at all, it was now.
He looked at me like he was going to say something, and I crossed all of my crossable toes, wishing he’d just say it. Invite me,please. He seemed to decide against it and sent me a smile. “I’m sure someday you will.”
Someday. Not tomorrow, but someday. On that disappointing note, I let myself out of the car.
Rhett came around the side and touched my hand, stopping me from going inside. “It’s too soon.”
Great. He must’ve noticed my disappointment.
“No, I get that. I totally understand. It’s huge to meet the family. Have fun with Hallie, and I’ll see you in two days.” Was that chipper enough? I was smiling like Jackson McTeeth.
I reached up on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his cheek before turning around and walking into the hotel ahead of him. It was crazy how I could feel such joy and such disappointment simultaneously.
Chapter Twenty
We returned to the Stockyardsthe following night to learn how to line dance—Billy Bob’s was located right behind the rodeo. Adalyn and I had spent the day scouting out a boot store and decking our feet in authentic Texan cowgirl boots, then having lunch at a burger place downtown. Adalyn’s boots were red and gorgeous, and mine were light brown. With all the denim, I really felt like we were fitting in.
We paid and found our way to the instruction area when my stomach started doing a weird rumble. I’d eaten an entire burger earlier, so I knew I wasn’t hungry.
“Y’all ready to learn how to dance?” a woman called. She vaguely resembled Dolly Parton, and I admired the height of her hair. That must have takena lotof backcombing to achieve.
The assortment of people gathered near us varied in age, and they responded to her question with hoots and howls. I stood next to Adalyn at the back, pressing a hand to my stomach.
“You okay?” she asked quietly. She was probably trying to avoid disrupting the basic preliminary instructions—that we were now missing.
“I think so.” It would pass. That burger probably just hadn’t agreed with me.
We were directed to stand in lines, and “All My Exes Live in Texas” started filtering through the speakers.
I tried to follow the instructions, but my head had begun to feel thick, and my stomach was not settling down. When the heavyset man in front of me almost stepped on my new boots, I got out of the way and moved to the edge of the room. I dropped into a chair, leaning my elbows on the table and lowering my forehead to my palms. Maybe if I sat here and didn’t move, the nausea would subside.
“What’s wrong?” Adalyn asked.
I swallowed. My mouth watered with the telltale sign that I was going to be sick. “I think I might throw up,” I said faintly.
I heard Adalyn’s intake of breath. I needed to find a garbage can immediately. I pushed out from the table and ran toward the side of the building, where a trashcan was waiting. I bent over and emptied half the contents of my lunch into the bin.
Adalyn stood behind me, holding my hair back. When I was finished, she fetched me some damp paper towels to wipe my mouth.
“Do you feel better?” she asked.
“Actually, no.” My stomach rolled, and I wanted nothing more than to lie down. “I’m going to leave, but you should stay.”
She looked really unsure. “Let me get you back to the hotel.”
And miss her night of country dancing to watch me puke? No way. “Seriously, you should stay. If you leave now, you won’t learn how to dance. You don’t want to miss all those hot cowboys.” We Ubered over anyway, so I could Uber back alone.
I pulled out my phone to find the app.
“You aren’t taking an Uber in this condition. I’ll call Chad.” She whipped out her phone and found his number, then pressed it to her ear. “Hey. Are you busy?” She turned away from me. “Billy Bob’s. Beth is sick. Any chance you can swing by and bring her back to the hotel? Great, see you soon.” She hung up the phone and slid it into her pocket. “Chad will be here in five.”
