AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I know some guys have a thing for heels. They like them over their shoulder, more so. But fancy shit doesn't do much for me. I blink down at her shiny, pointy shoes, and find myself widening my stance to accommodate my stiffening cock as I rememberDolly’s bare feet.
She’s a salt of the earth kind of woman, and that’s what I like. Someone who wants to feel the ranch beneath her and live on the land that keeps her fed.
“Guess you did,” I reply, forcing a small smile. “We were just about to go.”
I glance over at Deuce, who is now peppering kisses onto Everly’s hand while she giggles.Jesus Christ. If they’d cut thisno,you hang up firstbullshit, I could’ve avoided whatever this is going to be.
“Look at that,” she says quietly, though even when she’s keeping her voice low, the pitch is still somehow….grating. “They love each other so much it’s hard for them to spend a weekend apart.” She pokes my belly, and I don’t care for it. “Don’t you wonder what that feels like?”
“No,” I answer quickly. “I know what it’s like.” I hook athumb to the truck behind me in the drive. “I was trying to smell Bear on my shirt because I miss him already.”
Her face falls, because even though my response was honest, it’s clear she was trying to flirt and thinks I missed the cue.
I didn’t miss the cue.
I don’t wanna pretend that I’d ever stand on my front porch and be kissing Tiffani's hand because I don’t want to say goodbye.
I’m all for getting back in the dating game and slowly introducing Bear to a woman who becomes important to me, but I’m having a hard time believing that Tiffani could ever be more.
“That’s sweet,” she says, her face suspended in an unnatural smile. “Well, I thought I’d come to tell you good luck.” She leans in, grabbing my shirt to tug me down to her. “Just don’t get too lucky.” She winks as Deuce approaches, slapping Tiffani on the back, causing her to jolt.
“Hey, Tiffani.”
“Uh, hey, Deuce,” she says, straightening a little from his brazen greeting. “I just came to say bye to Hudson and to tell him good luck. But… don’t get too lucky.”
Deuce steps onto the side of his pickup, talking to Tiffani over the hood. “No such thing as too lucky.” He looks past her to Ev, who is still on the porch, holding the door closed. “Bye, baby. I’m gonna miss you and your sweet lips and that soft little?—”
“I will come around this truck and beat you senseless if you finish that sentence,” I deadpan sternly. I already told him, I’ll go on this bachelor trip as long as no one says agoddamn word about my sister. As far as I know, she’s still a virgin.
Let me live in delusion, damn it.
Deuce buckles up, laughing, and as he pulls out of the driveway, I catch an eyeful from the side mirror.
Dolly on the porch, feet still bare, her eyes set on the back of Tiffani’s head in the driveway, waving us off like we’re going to war. Her eyes are narrowed, and I swear to fuck, her lips are pulled into a scowl. But then Bear appears, and her expression morphs to softness and adoration.
I sit a little straighter in the seat, nodding along with Deuce’s plans to double down on roulette to win big.
All the while I keep thinking…AmI right about Dolly?
fifteen
FAIR IS FAIR.
Dolly
Thisisn’tthe plan. This is veering very far off course and while I pride myself on always being able to see the bigger picture, I’m having a very hard time understanding whyTiffaniis at Hudson’s house while he’s on his trip to Las Vegas.
“Maybe Everly invited her?” Juniper offers, her hair in an elegant bun on top of her head, a silver pin through the center. She’s making more cherry jam today, and if I didn’t know it, I’d wonder who she killed because there are thick streaks of red all over her forearms and apron.
“Or maybe she just stopped by? Remember, she popped inbeforeHudson left for Vegas,” Ivy offers, coming to stand on the opposite side as Juni. The three of us stand in ourliving room, curtains pulled, sights set on the shitty teal car in front of Hudson’s.
“I don’t want her bonding with Bear and rekindling her friendship with Everly.”Don’t play family with my family, you cunt. “She’s a lying, money-grubbing whore,” I breathe, my anger spinning up at the speed of light.
“I can go over there and pretend to need sugar or something?” Juni offers softly, stroking her hands down my hair to soothe the storm she clearly knows is twisting around inside me. “Find out why she’s there?”
“Wait,” Ivy says, sliding her hand in mine.
A few years ago, the three of us saw a therapist together. It’s not like I don’t know that obsessing over a man isn’tcompletelynormal. And Ivy and Juni, well, they have their things too.
