We finish the movie after missing half of it. My phone continues to ring off the hook in my back pocket, and I smile for having new friends who care about me, no matter how outlandish their methods may be. Maybe this whole dating app fiasco is the perfect distraction.
After the movie finished, we decided to paint each other's nails before an impromptu dance party broke out. Hunter brought her speaker into the living room, queuing up an early 2000s hip hop playlist.
“My ride will be here in five,” Laine shouts over the music. “The perfect amount of time for one last song, so make it good, Hunt!”
“I have just the one,” she shouts back, swiping away on her phone before Nelly fills the room.
“This used to be my jammmm,” Laine yells, a slight slur to her words before belting out, “So take off all your clothes!” She starts twerking, definitely off beat to the song. It’s adorable.
“Get it babe,” Hunter hollers, shaking her hips on the back of the couch.
I’m dancing just as hard, the booze flowing through my veins in the best way. My breaths heave with each beat. I decide to join Hunter on the couch, grinding against her. She grabs my hips and smacks my ass. We both giggle until I realize one very important thing.
“Shit!” I yell. “I don’t have a way home.” Hunter picked me up since I don’t have a car, and getting back home never crossed my mind.
“Just crash here,” Hunter replies, swaying my hips for me.
“I have to get home to my cat.”
Laine flicks her hand in my direction, gyrating her hips at the same time, like she’s spinning an invisible hula hoop. If I wasn’t so concerned, I would laugh at her. “I got you, girl. Gray is picking me up with Nova. He’s going home to the ranch anyways, so you can ride with us.”
The last place I want to be right now is back in Grayson's truck while tipsy. It’s a recipe for a disaster. I’m also not sure I drank enough to not have a panic attack in the truck with him. I’m really not in the mood to open that can of worms tonight.
What other option do I have, though? It’s either Grayson or leaving Evie alone for the night. She’s in a new place, and leaving her alone would break my heart.
Time to face two of your fears at the same time.What could go wrong?
Research Notes: you can never avoid a cowboy.
grayson
. . .
NINETEEN
I pullup to Hunter’s, putting the car in park. Nova is pretty sleepy but wanted to stay awake to see her mom. I shoot a text to Laine, not wanting to leave Nova in the car alone. I wonder if Maisie is still in there. That thought dies when two sets of eyes pop out of Hunter’s front door.
I roll down the window of Laine’s car, the rain getting the seat wet. It was easier to take her car than switch Nova’s car seat to mine. I’m thankful for that when both the girls approach the car.
“I told Maisie you could give her a ride home, since you’re already heading to the ranch,” Laine says, opening the back door to slide in next to Nova. Nova squeals, throwing her mom into a bear hug. “I missed you, sweet girl,” she coos.
I clear my throat. “Yeah, yup, that’s totally fine.” I don’t know how I thought Maisie would be getting home, spending the night maybe, but it never crossed my mind she might need a ride too.
“Thank you.” Maisie gives me a shy, apologetic smile, slipping into the front seat. Nova can’t go anywhere without her unicorn, and she has it strapped into the seat next to her, taking up the back.
I mess with the buttons in Laine’s fancy car, making sure the temperature is just right. The joking man from earlier is out the window tonight. Maisie has a way of making the nerves come out, but she also feels like home.
“Waisie!” Nova cheers, clearly not as tired as I thought.
“Hey, Nova girl. Did you have a fun time with your uncle tonight?”
She bounces in her chair. “We had pancakes again. You missed it,” she pouts, crossing her arms.
Maisie chuckles under her breath, grabbing the door handle tightly as I put the car in reverse. “Maybe next time,” she promises.
The drive to Laine’s is fairly quick. The further we drive, the harder Maisie white-knuckles the door handle. She fumbles through her purse, pulling out a lip balm to use. Her hand trembles when she puts it away. I take note but don’t say anything. There’s nothing about Maisie I wouldn’t notice at this point, down to her new nail polish.
Honey colored, just like her eye.
