Page 11 of Bride ’N Boots

What he said wasn’t wrong.

The problem was it would be too easy to listen to him.

CHAPTER FIVE

The matriarch of the Calhoun family was kneading dough in the kitchen when I came into the ranch house.

“Hi,” I said. “Do you mind if I use the bathroom?”

“Of course not,” Jo said. “Right through there.” She pointed.

I ducked into the bathroom and pulled out my phone.

My heart was still racing after my interaction with Stratton, so I did the only thing I could think of.

I called Ethan.

It rang three times and was about to go to voicemail when he finally picked up.

“Hey, babe,” he greeted. “How are you?”

“I’m good . . . doing a photo shoot today.”

“Oh, right. How’s it going?”

“It’s off to a rocky start. I had to fill in for the bride. And we had to find a new groom.”

“You’re kidding. What happened to the models?”

“They got into a fight and refused to do the shoot together, so I stepped in. It’s way too late to reschedule anything, so we just have to figure it out.”

“Who did they find as the groom?” he asked.

“Oh, just some guy,” I said evasively. “Someone from Huckleberry Hill.”

“A townie saves the day?”

My nose wrinkled at the word. “Yeah.”

“Oh. Well . . . good.”

We fell silent, and I realized our silences were no longer comfortable. I wondered if they’d ever been comfortable.

“You sound distracted,” I said eventually.

“Hmm? Oh, sorry, babe. I’m getting ready for this meeting in an hour. You mind if I call you when I’m done?”

“Oh. Yeah, sure, that’s fine.”

“Great. Hope the shoot goes well. Talk to you later.”

We hung up and I stared at my screen for a moment.

When was the last time we’d said I love you?

Come to think of it, when was the last time either of us had even made an effort to be in the same state as the other one? I couldn’t remember the last time either of us suggested a weekend visit.

As much as I hated it, Stratton was right. So was Arden, for that matter. She’d been bugging me to break up with Ethan for weeks. Actually, since the moment we decided to do long distance without an end date in mind.