Page 25 of Bride ’N Boots

“Maybe.”

“Stay on the phone with me,” she said. “And tell me what’s in his medicine cabinet. Oh, and look underneath the bathroom sink.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Just do it,” she commanded.

“Bossy.” I climbed off the bed and padded to the bathroom and immediately opened the cabinet under the sink. “Toilet paper, thing of mouthwash, an unopened box of jumbo-sized⁠—”

“Jumbo? I’m so happy for you.”

I snorted. “Tell me why you wanted me to look under the sink.”

“No tampon boxes?”

“Nope.”

“Then he really is single.”

“Oh,” I said quietly.

I closed the cabinet door and sank down onto the floor and leaned against the wall.

“So, you talked to Ethan, yes?”

“Yeah.” I gave her a quick update and then fell silent.

“How are you feeling about all of it?”

“Okay, I think.”

“Not sad?”

“Pissed. But not sad,” I said.

“Pissed at Ethan?”

“No. At myself. For begging for scraps for so long. Anyway, it’s over now. I’m focusing on the future.”

“And the jumbo-sized box of condoms?”

A key in the door alerted me to Stratton’s return.

“Gotta go. Talk soon.”

I scrambled off the floor of the bathroom just as Stratton entered the cabin, carrying brown takeout bags.

He smiled when he saw me. “You’re awake.”

“Yeah.” I smiled sheepishly. “Sorry I passed out.”

“All good.” He raised the bags. “I got barbecue. Hope that’s okay?”

“Better than okay.”

I followed him to the kitchen and started opening cabinets in search of plates. When I found them, I grabbed two and turned around to find him watching me again.

“You’re making yourself at home,” he said softly. “I like that.”