Page 24 of Sundown Somewhere

I snort. Had we opted to come here, that would have been a distinct possibility. Although Emily and Rose probably wouldn’t have been very far behind her. All three of them were more than happy to take advantage and spend Hux’s money like it was going out of style when he said that he would cover the bachelorette—all expenses paid—as the man of honor, as long as he wasn’t required to attend.

“I thought about it, but…” I pause, my stomach roiling as I think back. “But I wanted to save it. Thinking it would be a romantic trip. I had tried to get Jeff to come for my birthday a couple of times, but he could never get the time off work.”

Or maybe he wouldn’t take the time…fucker…

“Well, we’re here now. That’s what matters.”

Yes, it is.

My heart squeezes, the corners of my eyes starting to burn as tears threaten. The last thing I want to do right now is cry. That is not how I want to start this trip. That’s not what this trip is about. It’s not a pity party.

So we’re not going to throw one.

Marching straight toward the water, I swallow hard, shoving the sad me right out of the way. It’s time for her to take a break. Time for the one she’s been overshadowing to shine.

Cold water hits my bare feet, the shock slamming into the red-hot emotion bubbling to the surface, forcing her up and out. Allowing me to do what I’ve wanted to do since Hux handed me that note.

I scream.

It’s loud. Angry. Shrill. So unladylike and borderline bloodcurdling that I’m sure I turn a few heads. I do not give a damn. Because it’s also freeing. A release like nothing I’ve ever felt. So I do it again.

Louder. Harder. Longer.

Until my lungs hurt.

I have no idea how long I stand there and scream. Tears streaming down my face, my throat coarse and my body yielding, I slump down, ready to collapse. Until a pair of strong arms wrap around me from behind, giving me the support I need. My heart leaps, a new energy pouring into me, the safety I felt earlier once again taking over.

“I got you,” Hux whispers, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head.

And he does. He always has.

“I’d say fuck Jeff, but I already did that, and look where that got me,” I snark, letting the bitter take over for a moment. I feel Hux chuckle behind me, his laughter making our bodies shake. “So I hope he sits on a cactus. Or his favorite book gets a really bad movie adaptation. Or something equally as horrible.”

“May he always piss into the wind,” Hux adds.

Shakespeare has nothing on us.

Twisting in Hux’s arms, I look up at him, ready to thank him for being here. For dragging me out of Hickory Hills. For being the best friend I could ask for. But the glint in his eye tells me he’s still thinking about my ex peeing himself, and I am not about to ruin that.

Instead, I lean into the moment.

“So, you said something about finding trouble?”

8

DOLLY

I stare at the bright, shiny weapon in my hand, the nice textured grip on one end, the other heavy and blunt, wondering just how much damage I could do with this. And if it was really a good idea to hand me such a thing.

Then I look up and see the windmill.

That thing is going down…

“What color balls would you like?” the kid behind the counter asks, clearly unimpressed with his lot in life. Part of me wants to tell him to cheer up, he could be a jilted bride, but then I think better of it. There’s no way this pimply, barely legal, and probably stoned kid could comprehend that. “We just had a princess party come through, so we’re all out of pink.”

Hux looks to me, eyebrows raised, letting me know the choice is mine. That is, unless I want pink.

“Lime green for me, blue for him.”