Page 171 of Saltwater Cowboy

DOWN BAD

As soon as Rose and I stepped out of that damn room, the air felt lighter, like I could finally breathe.

I glanced down at our still-joined hands, her fingers curled loosely around mine. She hadn’t pulled away.

But I wasn’t about to screw this up again.

Letting go just long enough to grab my phone off the counter, I unlocked it with a swipe and pulled up Marie’s number. My thumbs hovered over the keyboard for a beat before I finally typed out the message:

Wells: Hey, Marie. I won’t be able to make dinner. I want to see where this thing with Rose can go.

I stared at the words for half a second longer than I should have.

It sounded weird. Not because I didn’t want it to be true, but because I hadn’t let myself imagine it could be.

But now? Rose was mine. And I wasn’t about to let anything—especially my own stupidity—get in the way of that.

I hit send before I could second-guess it.

Marie’s reply came almost immediately.

Marie: Wow. Why did you lead me on?

I sighed, scrubbing a hand over my jaw. I wasn’t going to play into whatever passive-aggressive thing this was.

Wells: I panicked when we were on the phone the other day. I’m really sorry.

The typing bubble popped up, then disappeared, then popped up again. Eventually, she just sent:

Marie: I understand. I hope she’s everything you want.

I locked my phone and set it down, exhaling hard. Done. Over with. No loose ends.

When I turned back, Rose was watching me, her expression unreadable.

“Well?” she asked.

I crossed the room in a few strides, closing the space between us again. “Handled.”

Her lips parted slightly like she wasn’t sure whether to believe me or not. “Just like that?”

“Just like that.” I reached for her hand again, brushing my thumb over the back of it. “You told me what you needed, and I did it. Because I meant what I said in there, Rose. I’m all in.”

Something flickered in her eyes—hesitation, maybe. But it wasn’t fear anymore. It was something softer. Something hopeful.

She swallowed hard. “Thank you.”

I placed a kiss to her temple.

Just as the moment between us settled, a small, mischievous voice cut through the air.

“Does this mean I get to be the flower girl at your wedding?”

Rose and I both turned to find Wren standing in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, eyes alight with curiosity and just a little bit of judgment.

Rose made a choking noise. “What?”

Wren rolled her eyes before pointing between us. “You guys were just in a locked room forever. I heard Mom say it was true love or something like that. So, obviously, you’re getting married. And I’m your flower girl.” She paused, tapping a finger against her chin. “Or I guess, technically, I could be the ring bearer, but flower girl is the better role.”