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He closes his eyes. “Jesus Christ.”

I start laughing. “Apparently you can't take a shit at the Hawthorne Ranch without someone knowing about it.”

Dex lifts his beer. “Now you're getting it.”

Jude puts a hand against my back and steers me towards the door.

“Ignore them.”

“I'm learning.”

We step outside, and the noise of Midnight Rodeo fades behind us. The cool night air hits my warm skin, and I take a deep breath, grateful for a moment away from the heat and the music.

“God, that's nice.”

Jude walks towards his truck, and I follow him, watching as he reaches for the passenger door.

“Why do I feel like you're about to murder me?”

“Would've picked somewhere quieter.”

I laugh as he opens the door and reaches inside. When he turns around, there's an envelope in his hand.

“Here.”

I look at it, then back at him. “You bought me a birthday card?”

“Just open it.”

“Is there money in it? Because my grandma used to…”

“Nora.”

“Okay, Grumpy.”

His eyes narrow, and I grin as I take the envelope from him.

“Happy birthday,” he says quietly.

I open it and pull out the papers inside. For a moment, I don't understand what I'm looking at, but then I notice the airport codes, and my eyes move over the itinerary again.

Denver.

Rome.

Lamezia Terme.

My heart stops.

I look up at him. “Jude.”

He shoves his hands into his pockets. “They're open tickets. We can change the dates if you want.”

I stare at him. “What did you do?”

“Bought plane tickets.”

“I can see that!”