Page 48

“No rules. Just fun. We leave everything we know behind and live like there’s no tomorrow.”

Rarely did I let my guard down. I kept my emotions tightly sealed, my walls high. But something about Colton made me want to shed those layers, to feel unrestrained, even just for a night. I sensed he needed that freedom too.

“Who would we be?” His voice was softer, deeper, resonating with a rugged edge that sent shivers down my spine.

A devious smile spread across my lips as his curiosity ignited. “Anyone we want to be. The possibilities are endless.”

Colton lifted his hand, signaling the bartender to come over. The tall, slender woman leaned in, ready to take our order.

“Can we get two shots of the most expensive bourbon you have?” Colton asked with a grin. She gave a curt nod, reached for a bottle from the top shelf, and poured the amber liquid into two shot glasses, filling them to the brim.

I placed a hand on hers, stopping her from walking away with the bottle.

“You can just leave that here,” I said with my eyes fixated on Colton.

She placed the bottle in front of us and did as I said. I eyed my shot before glancing at Colton. He already had his glass between his fingers, his gaze flicking from the shot to me, urging me to pick mine up.

He held his glass out in a toast, his eyes sparkling under the harsh neon light. “To whoever we choose to be tonight,” he said, and with that, he threw back the shot.

I’D LOST TRACK of how many shots I’d had. Regular Eleanor would have kept count, always aware of just how far she was pushing her limits. But tonight, this Eleanor—who maybe I should rename as my alter ego—didn’t care. My cheeks ached from smiling, and my throat was raw from laughter.

Colton sat next to me, still perched on the same two barstools we’d claimed hours ago. Time seemed to blur, the world spinning in its own joyful orbit. Colton hadn’t stopped smiling either, his usual frigid demeanor melted by the warmth of the liquor. His genuine, easy smile caught me off guard, nearly knocking me off my stool.

His hat sat crooked on his head, and he was scanning the room for our next target. We’d been pointing out people and making up wild stories about their lives, each one more and more obscure by the minute.

There were stories of broken hearts, wild backstories, and even tall tales of dragons and knights.

“Ah!” Colton exclaimed, pointing at an older gentleman seated alone at a high-top. The man, clad in all black with a thick mustache and a cowboy hat, nursed a drink, looking lost in thought. “I bet his wife left him, and now he’s here drinking away his sorrows.”

“Boo, that’s too depressing,” I teased, slapping Colton’s arm playfully. “We’re supposed to be having fun, not bringing down the vibe!”

Colton laughed, the sound rich and warm. “All right, let’s see you do better.”

I grinned, feeling the challenge in the air. “Okay, let’s see…” I paused, weaving a story for the gentleman. “He’s an ex-rodeo clown, famous for his mustache. He’s back in town now that he’s officially retiring.”

Bringing my drink to my lips, I took a long pull before letting out a refreshed sigh and continuing on.

“He grew up in the circus—his dad was a tiger trainer, and his mom did acrobatics. The entertainment life was all he knew.” I waved my hand for dramatic flair.

“Story has it, he’s had that mustache since the day he was born,” I said between giggles.

Colton shook his head, looking down as his hand came up to cover his smile.

“The mustache is a legend around here. Rumor has it, if you whisper into it, it’ll grant you three wishes.”

Colton lost it, snorting as he took a sip of his drink, nearly choking on it. The sight sent me into laughter too, both of us doubling over as the giggles took hold.

His laughter was a revelation, his smile radiant against the dim backdrop of the bar. The sound was music to my ears, a gravelly tone that rasped with each breath as he struggled to compose himself.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away, captivated by the genuine joy on his face.

As the laughter faded, our smiles softened, giving way to a quiet, intimate moment between us.

“I like it when you laugh,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them. The sound was so pure, a true glimpse into the man beside me. I wished I could see this side of him more often.

Colton’s smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, lingering instead of retreating after my compliment.

It was a shame Colton Stone didn’t show this side of himself to the world more often, but I understood why. Some parts of us were meant to be revealed only to those who earned the right to see them.