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That was all I could think of the rest of the song.
When it ended, everyone around us clapped and whistled. Chloe did a little curtsy before we walked back to the table that now had about fifteen people from high school gathered around it. Most of them were only home for the summer, or until they headed off to start their careers.
“Hey Chloe!” Lori Rhodes said.
Chloe hugged Lori. “How have you been?”
Lori pointed to her stomach. There was a small bump there. “I’m pregnant, hence the water.” She held up a bottle.
“Oh, wow! Congratulations. I had no idea,” Chloe said.
Lori gave Chloe a wide, toothy grin. “We were going to be getting married anyway. So just mixing things up a bit.”
I couldn’t help but notice Lori’s smile looked forced. Behind her stood some guy I had never seen before. Lori turned around and tapped his shoulder.
“James, this is Chloe Parker and Rip Myers. I knew them in high school, too.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, reaching my hand out to shake his.
“You, as well,” James replied.
“Chloe, I heard you’re getting married,” Lori said, a smirk on her face.
“Um, yes.”
Lori’s eyes flickered over to me before she looked back at Chloe. “It’s nice to see you finally moved on and gave up on that silly dream.”
My brows drew in tight, but Chloe laughed. “You never change. Do you, Lori?”
Lori gave me one last once over before she pulled her boyfriend along to meet someone else.
I shivered. “Okay, being checked out by a pregnant chick gave me the heebie-jeebies.”
Chloe lost it laughing.
A group of about three girls who used to be cheerleaders came up to Chloe, and soon they were all lost in conversation.
I went to the bar and ordered another beer. Someone came up next to me, and I could feel their eyes. Turning, I found a pretty dark-haired girl waiting to order.
“Evening,” I said.
“Hi.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she bit down on her lip. I had to give her credit, she was turning the flirting on.
“What can I get you, Rip?” the bartender asked.
“I’ll take a Bud Light and the lady will take…”
She smiled wide. “A gin and tonic, please.”
When the bartender turned to get our drinks, she faced me. “Thank you for that.”
“Sure, no problem.”
When she tried to hand me money, I shook my head.
“My name is Valerie.”
“Rip.” I reached out to shake her hand.
“Are you from here, Rip?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
A giggle slipped from her mouth, and she rolled her eyes at herself.
“Sorry. I’m from California, not used to seeing real cowboys. That hat makes you look like the hot cowboys we dream about back home.”
I chuckled. “Thank you for that.”
When the bartender came back with our drinks, I paid and faced Valerie. “You will find a lot of us here in Oak Springs.”
“I know. I’m seeing that. I’m here visiting my grandparents. They moved out here from Austin. This is their retirement. The whole family is visiting.”
“How do you like Oak Springs?”
“It’s a charming little town. Everyone is so nice. I’ve had fun.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.” Her eyes turned dark. “I’m here with my cousin tonight. I think she’s hoping to get lucky.”
I placed my beer to my lips and took a drink. Then I looked around the bar. “Well, there are plenty of guys in here who I’m sure will be more than happy to help her out with that.”
Valarie’s smile faded slightly. “I’m striking out with you, aren’t I?”
With a wink, I replied, “I’m afraid so.”
“Well, it was worth a shot, cowboy. A guy as good looking as you surely has a girlfriend.”
Not replying to her comment, I lifted my beer to take a drink. I gave her a polite grin. “Enjoy the rest of your time here.”
As I made my way back to the group, I noticed Chloe looking my way. I couldn’t help but wonder if she had been watching me talk to Valerie.
When I got back to the table, Chloe kept staring. She had a lost look on her face, similar to after that panic attack. When I frowned and gave her an inquisitive look, she glanced away.
Mike pulled me away some. “Dude, Butch just opened his mouth and told everyone that you’re in here once a week nursing your broken heart with whiskey because Chloe wouldn’t have anything to do with you.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“No. And Alyssa said Chloe knows you left A&M because of her and Easton.”
“What the fuck is this? Take Rip down night?”
“I guess she felt like Chloe should know.”
“Alyssa told her? I told you that in confidence, dude.”
“And I tell Alyssa everything. We don’t have secrets from each other, Rip. Believe me, when she told me she told Chloe yesterday, I was pissed.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I exhaled. “So that is how she found out.”
“Yeah, and the little news about you being here drinking seems to have pushed her over a ledge. She was breathing fire. I’d avoid her if you can. Like right now, if looks could kill you’d be on the floor.”
