AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It bothered me, watching him chat her up at Wagon Wheel. But that was a tiny flare of irritation. Nothing compared to the blaze of anger when I realize he’s hitting on her right in front of me. Jealousy curdles in my stomach, ugly and undiluted.
“She’s all set, Jack.” I slide my hand from Piper’s back to her waist and tug her toward me possessively.
Am I being a dick? Yeah. But I’m also uninterested in seeing guys drool over her all night, and if Jack wants to spread the word that she’s off-limits, then that’ll make my night.
“Oh. Yeah. Right.” Jack fumbles, and it does make me feel a little bad.
“Good to see you.” I send him a tight smile he can probably tell is fake, then keep moving through the crowd.
Hudson, Morgan, and Danny already made it to the bar, and I can see some of our other friends hanging around there too.
“What was that about?” Piper asks—shouts.
“Texas Moon” is still playing, and it gets louder, the closer we get to the stage.
“What was what about?”
“You acting jealous.”
Instead of denying it, I tell her the truth. “I wasn’t acting.”
We reach my friends before she has the chance to respond. And she’s pulled away by Ella and Julia immediately, who whisper and giggle over her new dress and cowboy boots. And then the first fan approaches me, and I lose sight of her completely.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
PIPER
My phone chimes with another text from Harper. I turn the screen over.
I’ve avoided all her messages since I confessed my feelings about Kyle had shifted. Part of me thought writing it in black-and-white letters would be a wake-up call. Instead, I slept with the guy.
It hasn’t happened again, but not because I haven’t wanted it to.
And Harper’s text is just the most recent notification. There are dozens of other messages from my roommates and friends. From Andy, my most recent ex, wondering if I want to get drinks sometime soon. From my mom and brothers. An email from my dad, who refuses to text.
My life in New York hasn’t forgotten about me, which is comforting.
But it’s confusing—how easilyI’veforgotten aboutit.
I miss my family and friends. Linda’s cookies and my apartment.
I know, once I’m back, I’ll miss this though. Drinking coffee on the ranch’s front porch. Going out in clothes I’m comfortable in. Picking strawberries. Eating dinner with Kyle. Lots of things about Kyle.
“Slow service, huh?”
I glance at Ella, who’s appeared beside me. Then at the bartender, who’s taking his sweet time at the opposite end of the bar. “Yeah.”
She slides onto the stool next to me. “You okay?”
“I’m good.” I force a smile. Sneak a look at Kyle.
He’s still surrounded, just like he’s been since we got here. Just like he was while the band we came to see performed.
No one in my life has ever shared my love of music. My family accepts it. My friends go along with it. My coworkers are more focused on sales than what we’re selling.
And I never ever would have guessed that Kyle Spencer would be the person who appreciated—understood—an experience like this the same way I do.
But I saw him while they were onstage. I watched as he talked with the band afterward, shaking hands and signing autographs.
