anymore. You had to use the shitter.”
“You’re gross.” I flush the toilet and rinse my hands off even though I didn’t actually go to the bathroom. Then I check my reflection in the mirror to see if I look as pale as I feel, and it’s affirmative. I look like I just saw a ghost. Letting the cold water run for a few seconds, I splash some up on my cheeks trying to get the pink flush back in them.
“Babe, I’m going to run over to Merek and Challis’s and grab you some riding boots.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you out front.”
When the front door shuts, I sink down the wall of the bathroom floor and bury my face in my lap, and when I shut my eyes I see Maverik on that day.
“What’s with the smile, cowboy?” I spread my legs just enough to make room for Maverik to settle in between them. He just rode for the final time in his hometown high school rodeo.
“You know.”
“I don’t know.” I lean forward and kiss his lips.
I could go on guessing it’s the spring weather, graduation around the corner, him going to state for the third year in a row in bareback, having the sexiest girlfriend in the county. Jake jumps up next to me and tries to weasel his way in between us.
“Perfect timing, buddy.”
I catch a glimpse of a shiny object around his collar, but Maverik snatches it up way too quickly, then everything else happens in a flash. Mav goes down on one knee with Jake by his side, and he’s holding a square-cut diamond ring set in white gold.
“We’ve had a lot of memories on this tailgate and I want to make so many more with you, Ella James. We’ve been best friends since first grade and I know we’re young, but I need you forever. Will you marry me?”
Not one word leaks from my mouth before I leap from the edge of the tailgate sending Maverik tumbling onto his back in the grassy field behind the arena. My lips seal to his and I feel him wiggle the ring onto my finger.
“Ella.”
A familiar voice breaks into the memory and I hop to my feet, brushing away the stray tears and open the door to the living room. Merek’s wife stands in the living room holding up a pair of boots.
“Maverik had to chat with his brothers about some shit on the ranch. He told me to bring these to you.” She reaches them out to me.
I grab the boots from her. “Thank you.”
“No problem. Nice to see you not in a bar or at a street dance.”
“God bless you.” The words escape before I comprehend their meaning. I slap my hands over my mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I meant it…”
Her laughter cuts me off. “No need to apologize. I need as much prayer as I can get with that man. I swear.”
“I really meant no disrespect.” Bending over I shove each foot into a boot trying to avoid the conversation all together.
“Maverik’s told me a lot about you. I know you were around a lot and clearly know how big of a pain in the ass my husband can be.”
“He was just damn wild when we were growing up.” I shrug. “We were always getting him out of trouble.”
“Some things never change.” Challis makes her way over to the front door. “C’mon, I’ll walk you down to the barn.”
Challis is the poster child for country girl and all cowgirl right down to her hairdo. She’s tall, lean, and simply gorgeous with dark brown hair and piercing green eyes, just the perfect woman for Merek.
I nearly tell her I know where the barn is and that I practically grew up out here with the Slatters, but I mind my manners and just follow her out the door and down the sidewalk. It’s the possessive side of me coming out; it’s always hypersensitive when it comes to Maverik and his family. I shake my head when I look back at the bunkhouse Mav chose to live in. It was our favorite place to be naughty in high school. Granddad even busted us a time or two in there. But bless his soul he always played dumb and just turned around.
“Is everything going okay with your mom’s arrangements?”
“Excuse
“You’re gross.” I flush the toilet and rinse my hands off even though I didn’t actually go to the bathroom. Then I check my reflection in the mirror to see if I look as pale as I feel, and it’s affirmative. I look like I just saw a ghost. Letting the cold water run for a few seconds, I splash some up on my cheeks trying to get the pink flush back in them.
“Babe, I’m going to run over to Merek and Challis’s and grab you some riding boots.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you out front.”
When the front door shuts, I sink down the wall of the bathroom floor and bury my face in my lap, and when I shut my eyes I see Maverik on that day.
“What’s with the smile, cowboy?” I spread my legs just enough to make room for Maverik to settle in between them. He just rode for the final time in his hometown high school rodeo.
“You know.”
“I don’t know.” I lean forward and kiss his lips.
I could go on guessing it’s the spring weather, graduation around the corner, him going to state for the third year in a row in bareback, having the sexiest girlfriend in the county. Jake jumps up next to me and tries to weasel his way in between us.
“Perfect timing, buddy.”
I catch a glimpse of a shiny object around his collar, but Maverik snatches it up way too quickly, then everything else happens in a flash. Mav goes down on one knee with Jake by his side, and he’s holding a square-cut diamond ring set in white gold.
“We’ve had a lot of memories on this tailgate and I want to make so many more with you, Ella James. We’ve been best friends since first grade and I know we’re young, but I need you forever. Will you marry me?”
Not one word leaks from my mouth before I leap from the edge of the tailgate sending Maverik tumbling onto his back in the grassy field behind the arena. My lips seal to his and I feel him wiggle the ring onto my finger.
“Ella.”
A familiar voice breaks into the memory and I hop to my feet, brushing away the stray tears and open the door to the living room. Merek’s wife stands in the living room holding up a pair of boots.
“Maverik had to chat with his brothers about some shit on the ranch. He told me to bring these to you.” She reaches them out to me.
I grab the boots from her. “Thank you.”
“No problem. Nice to see you not in a bar or at a street dance.”
“God bless you.” The words escape before I comprehend their meaning. I slap my hands over my mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I meant it…”
Her laughter cuts me off. “No need to apologize. I need as much prayer as I can get with that man. I swear.”
“I really meant no disrespect.” Bending over I shove each foot into a boot trying to avoid the conversation all together.
“Maverik’s told me a lot about you. I know you were around a lot and clearly know how big of a pain in the ass my husband can be.”
“He was just damn wild when we were growing up.” I shrug. “We were always getting him out of trouble.”
“Some things never change.” Challis makes her way over to the front door. “C’mon, I’ll walk you down to the barn.”
Challis is the poster child for country girl and all cowgirl right down to her hairdo. She’s tall, lean, and simply gorgeous with dark brown hair and piercing green eyes, just the perfect woman for Merek.
I nearly tell her I know where the barn is and that I practically grew up out here with the Slatters, but I mind my manners and just follow her out the door and down the sidewalk. It’s the possessive side of me coming out; it’s always hypersensitive when it comes to Maverik and his family. I shake my head when I look back at the bunkhouse Mav chose to live in. It was our favorite place to be naughty in high school. Granddad even busted us a time or two in there. But bless his soul he always played dumb and just turned around.
“Is everything going okay with your mom’s arrangements?”
“Excuse
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