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We both turn to face the voice, which happens to be Madi, flanked by Ginny and Shayley. They were one grade above me and Dolly.
Ginny and I were acquaintances in high school, but we’ve only stayed in contact since then by occasionally replying to each other’s stories on social media. Shayley and Madi have always been close, bonded by their mutual obsession with dating and sleeping with the Redford brothers. I guess, now, they’ve both accomplished it.
I wonder how long they’ve been standing there, listening to us talk.
Did they hear the details about my lack of sexual experience?
I’m not embarrassed about being a twenty-one-year-old virgin, but I’m also not keen on everyone in our town knowing my business.
“Uh, the guys they always hire to work on the ranch,” I offer.
I doubt Dolly will entertain a conversation with Madi after finding out she was faking her entire relationship with Holden. It was a fucked-up thing to do, and as her best friend, I’m definitely on Dolly’s side. I’ve never liked Madi.
“I heard you were planning a welcome-home party for Holden,” Ginny says.
An awkward silence follows her words. I grind my teeth for a moment before shaking my head.
“Not really. He doesn’t want a bunch of strangers in the house,” I offer.
It’s the truth. Holden probably wouldn’t even show up if we tried to throw him one. He hasn’t hung around the house much the past few days, and I have no idea if he’s off meeting women in bars, working the ranch, or simply enjoying his freedom in various nefarious ways. My father’s words about the criminal relationships he built in prison floats through my thoughts.
“Well, if you change your mind and decide to, we’d love to help host,” Ginny says. “I feel like a lot of people really missed him.”
“They used to have awesome parties out there.” Shayley speaks for the first time.
I stare at her, wondering if that was one of the times she hooked up with Duke. He and Sterling were usually the ones having friends over to drink. Dolly and I were never allowed to join in because we were underage.
The conversation is growing more awkward as Dolly stares down Madi, neither of them speaking. I start to slowly push the cart in the direction of the dairy aisle.
“We got some frozen food that’s starting to melt, so … we’ll see y’all later.”
Ginny and Shayley both nod, but Madi huffs and spins around on her heel without a word.
Back on the ranch, I’m working at the kitchen island to chop an onion. My eyes water more with each slice of the knife. It’s Friday, but I won’t take my bra off until after dinner, when the guys have scattered and Dolly and I have the living room to ourselves, even though the underwire is digging into me. I need to get rid of this bra. It doesn’t fit anymore.
“What’s cookin’, good-lookin’?” Duke struts into the kitchen, followed by Cash, Sterling, and Holden.
My eyes dart up to meet the dark eyes of all of them, one after the other, skipping over Holden. My breath is temporarily shallow in my lungs as I’m struck by the sheer overall hotness they exude when they’re in a pack like this, fresh from working the ranch. It’s almost too much for my hormones to cope with.
I must be ovulating.
They’re filthy from working bulls and cows all day, slightly smelly but still incredibly attractive. There’s something about dirty, hardworking blue-collar men that makes my eggs slide down my tubes like they’re riding on a pat of butter.
Duke slides right up behind me, reaching his arms around my waist. It’s overly familiar and unlike him, and my body tenses.
“How do I smell?” he asks.
“Ugh, disgusting. Get off me.” I try to shrug him off.
He chuckles, leaning closer to whisper in my ear, “Wanna help me wash off?”
I turn to gape at him, wondering if he hit his head when he got bucked off the last time. He winks, and I realize he’s playing some kind of game with me. My eyes flick to Holden’s for a split second, seeing that they’re focused on the place where Duke’s arm is around my waist. His jaw is tense, but the rest of him looks relaxed and uninterested in us.
“Um, I have to watch the venison steaks or they’ll burn.”
He moves closer, his breath on my ear, “Dolls thinks this will get Holden off your ass. Trust me.”
He reaches a hand down, gently patting my ass before pecking my cheek with a kiss. If I wasn’t leaning up against the cabinets, I’d have fallen over when he moved away from me.
