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Kinsley
Abody pressed in behind me.
I looked over my shoulder to a face I didn’t recognize. The guy was smiling at me like a total sleazeball while his hands went to my hips. I was about to not-so-politely tell him to fuck off when another hand grabbed mine, yanking me forward, and twirled me around into a lively two-step.
“Cutting in!”
“What are you doing?” I laughed, moving my feet in the familiar quick-quick-slow-slow pattern.
“Saving some joker’s life.” Grady grinned back at me. “You can thank me by making me look good in front of those girls over there. No fancy moves, though; this honky-tonk dancing is hard.”
“I’m thinking you don’t need any help to look good. That performance in the ring tonight was pretty damn impressive.”
“Right?! I was fucking awesome!”
I loved his non-existent modesty.
“Got your sights set on PBR?” My dad was one of the top Professional Bull Riders in his day.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied. “See what I did there? I’m learning to talk like a cowboy and everything!”
I shook off a laugh. “You should talk to my dad. He’ll for sure have some advice for a career path.”
“Wow, that would be amazing. I’ll take any help I can get.”
My face fell. “See? It’s not that hard! Somebody offers help, and you take it! It doesn’t have to be a big deal!”
Understanding flashed across Grady’s face. “It’s not a big deal for me, but it is for him.”
“Why?” I stopped dancing and let my arms fall to my sides.
“It’s a pride thing? I don’t know. I don’t get it, but that’s just the way he is. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.”
I recoiled at Grady’s words, my body tensing up. It wasn’t a surprise to hear Wyatt loved me, but hearing it said out loud was like a punch to the gut.
My chest tightened, and I struggled to catch my breath for a moment. The sting of tears prickled at the corners of my eyes as a wave of emotion washed over me.
I loved him too. So damn much it hurt sometimes. But that wasn’t our problem, was it? Love wasn’t enough to make us work.
I blinked, forcing the tears back as I clenched my jaw. I would not cry over this—over him—again. Not here in this crowded bar, surrounded by strangers.
My hands balled into fists at my sides as I fought to regain my composure.
Grady was watching me closely, brow furrowed.
I forced a tight smile. “Yeah, well, love’s overrated.” The words tasted like ash in my mouth, a bitter lie, but saying them out loud made it feel a little truer and a little easier to swallow than the lump rising in my throat. “Ugh, forget it. I need a drink.” I left Grady standing in the middle of the dance floor and headed to the bar.
I ordered a shot, downed it, and then downed two more.
“Are you okay?” Maisey came up beside me and eyed the empty glasses on the bar.
“Great!” I forced a smile. “Let’s dance.”
The song Drinkaby by Cole Swindell filled the room, and I grinned. Perfect timing. I pulled Maisey to the dance floor, right in the line of sight of the now four cowboys. Great, maybe I could get my friend noticed by one Rhett Parker. If anyone deserved a love story, it was her.
Maisey’s eyes went wide when she saw him there watching us. She hesitated, a blush creeping over her cheeks as she tried to back herself into the crowd.
“No, you don’t.” I pulled her out into the open. “Time to shine, my friend.”
