Chapter 2
Becca
Three Months Later
"I'm glad you decided to come tonight."
I look over at my boss and friend Emery. She owns the Sugar Glaze Bakery that I work at, but more than that, she's been a great friend to me. I knew I couldn't miss tonight since Matt is proposing to April. April also works at the bakery with us, and her boyfriend invited us tonight to be there when he asked her to marry him. I'm happy for her. She deserves this.
We are crossing the county line into Whiskey Valley. It's an hour away from Whiskey Run, and this is more of a ranching community than our small town. I'm not sure how this all came about, but April was excited for all of us to get together and go to the rodeo.
I look over at Emery. "Have you ever been to the rodeo before?"
She laughs and shakes her head. "No, never."
I nod. "Me either."
We ride along in silence for a few minutes before Emery taps her hand on the steering wheel. "You know, I was thinking about what Tara said the other day."
I'm looking out the window at the passing trees. "Oh yeah? What about?"
Tara is the youngest of all of us, and she works at the bakery part-time. "When she said that you should get you a rebound guy. It's not a terrible idea."
I bark out a laugh. "It's not a good idea either."
She holds her hand up and then puts it back on the steering wheel. "Hear me out. You need to get over dumb-ass Thomas. What's the best way to do that?"
I shrug, not answering her. She slaps her hand onto the gear shift. "It's by dating and getting back out there."
I cross my arms over my chest. "Oh yeah? Is that what you're doing?" I ask.
She looks at me and then back the road in front of us. "My story is a little different."
I turn in my seat to face her. "Yeah? Your ex-husband is still crazy in love with you and trying to win you back. I would definitely say our stories are different. But I mean, if you're not interested in him, then maybe you should be dating some more. Maybe get you a rebound guy."
She merely shrugs her shoulders. "I'll think about it." Which I know is Emery's way of saying, "Let's change the subject."
I point at the sign ahead. "There's the parking lot for the rodeo."
She pulls in, and we're able to get a spot fairly close. By the time we get to the arena and to our seats, the others are already there. Matt and April are sitting next to each other, and then Josh and Violet are here also. Violet owns Red's Diner in Whiskey Run, and her husband Josh plays on the Jasper Eagles football team with Matt.
It's easy to get lost in the festivities when you are a people-watcher. I watch everything happening around us. We barely get through three events, and Emery is elbowing me in the shoulder, nodding her head at Matt and April. That's it. Now is the time. We watch as Matt gets down on his knee and asks her to marry him. She obviously says yes, and we all are so excited, congratulating her and him.
When everyone sits back down, I can't help but look over at April. She's so happy. I'd be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little bit jealous. I would love to have what she has.
I try to smile and have a good time. I know I've been a downer for months now, and I need to snap out of it. My friends Emery, April, and Tara have all been there for me, and I know they want me to be okay.
I take a deep breath and try to settle the thoughts in my head. Looking around the arena, my gaze lands on a cowboy across the way. He's staring my way, but from this distance, I'm not sure if he's looking at me or not. I figure if I can't really tell if he's looking at me, he can't tell if I'm looking at him either. So I take this opportunity to take him all in. He has on tight jeans, dusty boots and chaps, a button-up shirt, and a brown cowboy hat. I can't see much of his face, but his body is enough to send a tingle down my back.
I roll my eyes. Don't do this again, Becca.
Needing a break from everyone and everything, I lean over toward Emery. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go to the ladies' room."
She drags her eyes off the event taking place in the arena and looks at me. "You want me to go with you?"
I shake my head. "No, you stay. I'll be right back."
I barely climb down the risers and turn the corner and run almost smack dab into Nash.