“We’ll be back, boys,” I announce, wiggling my fingers over my shoulder as Dom and I sashay away. We laugh, stumbling over our feet as we make our way to the bar.
Scooters is a staple in Blue River, or so I’ve been told. It’s really cute, in an older, rustic country bar kind of way. Most of the crowd is here for drunken line-dancing with the live band, which I’ve found hilariously entertaining to watch.
Being originally from a large city, then moving to Denver before coming this direction, my experience with country living is limited. Though I’ve lived in Blue River for a couple of years, I haven’t gone out to explore much. The school Cole and I worked at was in a larger, more modern town up the road, and he preferred to spend most of our free time there. I assume he still does.
Leaning against the bar next to Dom, I shake off thoughts of my shitty ex and order another beer for myself and Logan. Dom does the same for him and Stephen before grabbing another water for Roman who doesn’t drink alcohol.
“Sooo…” Dom drawls, bumping my hip with his. Turning a megawatt smile in my direction, he waggles his eyebrows. “Tell me, tell me, tell me! I’m dying to know what’s going on between you two!”
Groaning, I rub the space between my brows, feigning irritation as my heart gives a squeeze at just the thought of him. “There’s nothing to tell,” I lie. “We’re just—” I break off, loathing the wordfriendseven existing on my tongue.
Swallowing down the lie, I glance at Logan over my shoulder, finding him laughing loudly at something Roman had said. His head is tipped back, his cheeks are pink and his dimples peeking from beneath his beard.
He's beautiful.
I know that’s weird to say about a guy, but it’s true. He’s beautiful and handsome. He’s sweet, funny, caring, and considerate. He’s everything I never knew existed in another human being, especially someone who would want to be with me.
“That’s bullshit, Shiloh!” Dom barks. My eyes snap back and widen when I realize I’ve just said all of that out loud.
“Shit, I didn’t mean to say all that,” I say quickly, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Maybe I’m drunker than I thought.” Which is odd since I’ve only had two beers and a ton of carbs to keep me sober.
Dom’s thick black brows knit together. He shakes his head once. “No, girl, I don’t think that was the alcohol talking. That was something else entirely.”
“Oh yeah?” I smirk, “And what would that be? The cheese sticks?”
He scoffs, tipping his beer back for a long drink. He sets it down and licks the salt from his lips, considering me for a long moment, his head tipped to the side. “That was love,Babydoll.”He cackles when I smack his gut playfully.
“Don’t use that word,” I murmur, my mind distracted by his previous statement. I do love Logan. I’m in love with him. The thought isn’t a shocking one; I’d already suspected it. But—“Isn’t it too soon?”
Dom drops down onto a barstool, putting us at eye level. He takes another drink, thinking out his answer, which I appreciate, though it makes my stomach clench with nerves. Finally, after what feels like forever, he smiles softly, a knowing glint in his dark eyes.
“Forget about when you met and how many days it’s been since you started spending time with him. Forget about the societal norms programmed in your head, and what people might think of your situation. Put it all out of your mind.” He pauses, waiting for some sort of confirmation I’ve done as he’s demanded. I nod with a shrug. “Good. Are you happy, Shiloh? Like really, genuinely happy with him?”
“Yes,” I breathe, not even having to think about my answer. “So fucking happy, Dom.”
His face breaks out in a massive smile, giving him a boyish look. “There you have it. Fuck everyone else, Shiloh. Fuck what society says, or what your ex might think. Fuck the negative thoughts telling you that this is too fast, or too soon. Follow your heart. You deserve to be happy and if jumping into bliss with fine-as-hell Logan Huxley makes you happy, then do it.”
My heart races in my chest as determination settles over me. He’s right. Elation fills me so rapidly; I get woozy on my feet. The need to see him, and inhale his rainy nature scent, feeling his strong, warm body, beneath my hands becomes almost unbearable.
I want him, and I want him now.
Picking up our beers, I spin in my shiny stiletto boots, ready to find my man. The drinks nearly slip from my hands as I run smack dab into my past.
“Shiloh?”
Fuck.
My heart stutters to a stop. The damp beer bottles slip again, and I have to squeeze my fists to keep them from careening to the floor.
“Wow, you look different,” Cole murmurs, his eyes gliding down my body, taking in my skintight jeans and sweater. They linger on my heels, his brows furrowing in confusion before slowly returning to my face. “You sure never looked like this when we were together.”
My heart starts back up again, racing painfully in my chest like it’s trying to make up for lost time. I don’t give Cole the same inspection, not really giving a shit what he’s wearing or how he looks. All I want to know is why he’shere.
I ask him just as much. “Why are you in Blue River?” After we divorced, he’d sold the house and moved closer to the school, or so my lawyer had said. I honestly never expected him to be here. “You hate this town.”
He cringes, bringing the hand not holding his drink,whiskey, no doubt, up to palm the back of his neck. “Things change.”
My brows lift. Wow, they must have changed a lot if he’s willingly spending a Friday night in a county-western bar instead of a chic club in the city. “Okay, well, I’d say it was nice to see you, but…” I trail off, my skin starting to itch with the need to put distance between us.