Chapter 7 Mae
“I am so excited for tonight!” Georgia squeals, looping her arm through mine and pulling me closer to her side.
“I am too, but I have a really demanding family in my section that wants hot dogs and ginger ales. I have to go!” I laugh, unraveling myself from Georgia's grip and sprinting back to the concession area kitchen to fill my tray again.
It’s been two weeks since I started working at the rodeo, and my days have been spent eagerly anticipating the nighttime. Driving to Lonestar Junction for work has become the highlight of my day, especially the stolen glances from Cody and the few moments we've been able to talk alone.
His disheveled, deep brown hair, piercing green eyes, and irresistible smile has always seemed to find me wherever I’m working for the night and I’m dying to get to know him better and hear what he thinks of me. Does he know who I really am? Does he look at me as just his cousin’s new friend?
Or is he as wildly attracted to me as I am to him?
I fill my tray, brushing my long blonde hair out of my eyes as I sprint out of the kitchen and back towards my section, careful not to drop any food or drinks. Down the steps I race, heading towards the family engrossed in watching a bull chase a cowboy around the ring.
“Took you long enough,” one of the boys in the family sneers as he snatches a soda from my tray without a thank you.
I force a polite smile, swallowing my frustration as I set the rest of the food and drinks down on the family’s table.
They don’t so much as glance in my direction, their attention firmly fixed on each other.
Just as I turn to make my escape, the mother reaches out and grabs my wrist, her grip unexpectedly firm and a bit unnerving.
Her manicured finger jabs toward today’s button pinned to my skirt—one of Dolly’s infamous, cheeky creations. Today’s says, “Why choose one? Ride a cowboy AND a horse?”
“That,” she says, her voice dripping with condescension, “is highly inappropriate and offensive for a place where families are present.”
Her tone carries the kind of righteous indignation that makes my stomach churn, like I’ve personally offended her entire bloodline with a simple pin.
For a second, I just stand there, unsure of what to say.
But the weight of her disapproving glare—and the fact that her hand is still clamped on my wrist—forces an automatic response.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble, my voice barely audible over the buzz of the crowd.
She narrows her eyes, clearly satisfied with my half-hearted apology, and finally let’s go.
My wrist tingles where her fingers had dug in, and I’m already mentally drafting the story for Dolly.
There’s no way she’ll let this slide. She’ll track the family down, find out who they are, and get them banned from the rodeo indefinitely.
Nobody messes with Dolly, and absolutely no one lays a hand on her servers.
Still fuming, I dash up the steps to put as much distance between myself and the table as possible, my boots clattering noisily on the metal stairs. I’m so caught up in my own irritation that I don’t notice the solid figure at the top of the steps until I nearly barrel straight into him.
A pair of strong hands catch me by the waist, steadying me before I can trip over myself.
My gaze snaps up, and there’s Cody, looking down at me with a lopsided grin that’s equal parts amused and concerned.
His touch is firm but gentle, and for a second, I’m reminded of the afternoon we spent at the pool two weekends ago—when he’d wrapped those same hands around my waist to pull me into the water with him, whispering in my ear that he had me.
“Whoa, where are you running off to?”
“I think you mean where am I running from? That family in my section is the worst.”
He peeks around my shoulders and looks at the family I just left, two teenage boys a few years younger than us along with their mom and dad.
“I think I recognize the kids from our high school. Want me to go scare them?” he asks.
I laugh. “No, I’m good. My shift is about to be over, and they have their food and drinks now.”
“Good.” He smiles. “Happy birthday, by the way.” His voice is soft and smooth as he shoots me one of his signature smiles.
I blush. "Thank you.”
“You feel any different now that you're an adult?"
“Not really.”
He laughs gently. “Going to do anything crazy? Get a crazy piercing, or a tattoo? Stick it to your parents and leave town?”
I wish…
Turning eighteen in theory has always sounded nice, adulthood, independence, but in reality, my parents will always maintain control over me given the position that they hold within Texas and the money they use to control my life.
I can’t even imagine a world where that safety net and money doesn’t follow me and dictate all my plans.
“I don’t think so, but I’m excited to celebrate with Georgia tonight.”
“Me too,” he responds and there’s a hint of mischievousness and thrill behind his eyes that sends a flutter through my stomach. I’d wondered if Cody would be making an appearance at my casual birthday party Georgia’s planned, but this confirms it. At least, I think it does.
Just then, I hear Georgia's voice from behind Cody.
"Will you please move out of the way? I’m trying to get to Mae," Georgia demands, her voice sharp and her foot tapping with impatience. "Aren’t you supposed to be feeding the animals or something?"
Cody just smirks, clearly unfazed by her attitude. He shoots me one last lingering smile, complete with a wink, before turning to leave. “Hello, Georgia. Good to see you too,” he mumbles under his breath, but she ignores him completely, already tugging me by the arm like a woman on a mission.
We make our way to Dolly’s office, where we ditch our aprons in the bin by the door and practically sprint out to my waiting car, Georgia moving with the kind of determination that only she can muster.
She hitched a ride to work with Cody and Wilder this morning so we could drive back to Ashwood Ranch together later for the pool party and sleepover she’s decided has to happen. The whole idea of a party—even a small one—feels a little foreign to me.
My parents never made a big deal out of birthdays.
Unless you count the stiff, formal dinners with their affluent friends, where I’d be stuffed into an uncomfortable dress and paraded around like a future success story.
And since moving to Lonestar Junction, I haven’t exactly been the town’s most social resident.
But honestly? I don’t mind. I have Georgia, and for now, that feels like enough.
Tonight, it’s just going to be us and the Cameron twins, which sounds perfect.
Georgia’s got the whole evening planned—night swimming under the stars, stuffing ourselves with greasy pizza, enduring a little harmless teasing from Cody and Wilder, and then crashing at her place a few miles away on the Cameron ranch.
As I turn onto the long dirt road leading to Ashwood, anticipation hums in my chest. The thought of cool water beneath a sky full of Texas stars, the easy warmth of Georgia and the boys, and the rare freedom of a night that belongs entirely to us—it’s the kind of thing I used to dream about back in San Angelo.
“So, my aunt Jovie and Uncle Nash have a large pond on their property. How would you feel about sneaking off on some 4-wheelers to go skinny dipping in it?” Georgia says from the passenger side seat, her eyes glowing with excitement.
“I’ve never gone skinny dipping before.”
She claps her hands and jumps up and down. “I think we need to make a check list of all the things you haven't yet done because of your parents.”
I laugh from the driver’s seat because that sounds like a great idea.
Since getting to know Georgia better these past few weeks, I’ve opened to her about my real name, Mae Beaumont, and who my family is but swore her to absolute secrecy.
Once she realized just how- in her words – sheltered I’ve been, she’s made it her personal mission to expose me to small town living and all the freedom that comes with not having parents who plan out every detail of your life.
And a bucket list of things to do before college sounds like a perfect plan.
The long, winding driveway to Ashwood Ranch stretches ahead of me, and my mind begins to wander.
I can't help but wonder if Cody and Wilder will join us tonight, or if Georgia will tell them to stay away. I’ve never said it out loud to her because I love spending time with Georgia, but I’ve also secretly hoped for more time with Cody.
The little bits I’ve picked up about him so far have piqued my curiosity—there’s something more beneath that chiseled exterior, his athleticism, and his easy smile.
I’ve caught glimpses of a depth to him that most people probably miss.
But I’d never admit that to anyone, especially not Georgia.
Her friendship means too much to me. It’s the one thing here that feels real, the one constant I can rely on in this small town that’s still so new to me.
And if it ever came down to it—if I had to choose between her and Cody—there’s no question.
I’d sacrifice the chance to get to know him better without a second thought for Georgia’s friendship.
Gravel crunches under my tires as I pull in front of the Ashwood home. I hop out, slinging the bag we’ve packed with our bikinis and towels over our shoulders. It looks like Cody and Wilder still aren’t back from their shift working at the rodeo which is probably for the best.
“Hi Uncle Nash and Aunt Jovie. This is the friend I was telling you about, Mae,” Georgia introduces me as soon as we step inside the home.
No wonder Cody and Wilder look like models and are by far the most attractive boys that I’ve ever seen. Their parents don’t look a day older than thirty. Uncle Nash has bone structure that could cut glass and Aunt Jovie with her big, round emerald, green eyes and dark hair is breathtaking.