CHAPTER 34
Billie
I’d never been so exhausted. Sneaking into the carriage house after the main house lights were all off and then sneaking out before anyone woke up was brutal. Sneaking around the ranch and ducking behind things so I didn’t have to face the guys was also brutal. I was so tired that all I wanted to do was sleep. The only positive thing was I was so tired, I couldn’t think and overthink leaving, again and again.
The morning of the battle, I snuck out and went to Eve’s house to get an extra hour or two of sleep before dragging myself to the park in Lilyfield. It was decorated with signs for the battle and I found myself wanting to knock them down. I was in a mood and I probably shouldn’t have been around other people, but there I was, doing my duty as a woman in Harmony Valley to beat the men.
I spotted Violet, her three men, and their baby right away. I waved but I couldn’t go over. Just the sight of the baby from a decent distance was making me want to cry and throw a tantrum. I was in the stage of feeling sorry for myself. I kept asking myself questions about why I didn’t have certain things, like caring men, children, a happy home. It was gross in my head.
Sitting in the stands with most of the other women in town, I looked over and saw Joanie standing off to the side, alone. Following her gaze, I saw she was glancing over at Chase, Bear, and Smith. She looked so sad that I wanted to pick her up and hug her.
Glancing back at her guys, I just happened to look past them and my entire body went hot when I spotted Keaton. He was watching me with a look on his face I didn’t recognize. Quickly looking away, I bounced my knee and chewed on my lip. I just wanted to get the battle over with and go home.
Eve sat next to me and nudged my arm. “They called your name.”
I jerked my gaze to where Margaret was standing on a platform next to Mayor Stevens and saw her look at Stevens. Then, to my horror, I saw him look into the opposite stands and call out the three names I would’ve paid not to hear him call out.
“The three owners of the Hellstone Ranch in Deerbend. Gray, Owen, and Keaton.”
I tuned out whatever Stevens said next. Stepping down from the stands, I frowned up at Margaret. “Pick someone else.”
Margaret shook her head at me. “No. We know what we’re doing with these pairings. Also, it’s not just a race to solve a puzzle. It’s also a race to see who can even get to the puzzle first.”
The two women racing with me, Lizzie, and Gertie, guided me towards a makeshift starting line. Coco was there, grinning at me. “Race to the puzzle, solve it, and get back here first to win.”
I growled. “You race to the puzzle.”
She laughed. “There you go. I love that fight. Also, don’t be afraid to play dirty.”
An air-horn went off way too close to my head and I took off running without another thought. If I had to play the stupid game, I was going to win. I couldn’t lose another thing to the Hellstone triplets. Winning the battle suddenly felt like the most important thing in my life.
The path went up a tall hill and wound around part of the park that was wilder before stopping in the middle of a clearing with two large tables waiting for us. I ran so hard I didn’t notice the guys running right behind me. I got to the table and looked up, expecting to see my two teammates, but they were nowhere to be found.
There were a handful of people waiting and watching but I didn’t look up at them as I focused on the puzzle. There were a bunch of wooden blocks that had to be moved around, one at a time, to fix the picture on them. I worked as fast as I could but I could feel the guys moving faster than me. Panic seized my body and I froze for a moment.
“Don’t fucking quit, Bumble B!” Keaton’s rough command startled me and I looked up to see they were almost finished.
Something came over me and without a second thought about how stupid I was being, I yanked my shirt and bra over my head. The gasps from the small crowd drew the guys’ focus to me and I didn’t have to look up from my puzzle to know they were staring at me in shock, not moving their puzzle pieces.
Just like I expected, Owen and Gray both went into protection mode. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see them spreading out to block the view from the crowd. Keaton was just staring at me but I didn’t give myself more time than just a quick glance to notice him. Over the guys’ shouting, I slid the last piece into place and sprinted back towards the finish line while pulling my shirt back on.
I didn’t stop to consider who all I’d flashed, I just ran for the win I desperately needed. When I did reach the finish line, I was so out of breath I had to bend over with my hands on my knees. I expected at least one or two cheers for my win, but everyone was focused on Joanie and her guys around a twister mat.
I listened as Chase poured his heart out to Joanie and felt my heart swell for her and hurt for me. She deserved her happy ending if she could get it, though. Still bent over and wheezing, I called out. “She cares about you, too! She doesn’t shut up about you guys!”
Joanie’s cheeks darkened as she looked my way.
“I think I won, by the way.” I mumbled the last part to Coco and got a head nod in return. It was a bit of a letdown but as I caught my breath, I watched Joanie get her guys. They were crazy about her. It was so obvious.
Before I could watch them journey off to their happy ever after, three shadows fell over me. I didn’t have to look up to know it was Owen, Gray, and Keaton. I could hear their breathing was almost as ragged as mine and felt another surge of happiness that I’d beat them. I didn’t care I had to cheat to do it.
“You left something.” Gray’s voice was gravel-filled as he held out my bra.
I snatched it and tucked it under my shirt. “Don’t just wave it around.”
“Oh, now you’re shy?” Owen bent down so he was at eye level with me. “You just flashed a dozen people, B!”
My cheeks heated. “I did what I had to do. And if you three weren’t so concerned about saving me and my modesty, you would’ve won. I didn’t tell you to keep me pearly, prude white.”
Keaton stepped closer to me. “No, you didn’t.”
Owen smirked. “Maybe it’s time we stop worrying about your modesty.”
Gray let out a dark laugh that went like fire racing through my body. “Remember that you asked for it, Bumble B.”
I glanced at each of them and shivered at the heat I saw staring back at me. They were looking at me like I was a chocolate muffin. I suddenly didn’t know what to do with that, though, and when I heard Violet call my name, I nearly broke my neck trying to get away from the guys as fast as I could.
Things had changed since I’d faced the guys last and I didn’t know the new rules they were playing by. The adrenaline pumping through my veins told me the new game had definitely started, though.