CHAPTER 12
Summer
Penny is picking me up with Cas in an hour. I’m standing in front of my closet, holding two versions of myself.
In one hand, a black, body-covering dress, safe, familiar, my armor. The kind of dress that lets me fade into the background, invisible and untouchable.
In the other, a wraparound, curve-hugging green dress Penny convinced me to buy. Bold. Alive. The kind of green that demands to be seen. One dress will let me disappear. The other… will announce that I’m done hiding.
“Mommy?”
I turn. Mia stands in the doorway with Grace, her curls bouncing as she pads into the room.
“The green one!” Grace says instantly, nodding toward the wraparound dress.
I glance down at it, stomach fluttering. I want to feel free, but fear curls around my ribs like a vine.
“I like that one, Mommy. Can you show me?” Mia’s small hand brushes the fabric, her little mouth forming an o as she studies it with awe.
“Okay, but I still don’t know if I’m wearing this one.” I smile, trying to sound casual even as my pulse quickens.
I step into the bathroom, the dress sliding over my skin like a secret. When I look in the mirror, I’m startled by the reflection staring back. The color warms my skin, makes me glow; the fabric hugs my curves, pulls in my waist, and drapes over my hips just right. For a moment, I feel… beautiful.
Then my eyes fall to my cleavage, and my mother’s voice echoes in my head.
“Your chest is too big. I wish you had your sister’s figure. She can wear anything with grace. You should cover up.”
My throat tightens. I’ve carried those words for years, like invisible stitching holding me in. I turn, catching sight of my back in the mirror. The skirt rides slightly higher over the curve of my ass, another thing I used to hide. I sigh, a sound half-defeat, half-release.
“Would you come out already!” Grace calls from the other room.
I take a breath, deep enough to steady the trembling in my stomach, and step out.
There’s a small gasp. “Mommy, you look beautiful!”
Mia’s sitting on my bed next to Grace, eyes wide with admiration. My chest aches with warmth.
“You think so?” I ask, looking down at myself.
“Yes, Mommy!”
I turn toward the mirror, tracing my hands down my hips. “I don’t know, pumpkin…”
“Summer,” Grace says softly. I meet her eyes in the reflection. “You look stunning.”
Her gaze trails over me, not critical, not teasing, but genuinely admiring, and suddenly I want to fold into myself. I turn back to the mirror, fussing with the fabric.
“I don’t know…” I whisper, twisting to glance at my backside.
“Girl,” Grace says, arching a brow at me in the reflection, “you have those curves people pay big money for, and you want to hide them?”
I let out a nervous laugh. “I should cover up. Nobody wants to see this.”
Grace tilts her head, eyes sharp and kind all at once. “Whose words are those?”
She steps closer, her reflection appearing behind mine, grounding me.
“My mother,” I say quietly. “My sister… Kevin…”
Grace nods knowingly. “Not yours then.”
“Why should we cover something beautiful up, Mommy?” Mia asks, her little face tilted up, genuinely curious.
And just like that, it hits me. She’s watching me. Learning from me.
“You know what, pumpkin,” I say, straightening my shoulders, forcing my arms to relax at my sides, “we should never cover beauty.”
I wink at her in the mirror. “Mommy’s wearing this tonight.”
Mia claps her tiny hands, her giggle lighting up the room.
“Great,” Grace says, smirking. “Now sit down and let me do your hair and makeup.”
“Don’t you need to get ready too?” I tease as she steers me toward the chair.
“I already picked my outfit, and there’s plenty of time to make us both gorgeous,” she says, grinning with pure confidence.
Forty minutes later, I’m kissing Mia goodbye at the door while Cas and Penny greet everyone.
“You be a good girl for Lily and Josh.” I tap her nose gently.
“I will. We’re having popcone!”
I smile. “Popcorn, pumpkin.” I give her another kiss and hand her over to Lily, who’s grinning wide.
“Don’t you worry, Summer,” Lily says, looping an arm around Mia. “This girl and I have plans tonight.”
Josh drapes an arm over both of them. “We’re having movie night and a slumber party, aren’t we, Mia?” He winks, and she nods eagerly.
“You girls go have fun,” Lily calls as we head for the door. “Oh, and if any of my kids sing, please make videos!”
We all laugh, the sound bright and easy, echoing behind me as I step out into the night, my winter coat on and the fabric of my green dress whispering against my skin. For once, I don’t pull it down or hide.
Cassie walks over as we head toward Cas’s truck, her boots crunching softly against the gravel.
“You coming too?” I ask.
“Yes.” She smiles, and I notice for the first time that her braces are gone and her glasses are missing. Her eyes look wider now, brighter, framed by long lashes I never realized she had.
“Did you get your braces removed? You look good!” I smile, genuine warmth rising in my chest.
She ducks her head, hair falling forward. “Thank you.”
Grace loops an arm around her, grinning. “She’s gorgeous.”
Cassie blushes deeper.
“I have a surprise for all of you!” Grace claps her hands dramatically, then swings open Cas’s truck door and pulls out a massive bag. With a theatrical flourish, she produces four white Stetsons.
“Cowboy up, girls!” she says, grinning wide enough to make us all laugh.
We can’t help it, laughter bursts out as we each take one, setting them on our heads.
“Alright, ladies,” Grace says, striking a pose. “Ready for our Thursday beer, fun, aaaaand karaoke night?”
“No beer for my sister and Cassie,” Cas cuts in, his sheriff stare fully activated.
Penny scoffs and tosses her hair. “Of course not, Sheriff.”
He smirks. “I like it when you call me Sheriff.”
Grace groans. “Alright, cut it off. This is girls’ night, not smooch-your-girlfriend night.”
“Fiancée,” Cas corrects smugly.
We all laugh, the easy sound carrying into the crisp night air.
◆◆◆
We pull into the Midnight Rodeo, the parking lot already buzzing with pickups and laughter spilling from the entrance. Neon lights flicker red and blue across the gravel, music thumping faintly through the walls.
Cas opens the door for us, and the warmth hits immediately, a heady mix of beer, cologne, fried food, and something sweet, like whiskey and sawdust. The low hum of conversation mingles with the twang of a country song as someone belts out karaoke on stage, slightly off-key but full of heart.
The girls start peeling off their coats.
“Oh no, you won’t,” Grace says, shaking her head when I hesitate. “Take that coat off, Summer. It’s hot in here!”
“I’m fine, really,” I protest weakly.
“Summer,” she warns.
I sigh and hand it to Cas. The air prickles against my bare skin, the green fabric suddenly feeling bolder under the neon glow.
“Summer, you look gorgeous in that dress!” Penny links her arm through mine as we weave through the crowd toward a high-top table.
“Thanks,” I murmur, though my pulse jumps.
I can feel eyes on me, a quiet pull that makes my chest tighten. When I glance toward the bar, I spot the Hawthorne brothers already there.
Ethan catches my gaze first. His black button-up shirt stretches across his chest, sleeves rolled up, forearms dusted with stubble and muscle. His green eyes, sharp, knowing, lock on mine. His black Stetson frames his face perfectly, the shadow making him look both dangerous and amused.
When he smirks, it’s slow, deliberate, like he knows exactly what he’s doing.
We settle into our seats, but I can feel his gaze long before he moves.
Then he’s there, standing beside our table.
“Hello, ladies.”
“Hey, big bro, you ready to sing a song tonight?” Grace teases, grinning.
“I have the perfect song for you,” she adds, wiggling her eyebrows.
Ethan groans. “Please don’t.” Then he turns to me.
“You look beautiful tonight, Summer.” His eyes drift down, then back up, deliberate, appreciative.
My throat tightens. “Thanks,” I say, my voice coming out hoarse.
A sudden “Yeehaw!” cuts through the noise, and all heads turn toward the door.
Jace strides in like he owns the place, two girls trailing behind him.
“Jace?” Cas laughs, shaking his head. Ethan’s groan is more of a smile.
“What are you doing here?” Ethan asks as they exchange back-slapping hugs.
“Had some days off. Decided to see what y’all were up to.” Jace grins, swagger in every step.
He spots our table. “Baby sister!” He pulls Grace into a hug before his eyes land on Cassie, and for a split second, he freezes. His expression flickers, surprise quickly masked by that trademark smirk.
“Cassandra! You clean up well.”
Cassie’s cheeks flare pink, but she stands tall. “Hello, Jace.”
“That blush for me?” he teases, grinning wider when she looks away.
“Ah, my future sister-in-law!” Jace turns to Penny, taking her hand and bowing dramatically to kiss it.
“Hands off,” Cas growls, but laughter follows behind it.
Jace only grins wider before turning to me. “Summer?” His eyes narrow with recognition. “You the gorgeous lady I saw at my parents ranch at thanksgiving, the one that made those delicious scones?”
I nod, smiling. “That would be me.”
He steps closer, takes my hand, and presses a kiss to it. “I love that dress on you.”
Before I can answer, Ethan grips his shoulder and practically yanks him back.
“Tone it down, Casanova.”
Jace looks between us, smirk deepening. “Ooooh, now I see it.”
He grins at me. “Summer, I’d love to dance with you later.”
Ethan physically pushes him away this time, making Jace and Cas laugh until tears glint in their eyes.
“Have a nice night, ladies,” Jace calls as he tips his hat, winking before sauntering off to the bar with Cas, the girls he came with following him.
“I think my brother has a crush on you,” Grace says slyly.
“Which one?” Cassie asks immediately.
“Ethan,” Grace answers, sipping her soda, eyes glinting with mischief.