Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
TRIPP
S itting in The Boot, the usual crowds are here. Conrad is with us, and I am surprised to see him here alone. He normally would have some pretty little thing on his arm, but he has chosen to fly solo tonight. There is one regular missing and that’s Austin. As much as he knows that everyone in The Boot believes his side of the story, he refuses to come. Harlow sits between me and Pacey and I'm glad she is out, but knowing Austin, he probably sent her away.
Riggs walks over with our bottles of beer and places them in the middle of the table, Riggs settling down next to Aspen with his whiskey. Not a big drinker that one, but if he does have a drink, he'll normally have one glass of whiskey.
“I have started finalising bits for the wedding,” Aspen pipes up as she takes a swig from her bottle. “Guys, I need you to go to the tailor and get your suits fitted.”
Pacey rolls his eyes.
“Can't I just come dressed like this?” he looks down at himself then back at Aspen, shrugging his shoulders up.
“Absolutely not,” she shakes her head from side to side.
“Fine,” he huffs, and I chuckle softly as I take a sip of my drink.
“Just let us know when, we will be there,” I give her a curt tip of my hat and Riggs leans over, knocking it off the top of my head so it lands on the dusty floor of The Boot.
“Take your damn hat off; manners,” he tuts, and I ignore the rage that simmers within.
“Where is Dixie?” Aspen asks, looking over my shoulder and I shake my head.
“Not coming; sort of glad really,” I half admit. It's not a lie, she's pulling me in again and I don't need my heart broken again.
“Yeah?” Aspen pokes and Riggs grumbles beside her. God, I love her but she is nosey.
“Yeah, it's bad enough she is living under the same roof as me, I dunno... just a little too close?” I look up at Aspen and I can see she gets it, almost like she hears what I’m not saying.
“Do we know why she is back yet?” Harlow asks and this is my chance to scope and see if Aspen knows.
“Nah, just personal issues,” I breathe out, fingers picking the damp beer bottle sticker.
“You know,” Pacey pipes up and I know what is about to come from his mouth before he even says it. “They say that's a sign of being sexually frustrated,” his hand is curled around his bottle as he points to where I am picking.
“Yeah?” I smirk, tilting my head back and looking behind Harlow towards my kid brother and Pacey chuckles to himself, letting his head drop. “Look, I don't have time for any of that. What with everything that happened, losing my job... that is the last thing on my mind.”
“Yeah, it's been a bit of a ride hasn't it,” Conrad pipes up from beside Aspen and we all nod.
Silence swarms our table for a moment before I hear the sharp intake of Riggs breathing in.
“Need you boys up early in the morning, we need to get the herd across the creek and into the top field, we've got cowboys moving up there tonight to settle for a couple of weeks whilst the cows birth the calves. Then once they're strong enough, we will bring them back down to the ranch.”
I nod.
“It's quiet up in the top pasture, the cowboys will be there if any trouble comes their way and they're out the way of coyotes.”
“Just let me know when you need me,” Harlow says and her eyes linger on Riggs just a little longer than they should have. We know Harlow loves Austin, but we also know she holds a soft flickering candle for Riggs. First love and all that bullshit.
“Will do,” Riggs doesn't even meet her gaze, he is too focused on Aspen.
“How is the writing going?” I ask Aspen, softly rolling the base of my empty beer bottle on the table.
“Ugh,” she huffs, chest rising and falling, “hit a bit of a block. Not sure where I want the story to go,” she admits, nodding to herself. “I need to get a move on though as my tour is coming up and people are wanting the second instalment...”
“You can't force a turd,” Pacey shrugs up.
“Pretty sure the saying is, you can't force a fart...” Aspen nibbles on her bottom lip, “but thanks for the advice.” Soft laughter rolls across the table when I notice Riggs looking behind me.
“Oh my,” Aspen whispers. Whoever it is, is gaining the attention of the table. Twisting and looking over my shoulder, I see her.
Pretty white dress, her new cowboy boots and her long brown hair sitting in waves down her back. Wide blue eyes seek me out and she holds her hand up awkwardly. She looks so damn pretty.
“Fuck,” I hear Conrad mutter under his breath, and I snap my head around to look at him, eyes narrowing. “What?” he smirks, and I shake my head.
Riggs stands up, walking over to the table behind us and grabbing a spare chair, carrying it across the floor before placing it at the top of the table. I know he doesn't particularly like Dixie, but he isn't an asshole.
Well… mostly.
She walks over cautiously, her eyes bouncing around the table before they settle on mine, and I see the twitch of her lips.
Pretty as sin.
Inhaling sharply, I go to stand and she looks up at me.
“Drink?”
She eyes the table and sees that we're all drinking beer.
“I'll have whatever you guys are having,” her voice is soft and I give her a gentle nod.
“Beers all round then?” I ask the table and they all chime a yes. Walking across the floor, my boots feel heavy as I rest against the wrap around bar.
“Same again?” Tabitha asks.
“Same again,” I smile, “just add one more on,” and I look over at the table, everyone talking and laughing like our lives haven't been completely turned upside down in the last few weeks. And then I see her.
The girl that broke my heart ten years ago, and somehow, it feels like she belongs here. Like she has always been here.
“There we go darlin',” Tabitha says as she passes me the tray.
“Thanks, just pop it on the tab,” I give her a wink.
“Riggs'?”
“You know it,” I snort a laugh as I walk back to the table and place the tray down.
Everyone reaches for one, and Dixie looks like a deer in head lights.
“You okay?” I say softly as I sit down, my head dipped slightly.
“I think so,” and I watch, the dimples digging into her cheeks.
“What made you change your mind?” I fall into easy chatter with her whilst the rest of the table slip into their own conversations.
“Your mom,” she tilts her head, eyes volleying between mine.
“So, my mom could get you to come out with us, but I couldn't,” I place my hand over my heart and act wounded which causes her to shove me away playfully in the arm.
“It's nothing personal,” she licks her full lips, and my eyes drop as I watch.
“Kind of feels that way,” I whisper.
“Hey, Tripp,” Conrad shouts across the table. Annoyance grates inside me as I turn to face him.
“Yup?”
“Stop hogging her,” he smirks, and I want to throat punch him.
Harlow whistles and Pacey chuckles low.
“How are you feeling after today?” Riggs asks, arm firmly wrapped around Aspen's shoulders.
“It was good, I’m tired but that's good, or so I have been told…”
“It is for me, sleep hasn't been great and being back on my horse, back in the saddle... well, I’m going to sleep like a damn baby tonight,” Pacey says before swallowing a mouthful of his beer down.
“You done good, kid,” Riggs tips his head towards me. Conrad is staring at Dixie, and I watch as her cheeks blush under his gaze.
“Stop staring at her man,” I grab a cardboard coaster from the table and flick it in his direction.
“I can't,” he lifts one shoulder, he does not give a fuck. Ballsy bastard.
“Do you want him to stop staring?” I can't hide the smile as I ask her, there are no hard feelings between me and Conrad, but still.
“Doesn't bother me,” she smiles as she purses the rim of the bottle to her lips and takes a mouthful. “But I am curious Conrad,” she says, placing her drink down, “do you ask everyone you just met out on dates?” and Riggs bellows a laugh, Harlow shakes her head shamelessly and Pacey's mouth drops open, and I hate it. Hate that he asked her.
“Seems to be a bit of a pattern when any new girl rocks up into town,” Aspen side eyes Conrad.
“Dirty dog,” Riggs chuckles to himself, hand stroking his beard.
“So is it still a no?” Conrad rests his elbow on the table, head on his hand as he looks down the table at her.
“It's still a no,” she smirks, lifting her bottle to her lips.
“Damn,” he laughs, sinking back into his seat. “Worth a shot though, right... you don't ask, you don't get.”
I manage to simmer my thoughts for just a moment when I see Riggs lift his brows at me and I give him a nod.
“Conrad,” my voice is a little louder as he looks towards me, smirk on his face as he shares a joke with Harlow.
“Yeah?”
“Walk with me a minute,” I scoot from the cherry red seat and my boots hit the dusty ground.
Riggs and Aspen move out of his way so Conrad can reach me.
I begin to walk and he is behind me, I tug the door of The Boot and step outside into the cool spring evening, Conrad’s boots beating down behind me.
Turning, I tilt my head to the side and his hands fold into his jean pockets.
“Just letting it be known...” I run my finger across my bottom lip, head resting down as I close the gap between us. “She's off limits.”
“Is she?” he fucking scoffs a laugh, eyes glistening as they dance around the fire deep within mine.
“Yeah, she's mine .” And even I’m a little shocked at my own admission. Dixie broke my heart and trampled over it, but the thought of her being with someone else floors me in an instant.
Conrad lets out a deep laugh, shaking his head from side to side.
“So, what, you Rivera boys get to put claim on any fresh meat that comes across that town line?” his eyes lift to look behind me at the dusk evening sky.
“Not at all, but the two girls you have tried to make a move on have been connected to me and Riggs, maybe you need to look a little closer at the girls already in the town before you come for ours.”
Conrad steps towards me, our boots toe to toe.
“Okay princess, I’ll leave her alone but if she makes a move on me...” his lips twitch into a smirk. “I won't be pushing her away,” and with that he turns on his heel and walks back into The Boot, soft laughter following him as he does.
“Fuck it,” I groan, lifting my hat and rubbing my hand over my messy hair before placing my hat back on my head, and making my way back to our table to sit with the girl that I have claimed to be mine, yet can't even hold a decent conversation with.