43. Creek Bottom Shots and Tipsy Admissions
CREEK BOTTOM SHOTS AND TIPSY ADMISSIONS
CASH
ONE MONTH LATER
We pulled into the driveway at Brooks Valley Ranch and the warm, homey feeling I should’ve felt was replaced by a numbness I hadn’t been able to shake since the day Paige walked out of my life.
I missed her.
So much had changed since the day Paige and I got married—hell, since the day she climbed into my truck and started this adventure with me. It didn’t feel right ending it without her.
The last few weeks on the road felt lonely and empty. The excitement had died down and a somber sadness filled the house without Paige’s constant light.
We pulled into the garage and emptied the truck in somber silence. I found Axle, Reid, and Walker waiting for me in the rec room with a banner that read Welcome Home, Dickhead in sloppy handwriting. I cracked a smile, attempting to be my charming self that everyone expected.
“It’s good to be home, boys.”
Reid ran up to me and wrapped his arms around me. “I missed you.”
I clapped him on the back before shoving him off me. Everyone laughed as I adjusted the bag on my shoulder.
Quickly, the room fell into an awkward silence.
“Ask what you want to ask,” I blurted out. This was an uncomfortable situation, but I refused to walk on eggshells around my own family.
As far as I was aware, only Lottie knew the whole truth. If the boys did, they hadn’t mentioned it and I’d like to go as long as possible before admitting that I married their sister during a drunken night in Vegas.
“How are you?” Axle asked since his brothers remained quiet.
“Just peachy,” I deadpanned.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Reid asked hopefully.
“No.”
“You can talk to us,” Reid pushed, but I didn’t break my mask of indifference.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I turned to head outside. I just wanted to lay in bed and ignore the ache in my bones.
“We’re going out tonight!” Reid shouted after me as I created distance from the main house.
The moment Paige’s apartment came into view my breaths came faster. I wanted to go up there and find her waiting for me in bed. Maybe if I just spent some time in her space, I would wake up from this nightmare.
I passed the apartment and headed down the hill to The Village. I opened the door to my room and dropped my bag before crawling into bed. The only night I’d spent here since the spring was the one where Paige crawled into bed with me. It didn’t feel like mine anymore.
Honestly, nowhere felt right these days. The only place I truly felt at home was when I was with Paige.
I heard a knock on my door and I rolled over to see Walker standing in my doorway.
“Get the fuck out of bed. We’re going to the Saloon.”
“Hard pass.” I rolled back over. I didn’t feel like going out and I wasn’t going to be much fun right now. I was in my sad boy bag and I wanted to be alone.
“Please don’t make me punch you again.” Walker sighed, still standing in my doorway like a bouncer at a club.
“You don’t scare me,” I said over my shoulder.
Walker could be an intimidating motherfucker when he wanted to be, but I could take him. If he hit me right now, I’d let him. The pain would be less severe than what I’d experienced for the last thirty days.
Walker grabbed my arm, lifting me out of bed until I was on my feet.
“Get dressed. This isn’t optional,” he growled in my face.
I rolled my eyes but conceded because I really didn’t feel like getting a black eye today. I shoved out of his grasp and changed before following him back up to the main house where Reid and Axle were already in the idling truck.
I climbed into the passenger seat before Walker started toward town.
The Iron Saddle Saloon was crowded, but we managed to snag a table near the bar.
As soon as we sat down, the drinks were flowing.
Axle ordered us three rounds of Creek Bottom shots—which got their name from being so strong that you’d end up at the bottom of the creek if you took too many of them.
They were an Ashton Creek staple, and I’d seen many tourists throwing up in the parking lot from over indulging.
For the next hour, there wasn’t a minute when there wasn’t a drink in my hand.
I stood to get another round and swayed on my feet before sinking back down into my chair.
Fuck, I was drunk.
“I think you fuckers got me drunk,” I slurred, pointing between the three of them and squinting one eye so they’d stop moving around.
“I think he’s ready,” Axle clapped Walker on the shoulder.
“Ready for what?” I asked, steadying myself by gripping the edge of the table.
“Tell us what happened with Paige.” Walker’s tone wasn’t as harsh as I would have expected.
I sighed and sank into my chair. “I love her so fucking much.”
“We know, dude,” Axle said, drumming his knuckles on the table.
“I swear I didn’t do anything.” I raised my hands in defense.
“We don’t think you did,” Reid reassured me.
“I knew you guys were mad at me, but I have been in love with her for so long.”
“How long?” Axle asked, arching his brow.
I took a deep breath and started telling them the story.
I told them about how I fell in love with the girl who talked to her horse.
I told them about the time Paige kissed me and I ran away.
I told them about the years that I avoided her so I wouldn’t ruin our friendship.
And then I told them about how I married the perfect woman.
“We didn’t know you felt this way,” Axle said when I finally finished.
“You wouldn’t because I didn’t tell a soul. And then she just left. She left me behind and hasn’t called.”
“She’ll be back.” Walker sounded confident, but I wasn’t so sure. Paige craved adventure and being with me meant living a small life on a ranch. A simple life.
I shrugged. “I miss her so much.”
“We know. Paige really needed this, but she’ll always come back,” Reid said, taking a long pull from his drink.
“She feels like I didn’t choose her, like I was trapped,” I mumbled.
“So, fight for her. Show her exactly how you feel when she comes home,” Axle said, a devious smile spreading across his face. “I have a plan.”
I went to reach for Walker’s beer but missed and fell directly off my chair. I hit the ground with a thud and groaned.
Walker peeled me off the ground. “Come on, Loverboy. Time to go home.”
“How are we going to drive home?” I slurred as Axle and Walker propped me up to walk me out of the bar.
“Walker’s sober.” Reid laughed.
“You bitch. I thought we were all drinking.”
“You should know better than to believe us when you’re holding vital information we want to know,” Axle said as we exited the bar.
“Way to kick a man while he’s down,” I groaned and threw my head back.
“We love you, buddy. It’ll be okay.” Reid opened the back door and the guys all but threw me into the truck. That was the last thing I remembered before waking up in my room alone.