Epilogue
WHO THE FUCK HURT YOU?
PAIGE
SIX MONTHS LATER
We were hanging out in the rec room when Reid walked in with his arms raised out to the side, as if announcing his presence.
“Who’s up for Saloon?” he sang out as he walked behind the bar Walker installed when he was in his early twenties.
“Hell yeah,” Cash said, kissing my cheek.
I rolled my eyes. “If one of you gets into a fight tonight, I’m just going to let it happen.”
“Last weekend was a fluke,” Axle said with a goofy grin.
“I’ll let you get hit the hardest,” I said, standing to grab a drink from Reid.
“I didn’t know the girl had a boyfriend, okay? It’s not my fault she was draped in my lap.”
I rolled my eyes and ignored him like I usually did.
Things on the ranch were back to normal—or at least our new normal.
Cash and I adjusted to life together quickly.
He moved into my little apartment permanently and we broke ground on our new house two months ago.
Every morning Cash kissed my head before leaving for work, and every night we had dinner together before falling back into bed wrapped up in each other.
I still worked for my dad and the ranch.
I maintained the social media like I always had.
But after California, I decided to do more things I enjoyed.
I started a side business of photography, hosting photoshoots on the ranch for families and couples.
It was wildly popular with tourists, and even more popular with local engaged couples.
Brooks Valley Ranch was the perfect canvas to do what I loved.
It was a simple change, but one that satisfied what I was missing in my life.
“Okay, I got twenty on Axle getting punched in the face first.” Reid slapped a bill on the bartop.
“Too easy, my money is on you.”
Reid gasped and reared back, acting completely offended.
“Oh, don’t give me that look,” I snorted.
“I’m an angel,” he defended.
“Mm-hmm.” I nodded and patted his shoulder before taking the beer out of his hands.
“I feel like I’m under attack,” Reid said, looking around the room for someone to jump in and defend his honor.
“Don’t look at me,” Cash said, raising his hands in front of him.
Reid scoffed and mumbled something under his breath about being underappreciated.
Cash walked up behind me and grabbed the drink from my hand.
“Get your own,” I snarked.
“What’s yours is mine, Pip.” He kissed my cheek before settling on a barstool and pulling me between his legs.
If you had told me a year ago that I’d be nauseatingly and happily married to Cash Leonard, I would’ve laughed in your face. But I wouldn’t trade our love story for anything. It was chaotic and fast paced, and exactly what we needed.
Cash reached across the bar and placed a bottle of tequila in front of us. I snorted as my eyes found his.
“You know tequila makes us make bad decisions.”
He shrugged. “We’re already married, what else could happen?”
“I get too drunk and tell you to put a baby in me.”
Cash’s eyes sparkled and his hand gripped my stomach. “Just tell me when, P.”
I squeezed my thighs together and leaned forward to kiss my husband.
Reid groaned clutched his stomach. “For the love of god, please stop.”
“Bro, you have to get used to it eventually.” Cash laughed.
There was a knock at the back door of the rec room that had us all looking over, startled. The guys were accounted for, Walker wouldn’t knock, and I didn’t think we were expecting anyone else.
I peered through the back slider and saw Micah standing there with a duffel bag in her hands and mascara streaked down her cheeks.
I gasped and moved from Cash’s grip. I opened the door quickly and pulled her into a hug.
“Oh my god, are you okay? What are you doing here?”
Micah lived in Seattle with her boyfriend and usually only came to visit with Taylor.
Micah wrapped her arms around me tightly and sucked in a breath. “I didn’t know where else to go.” Her voice cracked.
I put an arm around her shoulders and guided her into the room.
A loud crashing sound dragged my attention to the bar where Reid stood with a bloody hand and a smashed glass scattered around the bartop.
Micah violently flinched at the sound as I gripped her closer to my side.
“Who the fuck hurt you?” he gritted out as blood dripped down his palm.
“I left Shane,” she whispered and looked at me with pleading eyes.
“Get him cleaned up. We’re going to the apartment.” I pointed at Reid before pulling Micah outside.
Reid shouted after us but I ignored him as I shut the door.
“Did he hurt you?” I whispered, holding my best friend close. I was pretty sure I knew the answer due to the angry looking bruised gash on her cheek, but that didn’t make it easier to stomach.
“I don’t want to talk about it…but I can’t go back there,” she whispered back.
“You’re safe here. You can stay as long as you want.”
She dipped her chin as we took the stairs to my little apartment. The moment the door was closed, Micah—the strongest and fiercest woman I’d ever met in my life—burst into tears in my arms.