Chapter 4 #2
I’m curious, so I look, finding Sadie laughing and flirting with a few cowboys around the bar. One of them is Blake, but I’m not one bit surprised. I’ve noticed the way he looks at her back on the ranch—the way all men look at her.
“If you don’t, someone else will,” he continues.
“She’s just my neighbor. And you know I’m not in the market for whatever it is that you’re suggesting.” He knew my story, and I didn’t want to repeat it.
“Well, maybe you should reconsider,” he smirks. “That hand of yours has to be gettin’ real tired. I mean, how long has it been?”
Long enough that just one squeeze of her hand had me imagining how it would feel wrapped around my dick. But that’s none of his goddamn business. “Why don’t you just worry about yourself?”
“Fine,” Ryker chuckles, turning his gaze back to the woman performing on stage. “Speaking of hot women. She’s really something, isn’t she?”
“Who, Averie?” Is this why Ryker wanted to go out so badly tonight? For local celebrity Averie Knox?
He leans closer to me. “Do you think she remembers me? You know, from when we met last year after her tour?”
Yup, this is exactly why we’re here.
I know that look he’s giving her. He’s genuinely interested in a woman who is way out of his league. “I’m sure she’d recognize you from the high school yearbook,” I tease. He’s known Averie his whole life. Local celebrity or not, they both grew up in the same small town.
“I was different then. And she was… you know. Averie Knox,” he gestures towards her glittering image on stage.
She started out as a small-town country girl, singing folky music that I loved, but recently her sound has become more poppy. Trendy. Not my style, but her fame has been growing because of it. And looking at her now, she’s all glitter and glam. A very different girl from the one we both remember.
“I think she meets a lot of people, Ryker.”
Besides, I’m pretty sure she’s still dating an actor, or so I read in the local newspaper a few months ago. Living a big, fancy life that he wouldn’t be able to fit into.
Ryker nods, looking sad for a moment as he stares at his glass before knocking it back.
“Kit?”
A familiar woman’s voice chimes beside me, brushing my shoulder. I turn to find Alaska Rivers standing there, smiling at me with blush in her cheeks. A rush of relief flows through me at her presence.
“Hey,” I pull her in for a hug, stopping abruptly when my eyes snag on the small bulge in her stomach.
Holy fucking hell.
Alaska is… pregnant? Her black hair is up in a messy bun, and she’s wearing a long, silky teal skirt with a fluffy white sweater tucked into the round curve of her belly. A curve I can’t stop staring at, blinking multiple times just to be sure what I’m seeing is real.
She scrunches her midnight brows. “After six months, all you have to say is holy fucking hell?”
My eyes snap to hers. “What? No, I—I didn’t mean…” Did I curse out loud?
She places a reassuring hand on my arm. The guilt swirling inside me turns sour at her fake smile. “It’s okay. I know it’s… a lot.”
Ryker stands, pulling her in for a long hug.
Telling her how happy he is for her while I’m still trying to process my feelings.
He gestures for her to sit, and I plop down next to her, taking her in.
Her blue eyes are darker than I remember, but her golden native complexion is just as bright, if not even more glowing than usual.
“So, how far along are you?” Ryker asks.
“About four months,” she responds.
“And who’s the lucky man?” he grins at her.
Alaska’s face pales. “He’s not really in the picture. After he found out he… well, he wasn’t ready to be a father.”
Ryker’s expression turns sad. “That’s—” The words stop with the tilt of his head. A moment of pause, before his brown eyes narrow on me with a wide expression.
Did he think that I did this?
“Do you think—it’s not mine, Ryker!”
I’d kissed her six months ago, our first and only kiss, and that was the extent of it.
Red blush fills her cheeks. “It’s not Kit’s,” she confirms.
Ryker recomposes himself. “Just checking.”
I shake my head, cursing Ryker in my mind for even thinking such a thing. Not wanting to curse again in front of her unborn child.
“Anyways, I’m surprised to see you here on a Thursday night,” Alaska shuffles closer to me. “I thought you hated stuff like this.”
I’m very thankful for the change in conversation. “I do. I’m not here by choice, that’s for sure,” I glare at Ryker.
Ryker tilts his beer glass towards me. “I couldn’t let him miss Thirsty Thursday.”
My mouth opens to antagonize him, but before I can respond, Alaska places her hand on my face, brushing the short brown stubble on my jawline. “You’ve changed, too.” She smiles, a genuine Alaska smile. “This is a good look on you, Kit. Makes you look… softer somehow.”
My shoulders relax, recognizing my childhood friend. “I’m uhh… I’m so sorry… about your dad.”
Alaska smiles, “I think he’s doing better.”
Better? No one with Alzheimer’s gets better, even if I wish it were true. She’s definitely in denial. The guilt for the past six months of silence between us feels like a hole in my chest, growing larger by the second.
She grabs my hand before I can think of the right words to say. “Kit, I’ve been wanting to talk to you… well, for months now.” She bites her lip, trying to find the words as she searches my eyes. “Can we—”
Sadie sets down two beers in front of me, cutting her off. “Ernie wouldn’t let me pay,” she mutters.
Ernie?
Alaska leans back, dropping my hand. Eyes wide in surprise at Sadie’s presence.
“I don’t let women buy me drinks.”
With a wave at Ernest, I grab my beer. The smile he gives me speaks volumes about how happy he is to see me here. His dark brows playfully rise, pointing to Sadie.
Yup, he thinks I’m on a date.
The tension in my shoulders is back with an aching force. This whole night is just too much.
“Because you’re a misogynist?” Sadie accuses.
“Because I’m a gentleman,” I snap.
“Right,” Sadie snorts with a roll of her eyes. “Oh,” she exclaims when she notices Alaska. “Hi, I’m Sadie,” she extends her hand, still standing beside me. There’s an empty chair next to Ryker, but she doesn’t take it.
“Alaska,” she smiles back, but it’s one of her fake smiles she bestows upon Sadie, grasping her hand. “How do you two know each other?”
“He’s my neighbor, aren’t you, Cowboy?” Sadie’s hand lands on my shoulder, giving it a tight and playful squeeze.
Fuck, she needs to stop touching me. “Neighbor,” I repeat, wanting to burn that word out of her mouth.
“She works at Lone Pine,” Ryker chimes in.
“Really?” Alaska nods, staring at Sadie’s hand still lingering on my shoulder.
I wonder if Sadie notices, because at that moment she removes her hand and decides to sit next to Ryker.
“Alaska’s a veterinarian,” I say to Sadie, breaking the awkward tension. “She comes to the ranch on occasion.”
“Oh, that’s super cool,” Sadie smiles, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “That must be a fun job.”
“It has its perks,” Alaska smiles. “Although it’s been a while since I’ve been at the ranch.
” Meaning she’s been with her dad every second she can spare, dealing with pregnancy appointments and most likely avoiding me in the process.
“And I don’t get the chance to meet new people very often…
” she trails off, glancing between us. “Did you two come here together?”
I choke on my beer.
“Technically, but he’s not happy about it,” Sadie replies.
“It’s his fault,” I point at Ryker.
Ryker’s hands go up in surrender. “Just being friendly.”
Friendly, my ass.
“Well, personally, I would’ve preferred a more exciting driver, but Cowboy here is about as fun as a nun in church,” Sadie teases, making eyes at me from across the table.
Alaska snorts a laugh under her breath. Ryker outright laughs, tilting his beer towards Sadie in agreement.
My gaze narrows on the woman who’s trying to push my buttons. “You can walk back if that’s more exciting.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” she eyes me back with the same intensity, leaning forward in her seat.
I place both forearms on the table, mirroring her. “Try me.” I’m not in the mood to be antagonized.
She smiles at my response. “Says the gentleman,” she does air quotes around gentlemen.
A faint smile ghosts my lips.
Silence passes between us, for how long, I’m not sure. But she’s challenging me, and I’m not a man who backs down from a challenge.
If she wants to stare, I’ll stare right back.
“So, about them Grizzlies,” Ryker starts. “Only two more games left in the season.”
The Grizzlies are my favorite football team, and Alaska’s, too. When we were kids, we used to watch the games together. But right now, I’m too focused on winning this war with Sadie than on what’s coming out of his mouth.
“Do you like football, Sadie?” Ryker asks.
“Can’t say that I’ve ever seen a game,” she responds, never leaving my eyes.
“Seriously?” Ryker says, at the same time I respond with, “Really?” How has she never watched football? It’s damn near un-American.
“Really,” she smiles, reaching for her beer.
“Well, you’ll have to join us sometime.”
My attention shifts to Ryker, giving him a look that says, are you fucking kidding me. Forcing me to lose the stare-off with Sadie, and now she’s happily bouncing in her seat.
Great.
“You too, Alaska,” Ryker adds. “We’d love to have you.”
Alaska’s eyes move to the table. “Yeah… maybe.” There’s something different about her expression now, like she’s wilted, and when she meets my eyes, she gives me a look that I’ve never seen before. What was going on in her mind? What was she going to say before Sadie stepped in?
But before I can ask Alaska to talk somewhere in private, she tenses, turning her gaze toward the dance floor. Focusing on someone approaching our table.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Ryker murmurs.
A custom grey suit and shiny shoes approach our table.
A man I haven’t seen in a long time.