Maisie
. . .
TWENTY-NINE
I check myself out in the mirror of Grayson’s spare bathroom. There’s plenty of space to get all dolled up for tonight. I pretend I’m getting all dressed up for myself, but that would be a lie. I want to catch a certain cowboy’s eye tonight.
After getting all my stuff settled, Grayson informed me I had one hour to get ready for the annual cookout. Apparently, Roxy and Walter host a huge BBQ with the whole ranch crew to celebrate opening day tomorrow and all the work they’ve put in to get here.
My mid-length dress swishes against my cowgirl boots as I slide them into place. The sun decided to make an appearance today, spring in full force. I decided to break out one of my summer dresses paired with my jean button up vest.
“Ready?” Grayson calls through the door.
“Coming,” I respond. I plant a kiss on Evie’s head, and she lets out a howl of protest until she notices the pile of treats I left behind on the bed.
The walk to The Den is fairly quick when it’s bright out and I can see the path clearly.
I’ve walked this path countless times now, and I could do it in my sleep.
How far I’ve come from that first night here.
It seems like just yesterday, I was stumbling through these woods, lost in more than one way, before a cowboy swooped me up and guided me in the right direction.
The party is already rambunctious by the time we make our arrival, and I immediately seek out Laine and Hunter.
We started a group chat, and it’s been so fun having friends to talk to as an adult.
It’s never something I thought I was missing out on, but now, after having these two for support, I couldn’t imagine a life without them.
It’s going to be hard leaving them behind in a couple months.
“It’s about time your ass showed up,” Hunter says, shoving a drink in my hand before I’ve even made it to her. “And with arm candy this time, I see.”
“Eww that’s my brother,” Laine gags, drawing me in for a hug. “Hey girly, I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you both too,” I laugh, drawing Hunter in for a hug next. “So, what have I missed?”
“Besides Grayson eye-fucking you since the moment you split ways, nothing much. Roxy and Walter had a pretty good kiss earlier that I had to shield my eyes from, and the cowboys are already drunk and definitely going to be regretting it tomorrow morning,” Hunter says, unfazed, planting a hand on her hip.
“La, la, la, la, I don’t want to hear that,” Laine yells, plugging her ears.
“He was not,” I deflect, hiding my face behind my cup. That’s when I notice the shadows heading our way. “Shit, we’ve summoned them,” I hiss under my breath.
“Dammit. Now the fun's over.” Hunter pouts, downing her drink. “Where’s the fresh meat? I'm tired of seeing these grumpy cowboys’ faces day in and day out at my bar.”
“Hello to you too, Hunter darling,” Chesney calls, drawing her in for a side hug. “Maybe the cowboys aren’t the issue, and you’re just too picky.”
She gives him a fake smile. “I need more booze to deal with you. I’ll be back.” She slips from his arm, on a hunt for the cooler.
“You’re no fun,” he calls after her, scooting over to Laine’s side. She side-eyes him but keeps her distance.
“Something smells delicious,” I sigh when the smell of whatever Walter’s barbecuing hits my nose.
Grayson saddles up to my side, beer in hand. “I couldn’t agree more,” he replies, winking at me with a devilish smirk.
Is he flirting with me? Maybe Hunter was right earlier. He’s so hot and cold, it’s hard to keep tabs on him. I wasn’t sure how he was going to act after I dropped the kid bomb on him. My stomach does the flutter thing at the attention he’s giving me.
I smile into my cup. I can tell everyone is studying us, and I’m not in the mood to have that conversation right now. Not that there’s even one really to be had, but still, I would like tonight to be low key, the attention off me.
“So, a little birdie told me you moved in with Grayson,” Chesney says with a twinkle in his eye.
Hunter spits the drink she just opened all over the deck. “You what?”
I glare at my cousin. Always the shit stirrer. So much for low key. “I didn’t have a choice,” I clarify. “The cabins are booked out for the summer, so I had to move out. I had nowhere else to go, trust me.”
“You could have stayed with me. I’m offended you didn’t even ask,” Hunter says, a downward tilt to her lips. “It could have been like an endless sleepover.”
Chesney tilts his head, looking confused, but before he can butt in, Grayson cuts him off. “It’s no bother. I insisted. I know how much Maisie likes to write here on the dock, and it’s easier for her to work if she's living on the ranch, since she doesn’t have a car.”
Hunter crosses her arms over her chest, rolling her eyes. “I hate it when you make sense.”
“Waisie’s here,” Nova screams, barreling down the deck and launching herself into my arms. Grayson takes my drink from my hand just in time so I don’t spill it everywhere.
I catch her, tumbling backwards until my back is pressed against a warm wall.
I look up over my shoulder to find Grayson at my back, engulfing us like a protector.
“And Uncle Gway,” Nova beams, throwing her arms around both of us so we are smashed like a sandwich.
“You would make a cute family,” Laine teases, snatching her daughter off me. Chesney gives Laine a longing look behind her back, one I find odd. “I thought I told you not everyone wants to be climbed like a tree, my little koala,” Laine scolds a smiling Nova.
“Well, you said if I was weally excited, I could. And I’m weally excited all my favorite people are here, so actually, I can act like a koala. You made the rules, silly, not me.”
A laugh bursts out of my mouth at how proud Nova is of herself. I once again envision what it would look like to have a little girl of my own. I think I would like that.
I squat, bringing myself eye level with her. “How have you been, sweet girl?” She has a little ketchup crusted on her lip, and I resist the urge to scoop it up with my finger.
“Sooo good,” she says, her eyes round saucers.
Her pigtails bounce with excitement. “Chessy cat got me a new unicorn stuffy to add to my collection!” She looks up at him, and I don’t miss the love shining in his eyes when he looks at this little girl.
It’s clear there’s some kind of deeper relationship there.
Laine, on the other hand, is twiddling her thumbs, looking unsure of how to act.
“You’ll have to show me next time you're over. I bet it’s so cute.”
Her toothy smile sparkles in the sun. “Mhm, it is! Oh, your shoe is untied.” She points down at my feet, and, like the gullible idiot I am, I look down at my lace-less boots. “Made you look,” she screams, flicking me on the nose before running off to go cause more mayhem.
Laine groans, helping me to my feet. “Sorry, that’s her new saying of the week. I won’t admit how many times she’s gotten me with it.”
“It’s cute,” I reply, brushing my dress off. A shadow creeps in at my side. Grayson. He’s like a silent assassin, always there but never heard. He’s been clinging to me all night. Usually, I would like my space, but with Grayson, it never feels suffocating. It feels kind of nice, honestly.
“Dinner’s ready,” Walter hollers from the grill. There’s already five cowboys lined up with plates before he’s even gotten the words out of his mouth. Cowboys and their food is sacred, I’ve come to learn. A fed cowboy is a happy cowboy.
“After you,” Grayson gestures, placing his palm at the base of my back.
“Thank you,” I mumble. I try to pretend it doesn’t affect me, but it does in so many ways. Chills run down my spine, and my stomach heats.
Everyone plates up their food and scatters around the large table Roxy and Walter set up on the deck.
It’s a beautiful spring day, birds chirping and butterflies floating about.
It’s magical, and I make sure to take it all in.
The scenery, the welcoming company—it’s all perfect.
I’m used to artificial lighting, car horns, and a man whose eyes were glued to his phone due to ‘work’ while eating dinner together.
This is the opposite of that.
I snap a few photos for inspiration for my book while everyone is getting settled. I can see Grayson studying me out of the corner of my eye, but he says nothing. He’s studying me as hard as I’m studying my surroundings. It’s a heady feeling.
“Beautiful,” he whispers, leaning into me.
“The views?” I stutter, dropping my phone to the table.
His hand brushes mine under the table, and I look over to him, finding his gaze on me. “Yeah, the view,” he rasps, dragging his finger down the back of my hand.
I full on blush and hide my face, pretending to look over my food. I loaded my plate up with one of everything. It looks and smells delicious.
Conversation and drinks flow easily all night, the sun slowly setting along the tree lines behind us. Chesney is the class clown, per usual, making jokes about almost every person here, Roxy scolding him to behave the whole time.
“Chessy cat, can I have your bread? I weally, weally want it,” Nova pleads, laying on her signature puppy dog eyes.
“Anything for you, sugar plum.” He passes it over to her.
Her sticky, food-covered fingers snatch it from him, a big, cheesy grin on her face. “I knew you were my favorite.”
“Excuse me,” Grayson interjects, a fake pout to his lips. “I thought I was your best bud?”
She shrugs. “You both are silly, but Chessy cat gave me food, and you know that’s the way to my heart.”
Everyone around the table bursts out in laughter, myself included. “Fine. I guess I’ll just have to share my pancakes with Maisie next time.”
Nova’s eyebrows pinch, clear anger radiating off her. “That’s just plain mean, Uncle Gway. You know those are my favorite.”