Page 3 of Hung Up
“Flavor of the month?” I ask with a smirk playing on my lips.
Her heart-shaped mouth curves into a wry smile. “You know I don’t kiss and tell, Saxxon.”
I tilt my head back and let out a howl. “Charli Kutler thinks she’s sneaky now does she?” I deadpan.
She walks away laughing, her patience with me wearing thin.
Dash paws at my boot—his way of beginning me not to go. He tugs at my heart strings and I feel especially guilty after leaving him alone in the trailer for most of the day. I give him some extrafood in his bowl to make up for it. I know I can always win him over with food. He’s already forgotten all about me leaving.
Charli calls for me from outside the open door. “Sorrel, let’s go, time to turn and burn, bitch.” She pulls up her boobs so they look even perkier.
I shake my head. I am so not ready for this.
“Bye, Dash, love you.”
He looks up at me with his half-blue, half-white eyes that always make it look like he’s sad. He’s so damn cute. “I’m sorry, buddy. I wish I could stay. One more night and you’ll be back at the ranch chasing cows and rolling in horse shit,” I chuckle.
I step outside into the cool night air, and my skin prickles. Summer temperatures are dropping quickly, and it feels like fall is already rolling in. That happens early in Montana, but I get excited because even though our winters are frigid, it’s one of my favorite times of the year.
Now that I’m outside, I look down at my outfit, feeling very underdressed. “Should I change?” I ask.
She looks me over, then rolls her eyes. “Sorrel, you could wear a damn paper sack and still look like a million bucks. Let’s go.”
I fumble with the keys and lock up the trailer.
“Finally, I thought you were gonna chicken out.”
“I sure as hell thought about it,” I mutter.
“Oh, come on. If Huck is there, I’ll kick his ass.”
She’s so cocky considering Huck is double her height and mean as hell, but she might be meaner.
“Please, God, no. I don’t want any trouble, Charli.”
“I know, I know. All right then, we’ll just ignore him and we’ll dance our asses off to some Denton Reed.”
“Oh, is that who’s playing tonight? Do I know any of his songs?”
“You should! He’s been playing at almost every rodeo this summer. Oh wait—that’s right, you’ve been hiding out at the ranch all summer!” She teases.
I give her a playful shove.
Truth is, I have been hiding all summer. I’m just not ready to rehash everything and feel the trauma of it all again. It’s better if I just pretend like it doesn’t bother me, ignore my emotions, and move on.
She throws her arm over my shoulder and gives me a squeeze. After handing me the other beer she has, we clank them together and drink them as we walk to the arena entrance. I can already hear music playing and smell food coming from the food trucks set up outside the arena. I should eat something before drinking anymore tonight so I don’t get a massive hangover before my drive home tomorrow.
We’ve almost finished our beers, and I get an optimistic feeling about tonight. Maybe I’ll get lucky and Huck won’t even be here. With any luck, he’s already in his truck, halfway back to Fergus County, and he hasn’t thought twice about me.
If only I could get him out of my mind.
“Sorrel, wake up!” Charli yells at me.
I spaced out thinking about last summer again. I’ve got to snap out of it.
“I’m awake. I’m ready. Let’s get in there,” I say with a nervous smile, and we stroll through the entrance.
3
