Page 34 of Exposing Colorado

He’s not wrong. I did want him out of my life. At least, I thought I did.

But it doesn’t make his abandonment hurt any less.

Chapter

Thirteen

Logan

To say I'm ready to leave Kentucky would be an understatement.

Not only did Salem resort to sleeping in the truck last night—forcing me to sleep next to Devon again—but she’s been ignoring me ever since.

All morning through breakfast, during stunt practice with the guys, while filming a promo of their show. Not one word. It's fucking killing me.

But you know who has been talkative, though?

“Jesus, there's some grade-A cowgirl pussy in this place,” Devon says entirely too loudly, eyes scanning the crowd. We’ve been dragged to a local club, and I can’t stress enough how much I’d rather be anywhere else.

His gaze finally lands on the man in the middle of the dance floor, who’s currently straddling a mechanical bull like he’s being paid to do so. “Cowboy ass, too. I'm in heaven.”

I grind down on my molars, ignoring him as I watch Christian clear a path toward the bar. He tugs Arya along, her hand clutching Salem’s, the three of them immediately ordering shots and beers. Tay makes a beeline for the only empty pool table, claiming it for our group.

Huck is the only one to hang back with me. “You okay?” he asks, dark brown eyes on my face.

I don't even have it in me to force a smile. “Yep. All good.”

His brows furrow, unconvinced.

Here's the thing about Huck and me—we've been best buds since we were kids. He was homeschooled until junior high, but our parents attended the same church. There are years—decades—of memories between us, Sunday dinners and holiday parties that stretch way back.

Huckslee pretty much suffered the entire time we've known each other, and I never saw it. Not until it was too late. No, actually, that's not true—I did see it. I just chose to ignore it; I was too busy trying to be the son my father expected me to be. So was he.

So, the fact that he's been able to tell that something's wrong after only five minutes with me? Clearly, he's always been the better friend, while I’m… a selfish piece of shit.

“Well, this ain't the Prospector back home, but it'll do,” Christian says, setting down a round of beers near the pool table. He finds the bucking bronco, eyes lighting up in excitement. “You think Juanita would get one of those?”

“She will if I ask,” Taylor smirks, chalking up the end of his cue as the two joke about their boss at their favorite bar in Salt Lake City.

“Yeah, no shit. She fuckin’ loves you for some reason.”

“Who doesn't?”

I stand to the side and fidget with my wedding band, listening to them chatter. Always the outsider. Even when Salem and I were actively dating, I never felt like I belonged. Huck had moved to California for college, and Salem was all I had. We kept our relationship from my parents, so family gatherings didn't involve her. She'd just hang out with her friends. It was incredibly lonely.

Voices rise around me, and it takes me longer than I care to admit to realize Taylor and Christian are in a heated debate.

“I doubt you could last ten seconds, pendejo,” Christian snickers, shoving his best friend in the chest.

Tay rises to the challenge. “Motherfuckin’ bet. You're on. Loser has to switch Salem and sleep outside tonight.”

Devon laughs behind me, startling me with his close proximity. “Why don't we pair up into teams? Make this interesting. Winners get the pull-out bed.”

“Fuck yes!” Taylor wraps his arms around Huck’s waist as his boyfriend bends over the pool table. “I get this one.”

Christian follows that up by hauling Arya against his chest, drawing a bubbly giggle from her. “And you're mine, mi reina.”

That leaves…