Page 42 of Live, Ranch, Love

I don’t like Wyatt that way. He doesn’t like me that way either. In fact, I’m still not one hundred percent certain he even likes me—tolerate might be a better word.

When Wyatt disappears, Sawyer and Cherry stop dancing and shrug at me, faces twisting like they’re just as confused as to why he stormed off. Sawyer wraps his arms around Cherry’s and my shoulders, guiding us back to the table, where Cherry finishes clearing off the empty glasses.

I’m incredibly grateful that my full drink is still waiting for me and I down it, receiving a cheer from Wolfman and Sawyer, before asking Cherry to bring another. Anything to numb the annoying sting in my chest.

***

“Who has Wyatt been talking to all night?” I shuffle closer to Sawyer and gesture my glass towards where Wyatt stands at the bar with the couple. Ever since he came out the bathroom, he’s been chatting to them. Hasn’t even looked my way once.

Not that I care, I’ve been happily conversing with Sawyer and Wolfman, but… it’s just weird.

“That, my dear Red, is Miss Holly Slade and her hot shot lawyer boyfriend,” Sawyer laughs.

“Nah.” Wolfman shakes his head. “My sister told me they’re engaged now.”

Sawyer blows out a breath. “Shit, well, don’t tell Wyatt.”

I snap my head round. “That’s the infamous Holly Slade?”

I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting when he told me about her, but it definitely wasn’t someone as devastatingly beautiful as this woman. She’s got long, shiny blonde hair, and she’s wearing a sweet-looking white linen dress that shows off all her feminine curves, whilst deep-red paints her lips. Not ideal for Wyatt to know he lost that.

Also not ideal for me that there’s a quick pang of something that feels a lot like jealousy in my stomach… but I shake it off and turn back to Sawyer. It’s probably just reminding me of the blonde girl I caught Jake with.

He raises a brow at me. “How do you know about Holly Slade?”

I sip my drink, unable to stop myself from taking side-eye glances at Holly and Wyatt, thinking about how good they would’ve looked together as a couple—she’s all innocent country beauty, whilst he’s all dark and mysterious. I also notice how she’s covering her left hand, like she doesn’t want Wyatt to see the ring.

I immediately dislike her.

“Wyatt told me about Holly Slade the other week.”

“Wait, what’s her name again?” Wolfman grins.

I roll my eyes and twist in closer to Sawyer, who is laughing in what seems like disbelief. “Jesus, he never talks about Holly Slade, even to us. All we get is a grunt if we bring her up in conversation.”

Taking another long sip of my drink to try and hide how much I’m glaring at the three of them, I study the guy who’s got his arm around Holly’s waist. He’s also the complete opposite to Wyatt—he’s got the pretty city boy look locked in, his whole image evidently curated. He’s shorter and a little slimmer than Wyatt, with perfectly coiffed light-brown hair, and is wearing a flashy tailored suit. He’s what Wyatt could’ve been, I guess.

It all makes sense now. Why Wyatt’s stood so closed off, arms crossed tightly, those goddamn mouth-watering biceps bulging. Seeing him look so defeated doesn’t sit right with me, and with the vodka that’s coursing through my veins, it riles me up more than I’d like.

“It must suck seeing her move on when he’s still… here.” Even though I know he’s happy, that here is what he wants. But I can tell he’s still bothered by what she said about him, that he wasn’t ambitious enough. Even though I think the fact that he’s found what makes him truly happy is the most successful thing ever. Inspiring too.

“Yeah well…” Sawyer sits back and nurses his drink, flashing a raised brow look at Wolfman, who just shakes his head. “It’s not like he hasn’t moved on himself, but he doesn’t get to parade that in front of her like she does with her guy because of his weird rule.”

Wolfman scoffs. “The fucking rule.”

“What’s the rule?” I ask, attention darting between the two guys who are rolling their eyes animatedly.

Sawyer’s strained smile seems almost pitiful. “He’s always had this rule that he has to make sure any girl is aware of his intentions before anything happens between them, whether it’s serious or not. He says it’s because he has a little sister and wouldn’t want anyone being dishonest with her.”

Jesus, that was not what I expected. I’ve seen the way girls gawk after him—like the women a few booths down from us earlier—so I kind of thought he’d take more advantage of that.

“Essentially, the idiot won’t go home with a girl without telling her beforehand that he either wants to just fuck her, or marry her,” Wolfman chimes in, chuckling. “As you can imagine, it doesn’t always go down well, and means less girls to show off to Holly Slade.”

Sawyer tips his drink towards Wolfman’s with a wink. “More girls for us though, so we don’t discourage him.”

And they call Wyatt the idiot.

I spin back around and lean on the table, circling my drink as I watch Wyatt and Holly again.

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