Page 86 of Untruly With You

Shit.

Pain flashes through me, and I recoil against it, my body going into rigid self-preservation mode as I roll to catch my weight on my uninjured side.

Immediately, Laine shoots up, cursing. “Are you okay, Sutton?”

“I’m good,” I force out between clipped breaths.

As soon as I regain composure, we roll into a round of laughter, both of us delirious.

“Alright, cowboy,” Laine says, holding a hand out to me. “We have a wedding to get to. You are the best man, after all.”

I groan, drawing her in with my good arm. “Can’t we stay here?” I murmur in her ear.

Laine melts in my grasp, shaking her head to think clearly. “Not unless you want another beating from Wells.”

39

LAINE

Sutton doesn’t takehis eyes off me during the entire ceremony. I, however, really try to not get lost in that yearning gaze of his. I watch the smiles spreading throughout the surprisingly large crowd; I study the lavender-accented bouquet in my hands; I appreciate the purple field giving way to the rolling green hills and pine-coated mountains beyond it; I stare at the back of Frankie’s head, golden curls dancing together.

But no matter how beautiful the scenery, no matter the number of unfamiliar faces to learn, I can’t keep my attention off Sutton for long. My eyes drift to him whenever I let my guard down, and I’m always met with that sideways smile I’ve loved since the first time I saw it. He looks more handsome than I’ve ever seen him, bruises, cuts, and all. A few curls fell out from where he pushed them away from his face, and they drop over the edges of his forehead, like little arrows pointing at his unyielding stare.

Fully occupied by my efforts to not gawk at Sutton, I don’t realize the ceremony is over until the guests all erupt into a rowdy applause, standing from their chairs. Sutton told methat, with Cassidy and Wells both being from West River, their wedding is the event of the season. That’s undeniable now, as a massive crowd of guests whoop loudly, many holding their hands up in true celebration. And with that, comes a sense of community. Apparently, everyone from West River is just as excited about this wedding as Wells and Cassidy are.

The new couple joins in on the cheering as they walk back up the aisle. Sutton shoots me one more look before he and Cassidy’s sister—best man and maid of honor—follow them. The rest of the wedding party trails behind with me and one of Wells’ high school buddies at the tail-end.

Frankie looks back to wink at me, her curls bouncing with every step.

The line of horse-drawn, floral-adorned wagons that brought everyone to the ceremony waits to transport everyone back to the ranch house for the reception. Sutton is at the first wagon. He tips his head back, motioning for me to join him. Right as I’m about to, though, a yank at my arm pulls me away.

Even though Frankie is loading onto the wagon Sutton stands at, Cassidy’s sister guides me to the one behind it. “All the bridesmaids are takingthisone,” she insists. Her mouth pinches in a failed attempt to hide her mischievous expression, and she tugs on my arm again. She must be able to tell that I’m about to object, because she demands, “Come on, it’s a quick ride.”

I follow the line of pink dresses onto the wagon. Immediately, the bridesmaids draw in close to me, conspiratorial smiles tilting.

“Spill,” one of them says, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. I recognize her as the one who, at the bachelorette party, almost threw up after her mechanical bull ride. “We heard that everything between you and Sutton was fake.”

I look back toward Frankie and Sutton’s wagon, hoping I have a chance to jump off mine to join them. But theirs has already started back toward the house. Even as he gets farther away, Sutton keeps his gaze locked on me.

“You two fooled me,” Cassidy’s sister giggles. “I mean, that ride you two took on the mechanical bull? Real dating or not,thatwas something.”

The others nod in agreement.

The wagon jolts into motion, making it clear there's no escape from the inquisitive bridesmaids.

I shake my head dismissively. “It was all a stupid lie. I didn’t want him to have to come to the wedding solo. It just got out of hand.”

Every single one of them gives me an unconvinced look.

“Really!” I insist, laughing awkwardly. “He’s my best friend. We were just having fun.”

One bridesmaids scoffs, “It surelookedlike fun.”

“Yeah, it did,” another says, grinning wickedly. “How can I convince Sutton to ‘fake’ date me?”

“What I wouldn’t give,” another swoons. “It’s just not fair that Cass claimed Sutton all those years, only to end up with his brother.”

“So greedy,” one adds, giggling. “At least this means Sutton is on the market.”

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