Page 102 of Unguarded

I wince. “Uh, is that really important?”

Dolly’s lips form an O. “Please tell me it wasn’t during sex, Cash. Tell me it wasn’t. Right now.”

I rub the back of my neck, feeling the beads of sweat start to build up on my lower back.

“Oh my gosh. You’re unbelievable.” She shakes her head, arms folded across her chest. “I’m disappointed, to say theleast.”

“Does it matter that much?” My limbs are starting to tingle. “I’ve said it at other times too.”

I look over at Monroe, who’s now chatting with Sterling. She’s nodding politely while he speaks.

Dolly throws her hands up. “Yes, it matters!I love youduring sex meansI love having sex with you, I love the way your body fits against mine. It doesn’t mean anything about your actual feelings in a relationship way. Not to women anyway.”

“How would you know? Am I gonna get in another fight tonight?” I stare at my little sister.

Sherolls her eyes. “Shut up. I’m a grown-up, but, no, I don’t know firsthand …yet.”

“How do I fix it? Fuck, now I don’t know what to do. I’m a moron.” I clench and unclench my fist, wishing I could do something to relieve the tension building in my muscles. I’m clueless about this stuff. I’ve never been in an official relationship. I’ve never told a woman I wasn’t related to that I love her.

Monroe is looking over at me. She takes a step in my direction. I feel the urge to bolt, to think about what I’m going to say.

“I would start by figuring out what you really want. Do you want to build a house here, live with her in it? Do you want to relocate to LA with her and just visit us? I think you can easily balance both. Don’t panic. She’s clearly in love with you. You can fix this.”

Monroe is halfway to us when Rosie steps in front of her. I can’t peel my eyes away from Monroe’s face. She’s nodding and smiling at the bride. Her cheeks flush pink before Rosie loops her elbow through hers and leads her up toward the microphone.

Rosie steps up to the mic in her wedding gown, grinning widely. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am the luckiest woman in the world today for many, many reasons, but it’s not every day that a world-famous country music star attends your backyard wedding.”

The crowd begins to hush, all eyes on Monroe.

“I have asked Monroe if she will sing for us, and she graciously agreed if we all promise to dance and mingle while she serenades us with her beautiful voice!”

Monroe wraps an arm around Rosie’s waist, and they hug before Monroe steps up to the mic. She removes it from the mic stand and looks back at the band. They’re just a local group who plays at Old Harry’s, the local dive bar. The guitarist hands out his instrument to her, and she takes it, pulling the strap on over her head.

“Good evening, y’all.” Her thumb brushes over the strings gently. “I am so honored to be here for this occasion and to watch two people promise their forever to each other. It’s certainly not every day that you get to witness such love and devotion.”

The crowd hushes. My heart thumps loudly in my ears. Dolly grips my forearm, squeezing it reassuringly. Monroe’s eyes meet mine through the crowd.

“I have a special song to sing for you tonight. It’s something new … something I’ve been working on since I had the pleasure of staying at Redford Ranch.” Her fingers strum the chords again, a romantic tune filling the air. “It’s called ‘Calluses and Cowboys.’”

The voices have all ceased, every eye trained on her. A crowd this size is nothing compared to what she’s used to, but I still release my sister and start making my way toward the front. When it comes to her, I’ll never be too careful.

Her raspy voice fills the night air.

Calluses and cowboys are something new to me. I’ve been all around this town, but nothing compares to these.

I never meant to fall in love, but that’s just how life goes.

Where I go, he follows me, and he promised not to leave.

The stars out here shine brighter than those big city lights, and if I’m being honest, this place sure feels like home.

You find it when you least expect it—at least that’s what they say—but what about the love you find that isn’t here to stay?

The love that builds up calluses, to guard your heart and watch that cowboy roam.

The sound of water rushes through my ears. I’m right next to her now. The crowd has melted away, leaving us alone with the night and the lyrics she wrote. Once she sings the chorus for the last time, I inhale a deep gulp of oxygen. I reach forward, taking her hand and pulling her toward me. Words fail me, so I grip the back of her neck, tilting her head back as I kiss her soundly on the mouth.

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