Page 191 of The Friend Situation

“Babe, I was riding horses before you were born,” I tell her, helping her up and then climbing on the back of the saddle. “Cute you think otherwise.”

She gasps. “You really are the whole package.”

“And somehow, you underestimate me.” I click my tongue, taking the reins from her hands.

Thor follows behind us as we trot through the forest. Our only goal is to return to the barn in one piece.

“Did you have a good day?” she asks, her hair blowing in the breeze.

Carlee leans against me, and I hold her steady to my chest. The booze is getting to me, too, but I didn’t drink nearly as much as her.

I kiss the back of her head. “It’s been the best day of my life.”

Until tomorrow, when we make this official.

As we approach the barn, I see the side-by-side is where we left it. I chuckle to myself, imagining how Billie and Easton will react to this news.

Billie will be shocked, but Easton won’t be.

“What’s funny?” she asks, placing a kiss on my cheek.

“Easton texted me earlier and bet me that I’d be married before the end of the week.”

Carlee chuckles, her body shaking against mine. “Remind me never to bet against Easton when it comes to you.”

“I guess he does know me better than anyone,” I say, steering the horse toward the barn. “But I think everyone can see I’m head over heels for you.”

“That’s why you weren’t worried about the fake engagement,” she mutters.

“It was never fake for me,” I admit as we near the barn. “I knew I’d make you mine.”

“Cocky as fuck,” she says as I help her dismount.

Once her feet are on the ground, I swing off, joining her.

“That will never change,” I admit.

The world tilts a little as my feet hit the gravel, reminding me how much booze we actually consumed.

“Whoa there,cowboy,” Carlee teases, steadying me with a hand on my stomach. “Just a few more chores, and we’re free.”

Carlee takes Thor’s reins, and I follow her inside the barn, where we unsaddle and brush the horses. Before placing the gear in the tack room, Carlee grabs the booze. When she returns, she takes a swig.

“I have the overwhelming urge to have you again,” she whispers, glancing up at the hay loft.

“Up there?” I ask.

“I’ve always wanted to.” She chews on her bottom lip.

The adrenaline from our earlier confessions mixes with the liquor swimming in my blood.

Carlee backs me up against the ladder, greedily crashing her mouth against mine. Her eyes light up, and she bites her lip as she climbs up to the loft. I look up at her, smiling.

“Come on.”

I waste no time and join her.

She leads me to the back of the loft, where stacks of fresh hay are stored.

---