Page 8 of Saddle and Bound

I return her smile but shake my head. “I doubt that,” I murmur. These new revelations catch me off guard. I hadn’t expected Alex to be Rory and Chris’s adoptive brother, nor do I fully believe he’s as guarded as Rory describes. But what do I know? I barely know him, right? And yet, hearing these pieces of his life only leaves me with more questions than answers.

Why was he adopted? What happened to him? What’s his story?

If Rory’s right, there’s so much more to Alex than meets the eye.

I decide not to ask. The girls, I’m sure, would be more than happy to fill in the gaps. Judging by their sly smiles, they’re already entertaining ideas about something more between Alex and me. But I don’t want to pry into something so personal, and I certainly don’t want to discover anything that might tether that cowboy more firmly to this place. He’s already taken up a permanent spot in my head—and, apparently, in my panties—and I’ve barely scratched the surface of knowing him.

I take a long sip of wine, willing myself to think about anything else.

We continue chatting and laughing, sharing more ridiculous stories. Then Val leans in, looking like she’s about to spill something juicy. “Remember that time you accidentally texted your ‘crush’ to the wrong group, Lex?”

Rory laugh, already knowing where this is going. “Oh, you mean the time she sent all the juicy details about her date to the study group?”

Lexy bursts out laughing. “Exactly! I thought I was texting Vale. Instead, I textedeveryonein the study group! They got all the details on my date... and the 'crush of the moment.' It was mortifying.”

Aurora is laughing so hard she’s holding her stomach.

“No way! How did they react?” I ask, feeling bad for her.

Lexy just shakes her head. “Oh, I became the topic of conversation for weeks. I’ll never make that mistake again.”

I chuckle, already feeling more at ease. These girls laugh, joke around, and don’t take themselves too seriously. Maybe I really could relax a little with them. Suddenly, I realize how tense and perfectionistic I always am. And just as suddenly, I realize these are the exact kind of comments an annoying cowboy might throw my way.

I feel a wave of irritation building and down the rest of my wine. The wine, by the way, is excellent. The girls mentioned that they produce it at the ranch and that harvest season is one of their favorite times—they have a blast helping out with the grape picking. Val and Lexy love cooking with their mom, and Rory joins them when she’s here.

The whole thing almost moves me… I love this cozy, family atmosphere and the bond Val and Lexy share with their mom. I can’t help but feel a little sad, though, thinking about how I never had that.

“These stories are priceless. I don’t feel so embarrassed anymore.”

Lexy raises her glass. “Here’s to girls' night! No knights in shining armor, just wine, laughter, and embarrassing moments.”

Aurora nods, grinning. “And maybe a few more stories to add to our collection.”

Vale looks at Aurora with a teasing smile. “Oh, remember when you weretotallyin love with Chris’s friend?”

Aurora’s face turns pink, and she quickly glances at the floor. “Uh, I... I didn’t...”

Lexy bursts out laughing. “Oh, don’t try to deny it! We all knew. How many times did we catch you spying on his training sessions?”

Aurora groans, hiding her face in her hands. “I was just... curious! And, okay, maybe a little obsessed.”

Vale smirks. “A little? You practically had a shrine to him. And the things you’d say when you tried to talk to him... I still can’t believe you asked him if he liked your... ‘fashionable’ new boots.”

Aurora shakes her head in embarrassment, laughing. “I was so awkward! He never took me seriously.”

She pauses for a moment, clearly thinking it over, then sighs and looks up at us with a defensive smile. “Okay, fine. I was 14, alright? I was just a kid back then. I had no clue what I was doing!”

Lexy bursts out laughing. “Aww, poor little Rory. But hey, I’m pretty sure you weren’t the only one who had an awkward crush at that age.”

Aurora rolls her eyes but can’t help smiling. “I guess... but still. That’s not something I want anyone remembering about me.”

Vale grins mischievously. “Well, lucky for you, weneverforget. Those moments are forever etched in our memories.”

Chapter 6

Rosie

Group Chat: Wild Chicks]

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