Page 179 of Ride the Sky

Now look at us. Are we done? Are we over? Or is Wyatt giving me a taste of my own medicine? I’d deserve it.

It’s for the best, isn’t it? I’m not the domestic type. He’d get bored eventually. We both would.

Now’s not the time to get sentimental. I have to get my head on straight for my ride. It may be a small rodeo, but for me, it’s everything. I’ve worked all summer to get here. To finally feel like myself again. But does it matter? Does it mean anything without Wyatt behind me? He got me here,hedid this. For him to miss it…it all feels hollow.

“Eyes are puffy.”

I glance up. Sheena stands on the other side of the bar, tapping her nails on the countertop. “I’m sure that delights you.” I scowl. “Where’s Beef?”

Her right eyebrow arches. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Petty ’til the end, Sheena.” Arms on the bar, I lean in. “Listen, I’ve knownBeefa long time, he’s a good guy. So you better not fuck with him.”

“Or what?”

I eye her head of massive black curls. “You rememberor what.”

She pales. Hand tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, she swallows then says, “I know Beef’s a good guy, which is why I’m willing to—”

“Slum it?”

“No. Try it.” Her nostrils flare. “There’re no good guys here. You and your sister and friends got them all.”

My heart burns then chills.“More tequila. And Red Bull.”

She makes a face, eyes the three shot glasses on the bar with distaste. “That’s so bad for your heart.”

“Yeah, so is the man I like.” I gesture. “Tequila.”

She pours me a shot then places two cucumber slices on a napkin and slides them my way.

I stare at them, unsure what to make of it. She bristles. “Use ’em or don’t, Fallon. Just stop acting like an idiot.”

I take the shot then slap the cucumbers on my eyes and bury my face in my hands on the bar top. It’s sticky and smells faintly of shoe. “Ugh, god, the voice of reason being Sheena Wolfington, I must be dead.”

“Nope,” a droll voice says. “You’re drunk.”

I lift my face, tugging the cucumber slices from my puffy eyes. Dakota stands there. Behind her, Reese and Ruby. Concerned eyes from all of them.

“Let me guess,” I grumble. “Wyatt spilled everything.”

My big sister doesn’t look happy. “Everything and then some.” Dakota sits beside me with a sigh. “You’re riding? Really?”

I scowl through my misery. “I suppose you came to stop me.”

“No.” Reese smiles. “We came to support you.”

Dakota strokes my hair. “I’m terrified for you, Fallon.” Silver lines her eyes. “But I know this is your life, and for us to be in it, we have to accept it.”

My eyes fill with tears. “Then why couldn’t Wyatt?”

Ruby throws her arms around me, rocking me on the stool. “Because he loves you and he’s scared and he’s stupid.” Her voice drops. “But don’t tell him I said that.”

I nod, nod, nod before I can start crying.

“C’mere,” Ruby soothes, helping me slip off my stool.

Reese takes the drinks and orders more, while Dakota moves us to a torn booth in a corner.

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