Page 180 of Ride the Sky

“Tell us what happened,” Dakota says.

My lower lip wobbles. “I can’t. I suck.”

Beers in her hands, Reese slips in beside Ruby. “Talk to us, otherwise I will crush you in a bear hug.”

Ruby gives me her fiercest face. “We will bully you.”

I sob-laugh. “Is this allowed? Because if not, I’m calling the police.”

“Talk,” Dakota insists.

So I do. With my friends gathered around me, I tell them about what happened yesterday with Wyatt. Why I hid it from him, how long I’ve loved him, all my doubts and fears. When I finally come up for air, it’s late, many beers are drunk, and Nowhere is teeming with the rodeo crowd that’s drifted in for tomorrow’s Round-Up.

“How do people stand love?” I ask, feeling worn out from the emotion of it all. “It’s miserable.

“It’s magical,” Ruby says dreamily.

Dakota smiles softly. “It’s healing.”

“Sometimes,” Reese says, a look of sadness in her emerald eyes, “we can fuck up things that are meant for us.”

I wipe my eyes. “Fuck up is an understatement.” I look at my friends. Through my tears, I whisper, “I never got to tell Wyatt I love him.”

I’m met with stares of sympathy.

“It’s not too late,” Ruby says fiercely, reaching out to squeeze my hand. Reese’s eyes move to her. “It is never too late, Fallon.”

“You can still tell him,” Dakota adds. “Don’t protect your heart by pretending you don’t have one.”

She’s right. Hope blooms in my chest.

All this time, I’ve tried to duck and dodge love. Avoiding it because I was afraid of what it meant. That I’d have to give too much of myself or get too little in return. And like the slow creep of the morning sun, it all snuck up on me. I wasn’t ready for it, but it happened anyway. In all the little things, in all the little ways. Peanut butter pancakes on Sunday morning. Annoyingforehead temperature checks. Putting my boots on my feet when I couldn’t do it myself. Always present and patient with me and making sure I knew I was enough in this life. Inourlife.

“This is what we do…a sneak attack on love,” Reese says, and Ruby gasps like she’s revealed the secrets of the universe. “Under cover of darkness, we go back to the ranch and—”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I have to show him I love him.”

I hurt him badly. He deserves a big-as-fuck romantic gesture.

Luckily, I know exactly what to do.

“Tattoos,” I announce. The man literally tattooed my name on his ass. I can repay the favor.

Wide-eyed, Ruby gasps again.

Dakota nods slowly, but I can tell she likes the idea. “Okay. Tattoos tonight.” She inhales then lets it all out. “Tomorrow, you ride.”

I’ll ride. And then I’ll go to Wyatt and tell him everything. I love him. Our dreams, our hopes for the future, those wild horses, I still want that. All of it with him.

All of it forever.

I look around the table at my friends. These women who will never let me fall. Tears fill my eyes. Last year, hell, even months ago, I believed I didn’t deserve them. But now… now…

“I’m so glad I have you,” I say thickly.

Dakota laughs. “Stuck with us.”

“’Til end times,” Reese adds, grinning.

---