Page 52 of Wrangled Love

Charlie: Urban cowboy did get totally possessive and drew Briar into his arms before telling the lawyer off.

Not going to lie, it was a swoon-worthy moment.

Wren: Jensen sounds like a keeper.

Briar: Charlie, is now a good time to remind you that you practically begged me to go out with the lawyer?

Charlie: Momentary lapse in judgment. Now back to the group chats…

Briar: I still can’t believe you started a new one without me.

Charlie: You’re never going to let that go, are you?

Briar: Not a chance.

Birdie: Even if she had good intentions?

Charlie: Zip it, Birdie!

Briar: Don’t listen to Charlie. Tell me!

Now, I’m determined to get to the bottom of this.

Birdie: She set up that date, hoping Jensen would get jealous and show up.

Wren: And sent us updates in real time.

Birdie: Up until the lawyer got handsy, apparently.

Charlie: You’re both dead to me.

Charlie: And you’re wrong. Iknewurban cowboy would show up. It’s obvious he’s smitten with our girl.

Charlie: I was hoping for a more dramatic ending like him punching the lawyer in the face.

Briar: OMG.

“Texting your friends?” I jolt slightly, caught off guard when Jensen speaks.

Briar: This isn’t over, but I have to go.

Charlie: Remember, save a horse…

“Yeah.” I jam my phone into my purse and set it on the floor by my feet. “Charlie gave Birdie and Wren a full play-by-play of what happened in the diner as if it wereMonday Night Football.”

“Did she at least give them a decent halftime show?” Jensen smirks.

“Afraid not. She wasn’t impressed with the material she was given and would have preferred if you’d have punched my date to make it more entertaining,” I say, half-teasing.

I skip over Charlie’s theory that he came to the diner because he was jealous and my growing suspicion that she might be right. His earlier indifference makes his sudden appearance feel more calculated than coincidental, and we both know he didn’t show up with a sudden craving for the best chili cheese fries in town.

“I considered it but figured the chance of a night in jail wasn’t worth missing even five more minutes without you.” I blink,stunned by his unexpected honesty, but don’t have a chance to reply before he speaks again. “Why did you have Earl drive you?” The question comes suddenly like it’s been weighing on him all night.

I’d plead the Fifth if I could. I was angry at how little he seemed to care, and I figured if anything would push his buttons, it would be taking the taxi into town. I wanted him to wonder if I was spending the night with someone else. I even considered crashing at Charlie’s or Birdie’s to see if I could get a reaction out of him. Turns out, I didn’t have to go that far.

I fidget with the hem of my dress, avoiding his gaze. “No reason. I just wasn’t in the mood to drive.”

When I risk a look at Jensen, he’s frowning. “Oh, so we’re lying to each other now?”

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