Page 36 of Entwined Hearts
“Why can’t we go to the diner?” she asked, her voice dry. “I need grease to soak up all this alcohol.”
I arched a brow at her. “Long night?”
“The longest. I went to the Bull Pen after Beau’s and picked up a guy in town for a rodeo, can’t remember his name.” She took a sip of my oat milk latte and grimaced. “Pretty sure he was a little afraid of me.”
I chuckled. “Aren’t they all?”
“Yes,” she sighed, her shoulders slumping. “All bark and no bite. I want to be walking funny the next day. You’d think a cowboy would know how to deliver, but apparently not.”
“They do deliver. You just have to find the right one,” I said without thinking, pulling up the county’s land ordinances.
She smacked her hand on the table. “I knew it!”
I glanced up at her. “Knew what?”
She gave me a sly grin. “That Westonfucked.”
I snorted. “You’re awfully invested in Weston’s…tools and the way he uses them. Something you want to tell me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Weston is like a brother. I just want you to be getting good dick, that’s all. I know how uptight you can be.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “And you’ve got a sort of…pinched look to your face.”
I gasped, laughing. “You’re such an asshole!”
She just shrugged a shoulder, smirking. “I know he’d be more than willing to help you sort that out.”
I knew he would, too, and that eagerness had me squirming in my seat. It was nice to feel desired. Especially by a guy as attractive as Weston. A guy who’d landed magazine covers and ad campaigns based on looks alone.
He could’ve had anyone he wanted, yet he wanted me, and let me know any chance he could. It was exhilarating, empowering in a way I never thought possible.
It made me wonder why I was holding back.
As if on cue, my phone started ringing, Stewart’s name across the screen like a slap to the face. I had asked for space just four days ago. Did he not understand what that concept meant?
“Stewart?”
“Yep,” I said, turning my phone face down.
She let out a heavy breath. “I’m your best friend, so it’s my job to tell you when you’re being stupid, and you’re being stupid right now.”
“I’m not being stupid. I’m being practical.”
She grimaced, not impressed with my response. “Don’t think love and relationships are meant to be practical. Do you two negotiate terms before you fuck or something?”
“What? No!”
“You can’t keep dodging him, Savannah. It isn’t fair to him, you,orWeston. Does he even know about him?” I shook my head, shame keeping my mouth shut. “I know you’re torn and scared of making the wrong decision, but this is just…it’s ridiculous.”
I slumped in my chair, unable to look at her. “I know,” I said quietly.
“You say you know, but you’re notdoinganything. You’re escaping and avoiding with work like you always do. And while we’re all grateful that you’re working your ass off to protect Golden Circle, it shouldn’t come at the cost of multiple people’s happiness.”
“I’m scared, okay?” My voice cracked with the words. “If I end things with Stewart, there’s no going back. And if I start things with Weston again, it’ll consume me. I barely made it out last time. What if it doesn’t work out again? I won’t survive it.”
Her eyes searched mine, soft with empathy. “Do you love Stewart?”
I thought back to our phone call, to two years of near-silent dinners and plastering on smiles for events, boring sex, and wondering when things would get better, when the spark we had at the very beginning would come back. My stomach twisted. “I don’t think so. Not the way I should.”
“Then why are you dragging things out and making it worse for everyone involved?”
