Rubbing the back of my neck, I closed my eyes. “Aw, hell. I’m probably going to go home.”
“No, you’re going to come with me and try not to act like you’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk.”
“Right, then you’re on your way there.”
When I didn’t respond, he went on. “Chloe is looking for you, Rip.”
I scoffed. “Chloe has Easton now. She doesn’t need to be ‘looking for me’ anymore.”
“Is that what you truly believe?”
“She’s marrying him, isn’t she?”
He looked away for a few moments before focusing back on me. He went to say something and then shook his head.
“What? If you’ve got something to say, say it,” I said.
“Fine. I’ll say what I should have said a long time ago. If you love her, then tell her.”
“Of course, I love her. I’ve always loved her.”
“Then tell her, Rip. Tell her before it’s too late.”
“It is too late, Jonathon! Did you not see the ring on her finger? She’s leaving Oak Springs. If she didn’t love the guy, she wouldn’t walk away from everything she ever dreamed of. What am I supposed to do? Ask her to give him up and stay?”
“Could you for once stop and think about how maybe she dreamed of those things with you?”
I smirked and looked away.
“She’s getting married in her grandparents’ backyard, Rip. They just told everyone. You and I both know when she was younger all she talked about was getting married in this very fucking spot that you’re drowning your sorrows in.”
My head jerked back toward him. “She’s not getting married here?”
“No. Why do you think that is, Sherlock?”
I swallowed hard.
“Pull your head out of your ass, Rip. If you can’t be man enough to tell her the truth, then be a friend and at least be there for her.”
With that, he got back onto his horse and pointed to Ranger. “That’s my favorite horse you took, you asshole.”
I smiled and ran my fingers through my hair.
“Get on the horse, Rip. Let’s go.”
I whistled the horse over, got in the saddle, and followed Jonathon back to the main barn. After taking care of both horses, we walked up to the house together.
“I know you don’t want my advice, but I’m going to give it to you anyway.”
With a sigh, I said, “I’m pretty sure you’ve been giving it to me since you rode up on the horse.”
“Stop the drinking. It’s not making anything better. Damn it, Rip. If you love her like I think you do, fight for her.”
Fight for her. There’s that fucking phrase again.
As we got closer, I saw Chloe and Easton standing there with her parents. Jonathon stopped me by putting his hand on my chest.
“Rip, you have to tell her how you feel. She might tell you it’s too late, but you will regret it the rest of your life if you don’t finally admit your feelings to her. I can promise you that.”
Swallowing hard, I looked past him to Chloe. She was smiling with her hand clasped in Easton’s.
“I’m happy to announce that I have asked Chloe to marry me and she has said yes,” Easton said. I couldn’t pull my eyes off of Chloe. Of course, I came back just in time to hear their big fucking announcement.
Everyone clapped, including Jonathon next to me. When Chloe’s eyes met mine, I forced a smile. I knew I couldn’t let her down. If she was truly happy, I would keep my feelings to myself.
She continued to stare at me for the longest time. That smile plastered onto her face. Was she happy? Was marrying Easton what she truly wanted? Her eyes said something different, and for the briefest moment, hope sparked inside of me.
People rushed over to Chloe and Easton, hugging and congratulating them. I exhaled a deep breath and made my way over to Mike and Alyssa.
“Where have you been?” Mike asked.
“I went for a ride earlier. Time got away from me.”
“Well, apparently the whiskey didn’t get away from you. I smell it on you, dude.”
Rolling my neck to get the tension out, I looked over at Chloe again. She was talking to someone and looked up at Easton, who wrapped his arm around her. Before I had a chance to pull my eyes off of them, Chloe’s gaze found mine again.
Her smile faded, and she tilted her head.
I turned to Mike. “Can you give me a ride home? I’ve been drinking more than I should.”
“Now?” he asked.
“Yeah. I need to get home and take care of something that I told my mom I would handle.”
“Now?”
“Did I stutter? Yes, fucking now, Mike.”
He held up his hands in defense. “Okay, dude. Let me tell Alyssa.”
Alyssa had started a conversation with some older lady sitting next to them.
When Mike stood, I handed him the keys to my truck.
I looked everywhere but over to Chloe. I swore I felt her gaze on me, but who was I kidding? Chloe had moved on.