Always Enough (Meet Me in Montana 2)

“You couldn’t do that to . . . Lincoln?”

I shrugged and put the last nail in my coffin by continuing to be a total asshole. “And you. I mean, I’m a dick, but I’m not that big of a dick.”

When I saw the slight tremble of her chin, I lifted my hand, then stopped myself from touching her. Kaylee sat up straighter, reached for her beer, and took a long drink. Then she nodded and faced me. “Well, okay. I guess I got the answer I came here for.” She let out a half-hearted laugh. “To think I was stupid enough to think that maybe there was something there between us. I was just being naive and foolish, but no more. You just made my decision for me, so thank you, Ty, for that clarity and frankness.”

“Your decision?” I asked, confused.

Kaylee stood and was trying to walk off when I reached for her arm, which caused her to look back at me.

“What decision?”

Lifting her chin, Kaylee forced a smile. “Channing actually did ask me out, and I honestly wasn’t sure what to do. I had these feelings . . .” She let out another laugh and shook her head.

“Feelings?” I asked, wishing I could take back every second of the last five minutes.

“Yeah, for you, but I see now that I was just being fucking stupid.”

The ache in my chest burned. “Kaylee.”

She held up her hand. “It’s okay, Ty. I’m a big girl, and believe it or not, I was actually prepared for the rejection from you. I just didn’t think it would hurt as much as it did.”

I closed my eyes and cursed. “Fuck. Kaylee.”

Opening my eyes, I saw the brunette standing a few feet away. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember what in the hell her name was.

“Hey, Ty, you ready to get out of here?”

Lord, give me strength. I was seriously fucked now. This woman was clearly trying to give Kaylee the wrong impression.

The look on Kaylee’s face nearly destroyed me. She looked from the girl to me. Then that blank face appeared. The one I had seen a time or two after she’d allowed herself to get too vulnerable.

Pulling her arm from my grip, Kaylee glared at me. “Enjoy your evening, Ty.”

“Kaylee. Kaylee, wait!” I called out as I started to go after her.

The brunette stepped in front of me, her hands on my chest. “Ty, I’m horny, and you’ve been staring at me the last thirty minutes, not her. Let her go.”

My eyes dropped down to meet hers. “What did you just say?”

“I said, I’m horny.”

Looking once more at the door Kaylee had just walked out of, I knew I had a decision to make. Let Kaylee go and move on, or go after her.

Light shone through the window and caused me to groan when I attempted to pry open my eyes. I scrubbed my hands down my face and slowly dared to give it a try. Instant panic set in.

This isn’t my bedroom.

A feeling of dread and regret quickly rolled through me. What in the hell had I done?

Shit.

I looked to my left to see the brunette from last night, sound asleep next to me.

Fuck.

Another look back toward the window and I winced. My head was pounding.

How many shots did I have after Kaylee left?

“Son of a bitch,” I mumbled as I tossed the sheet off of me and climbed out of the bed. It was then I noticed I still had my jeans on. I looked back at the brunette and saw she was dressed in yoga pants and a T-shirt.

I closed my eyes and whispered, “Please don’t let anything have happened.”

Quickly, I set off to find my shirt and boots. I needed to get the hell out of here.

The nameless woman stirred in the bed, and I picked up the pace. I couldn’t find my socks, and in that moment I couldn’t have cared less. I slipped on my boots, sans socks, grabbed my wallet, and then looked at the unused condom on the side table.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I let my gaze move back to the woman.

She was awake and looking at me.

“You may not know this, or maybe you don’t want to admit it, but you’re in love with her.”

I frowned and tried to cover up her truth by laughing as I asked, “What are you talking about?”

She sat up and looked directly at me as she rested her chin on her knees. “Ty, the blonde from last night. The one talking to you at the bar. You’re in love with her.”

I scoffed. “You’re crazy, and I need to leave.”

“Why do you think I’m dressed, and so were you? You couldn’t sleep with me last night. You said you couldn’t do that to her. So either you’re with her and you were about to cheat, or you’re in love with her and won’t admit it to yourself, or to her, for whatever reason.”