Hitching the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 1)

“I saw them kissing,” Diesel says, the dagger driving deeper into my heart.

“That’s her fiancé,” I say, swallowing down the words that taste like poison.

He looks just as confused as I feel. “How’s that even possible? She’s married. To you.”

“Means nothing, apparently.” Saying it out loud makes it seem more real. More painful, too.

Diesel looks at me and shakes his head. “I’m so sorry, man. I know how much you really cared for her. Never in my life did I think something like this would happen. Especially with Zoey.”

“Thanks. I didn’t either. I do care about her; that’s why it hurts so goddamn much. Maybe my parents were right after all.” I think back to the conversation I had with them when they warned me to be careful. Falling fast has its consequences. “Maybe they knew something like this would happen. Maybe it was all fake for Zoey. Coming here was a last hoorah before she got married to a man who seems to be what her parents want for her.” Self-doubt is beginning to settle in, and I question if I really was good enough. I replay every conversation we’ve had since she arrived, and it all seems so obvious now.

Diesel shakes his head. “No. Zoey cares about you, too. There’s no faking that. It was real. Trust me.”

“I’d like to think it was,” I say, but I’m second-guessing everything right now. “Not so sure anymore.”

“We should go out,” he says, standing. “Visit the bar and get shit-faced. Forget about it all.”

I look at him, defeated. “I don’t feel like being around people. I wouldn’t be good company right now. I just need to figure all this clusterfuck out.”

Diesel sucks in a breath and looks at me with pity in his eyes. I stand and walk to my room, grateful that he doesn’t follow me. He knows when I want to be alone, it’s best to just let me. I close the door and lie back on my bed. My pillow still smells like her, the sweetness a cruel reminder of our incredible night together. Squeezing my eyes tight, I try to forget the shitstorm that’s my reality, but it’s impossible.

After an hour passes, I realize I’m starving. I didn’t eat lunch because it was interrupted. Opening the fridge, I decide to pull out some leftovers Mom sent home with me a few days ago. I pop a container in the microwave and sit at the table, reminiscing over the past few weeks, pissed I let her in so willingly. I keep wondering what the point of her coming here was? To run away from it all? Too bad it followed her.

Once my food is warm, I take a few bites, and though my stomach is growling, I don’t have an appetite. As I push the plate away, I hear a few light knocks on the front door. I don’t have the strength to deal or talk to anyone right now. However, news travels fast around here, so I’m sure everyone knows what happened by now, and considering we were at the B&B when I slammed my fist into her fiancé’s face, people were looking. I’m almost certain it’s my dad coming to bitch me out for not controlling my temper. Dread washes over me with each step, but when I open the door, Zoey stands there with swollen eyes and a red nose. She’s been crying, but I keep my emotions buried inside, protecting what little piece of my heart I have left.

Though I’m tempted to slam the door in her face, I don’t.

“What do you want?” My words come out harsh, but she just broke my fucking heart, so I don’t apologize.

“Can we talk? Please?” She bites her lower lip, something I’ve come to adore, but now it pisses me off.

“You should probably leave,” I snap, not wanting to hear the details of her and the asshole she’s engaged to.

Zoey crosses her arms and takes a step forward. “I’m not leaving until we talk. I know I’m the last person on earth you want to see right now, but you deserve answers, and I want to give you at least that.”

Though I want to push her away, I can’t find the strength to do so. Stepping aside, I let her in and suck in a deep breath as I shut the door. I need to gain my composure and not wear my emotions on my sleeve, but it’s so hard when she’s here in the flesh looking so goddamn beautiful.

“You have five minutes.” Just being around her is driving me absolutely crazy, and when she sits on the couch, I sit as far away from her as possible. She notices but doesn’t say anything.

“I’m sorry, Riley. I’m so fucking sorry. I never wanted to hurt you, and I never imagined he’d show up here like this,” she begins, not denying the fact that she’s engaged to another man.