Page 38 of Aisle Be The Groom (Bristlecone Springs #1)

OZZIE

B y the end of our double date with Opie and Lawson, I was relieved we’d come. Opie was a hoot, and spending the evening with him quickly distracted me from the stress of the week. I was having so much fun that when Opie suggested we throw darts, I agreed with him. Lawson and Gray moved on to play pool with some other guys.

Opie led me to the dartboard in the back, his eyes sparkling from possibly too much to drink. He explained the rules—which I already knew but listened anyway to appreciate his enthusiasm—and handed me three metallic-blue darts.

Giggling, we took turns throwing. While I was decent at darts, Opie had a knack for it. No wonder he’d suggested we played the game. He kept scoring triple twenties while my attempts mostly landed in the single digits, but winning or losing didn’t matter.

After days of having my stomach tied up in knots over my relationship with Gray becoming public, I was having a normal evening out with friends. And having fun.

“Hey, Ozzie,” Opie said. I startled, and the dart slipped from my fingers and clattered onto the wooden floor. “Oops. Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” He picked up the dart and handed it to me.

“Something wrong?”

“No, I just wondered how you’re doing, given everything.”

“Well, I’d almost forgotten the entire town thinks of me as the whore of Bristlecone,” I said drily, “but thanks for reminding me.”

“Fuck.” He slapped a hand over his mouth. “Lawson always warns me about my runaway mouth. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m getting used to it.”

“If it’s any consolation, I also caused quite a commotion when I came to town looking for Lawson.”

“What do you mean?”

“That’s right. You don’t know how we met.” He stood behind the line and threw a dart, scoring another triple twenty. “We met on a dating app, and I knew right away I wanted him for my Daddy, but Lawson was having financial challenges caused by his last boy. He’s very proud, so although he came to meet me once, he never intended to see me again.”

“Oh?”

“So I blew off my job as a stripper and came looking for him, only to get into a fight with his ex the second I came to town.”

My mouth fell open. “A physical fight?”

“Yup. I ended up in jail, but Lawson bailed me out. He was upset at first, but coming here was the best decision I’ve ever made. I didn’t care about what people had to say about me or us. All that mattered was how much we loved each other.” His gaze drifted over to Lawson, who was bent over the pool table, giving us a perfect view of his tight behind clad in jeans. “And still love each other. I’d fight anyone a thousand times for Lawson. You have to fight for your man if you need to. You love Gray, don’t you?”

Lawson said something to Gray, who threw his head back and laughed. He caught me watching him and winked. I sucked in a breath, my heart fluttering wildly. “I do.”

Opie gave me a warm, understanding smile and patted my hand. “Then darling,” he said, suddenly serious, “that’s all that matters. Ignore the chatter, ignore the stares. As long as you and Gray have each other, nothing else should bother you. And I can tell by looking at Gray that the sex alone is worth the gossip. Ain’t it?”

I choked on a laugh, heat rushing to my cheeks. “Opie!”

“Oh, don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.” He wagged his finger at me, a devilish grin on his face. “If Gray is half as good in the sack as Lawson, then, darling, you’ve hit the jackpot. I see the size of his hands.”

His blunt honesty was refreshing and somehow comforting. I needed this—a friend who wasn’t afraid to tell it like it was, someone who understood what I was going through.

“It is so worth it,” I whispered.

“Ha! I knew it!” Opie crowed, pumping his fist in victory. He spun around and hurled the last dart at the board with more force than necessary. It thunked into the wall next to the board, but he didn’t seem to care.

“And you know what else?” He turned back to me, his tone growing serious again. “You’re amazing, and I love hanging out with you. Don’t let anyone else convince you otherwise because you chose to fight for love.”

My vision blurred as tears pricked at my eyes. Opie gave my hand another reassuring squeeze, then released it and stepped back.

“Thank you. I needed that.” No more hiding at the ranch and avoiding town. Loving Gray wasn’t wrong.

And even if it is, screw them! I’m in love with someone who loves me back and treats me well.

“Now come on.” Opie picked up another set of darts. “Let’s see if you can beat me this time, now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way.”

I wiped my eyes quickly and accepted the darts from him. Gray and my love for him was all that mattered. All the gossip directed toward me wasn’t important.

With newfound determination, I stood in position, focusing only on the triple twenty. My first dart hit its mark dead on.

While we played, Opie’s gaze moved back to Lawson with affection. I watched the two men playing pool too and loved the way Gray’s eyes lit up every time Lawson spoke, how his laughter filled the room like sunshine. How lucky I was to have him in my life. I’d almost settled for mediocre because I never thought I’d ever have this. A pang of defiance swelled in my chest.

What we had… it was ours, our love, our happiness, and no one had the right to make us feel terrible.

“Do you want a drink?” Opie asked. “I’m getting a beer.”

“Sure. I’ll have one as well. Thanks.”

I focused on the dartboard and improving my aim while Opie moved toward the bar.

“Hey, you’re new to town, aren’t you?”

My hand jerked, and the dart flew erratically, barely hitting the edge of the board. I turned toward the voice. A broad man with a thick neck and a goatee swayed in front of me. Chestnut-brown hair almost came down to his shoulders, and his eyes were a foggy blue.

“Umm, yes, I am.”

“You the boy sleeping with Gray?”

I blinked rapidly. What was it with the personal questions? “Is there something I can help you with?”

He grabbed his junk obscenely and grinned. “Heard you were a loose one, giving it to both father and his son. So how about you spread your legs for one more?”

The blood drained from my face as my discomfort morphed into disbelief. Even though they gossiped, the townspeople I’d met so far had always been polite and charming. But the cowboy only grinned wider, his eyes twinkling.

“I’m not interested.” My gaze flew over his shoulder to Gray, who was striding toward us, his face set in a hard line, the cue stick in hand.

“I think you are.” The stranger grabbed my hand and forced it toward his crotch. “They say you’re an easy lay. Don’t make it—”

“What the fuck do you think you are doing, Byron?” Gray shoved the man back, forcing him to release me, then stepped between us with his back to me, shielding me.

“Come on, Gray. Don’t be a cockblocker. Didn’t you get your fair share already? Can’t the rest of us have a shot?”

“That’s my partner you’re talking about, so watch your mouth!”

“Gray,” I whispered. We were attracting attention. I’d never seen him so angry, and the way he was squeezing the cue stick, veins bulging from his clenched fist, made me nervous.

“Partner? You sure about that, Gray? Word on the street is he’s a bit of a slut, but you would know that better than the rest of us, wouldn’t you? Hell, anyone who sleeps with father and son—”

Gray jammed the cue stick against Byron’s throat. “Say one more thing about Ozzie and see what happens.”

“Gray!” Lawson gripped the cue stick. “Don’t get into trouble because of him. You know the type of person Byron is. He isn’t worth it.”

Byron grabbed his throat. “Fuck you,” he croaked, shooting daggers at Lawson. “Fuck all of you.”

He stepped back, his gaze darting around the room as if looking for support, but no one made a move.

“Get the hell out of here, Byron!” the bartender shouted. “If Gray shoves that stick down your throat, I’ll look the other way.”

“Oh fuck off, I didn’t say anything y’all weren’t thinking.” Byron stumbled out of the bar, slamming the door shut behind him. I wanted to throw myself into Gray’s arms, but we were in public. Carter always hated it when I showed my affection in public.

“Are you okay?” Gray turned to me, dropping the cue stick. He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

I forced a smile to my lips. “I’m fine. Just a bit shocked.”

“Ah, sweetheart. I’m sorry.” Then he— Gray —reached for me and pulled me into his body for the hug I’d wanted but had been too scared to ask for. His embrace was warm, familiar, and safe. I instantly burrowed into him, my eyes prickling.

“Fuck, Gray, I’m sorry about this.” Someone approached us, but I was too snug against Gray to look. The voice sounded soft and kind with a strain of anger. “I’ll ban his ass from the pub. No one should have to go through that kind of harassment.” “Thanks, Earl. It’s best I take Ozzie home.”

“We were having such a good time. I’m going to murder Byron!”

Opie.

He was so sweet. And that was the reason I couldn’t leave. I inhaled a deep, shuddering breath, then pulled away from Gray, shaking my head. “No, we don’t have to go anywhere. We should stay.”

Gray cupped my neck. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I am. It was unexpected, but I’m not ready to go back to the ranch yet. Maybe you can teach me how to play pool?”

Gray stared at me for a moment longer, then nodded. He placed a kiss on my forehead. “Okay.”

Earl clapped his hands. “All right! A round of beer for everyone. On the house.”

The room erupted in cheers, and with their attention now on the beer Earl had promised, it gave us a chance to slip over to the pool table where Gray and Lawson had been playing. Opie handed me the can of beer he’d gotten me, his mouth settled in a pout. “Dammit, if I’d waited a moment longer, I would have gotten these for free.”

I chuckled, and slowly the tension melted from Gray. Opie always knew how to lighten the mood. I owed him one for tonight.