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OAKLEY

“I don’t look any different…do I?” I ask, turning away from the mirror to face my best friend, Phoebe.

Heat creeps up my chest and onto my cheeks as she studies me.

We’ve been in my bedroom trying on different outfits for the last hour.

The room looks like a cyclone came through it, every item from my closet tossed over the bed and floor and I still can’t settle on what I want to wear.

It’s like what happened early this morning with Jamie has flustered me into being a different person.

A really sore-between-the-legs kind of person… that’s for sure.

“Still too gorgeous to stand,” she finally replies, after a shake of her head. “I should hate you for looking so good. Do you feel different?”

Do I feel different?

Thinking about that for a second, I nod. “Yeah… I guess. I mean, it’s not like we haven’t done stuff before, but last night was like…magic. Or is that corny to say?”

Having sex with Jamie felt like the last piece of a puzzle finally fitting into place.

Like the three years we have been together were only the beginning of our future life.

No matter how silly it may sound. I let a heavy breath escape me as a frown settles upon my face before I turn to the mirror again with a groan of irritation.

My fingers fight with the stubborn curls that won’t stay put in the updo Phoebe says shows off my cheekbones.

I can’t really explain to her how the sex changed things.

I can’t even explain it to myself. It’s like my body finally proved what my heart has known for three years.

Jamie Walker and I are going to be together for the rest of our lives.

“Not really,” she pipes up. “But I can tell you one thing…my first time better not be with someone dumb.”

“You know you get to choose, right?” I reply with a glance at her from over my shoulder. “So, don’t pick someone dumb. Problem solved.”

Phoebe rolls her eyes at my comment, then falls back onto my bed. “I guess I need to find a boyfriend first before I worry about whether or not he’s too dumb to give my virginity to.”

“Maybe you’ll get lucky tonight. Bo’s invited a bunch of his friends to the party.”

“Great, just what I want. One of your brother’s friends.” She snorts with laughter. “That would be like dating my own brother. Yuck.”

I can’t help but laugh along with her as I finish tucking in one last curl before smoothing out my pale blue dress.

It’s cute, something that I picked up on our last shopping trip into town.

The soft material sits off the shoulder with a cinched waist that trails into a flowing skater skirt that stops mid-thigh.

I honestly can’t help but feel pretty in it, and the fact that it’s Jamie’s favorite color is definitely a bonus.

He says it brings out the blue in my hazel eyes.

Twirling in a circle to show it off, I wait for my best friend’s approval when I’ve finally finished touching up my mascara. “So…?”

“Perfect,” she replies as she stands to her feet. Phoebe mirrors me. Her dress matches mine in style but is pink to show off her brunette bob. Her deep brown eyes narrow, glistening with tears. “But seeing us now… it kind of makes me want to cry.”

“Why? We’re graduating.”

“That’s the problem,” she pouts, placing her hands on her wide hips.

Her usually prominent dimples are hidden by the obvious sadness she feels.

It’s crazy to think how once upon a time the two of us were stick-thin little girls excited for school, and now the both of us are gorgeous women.

Even though only one of us came into a curvaceous body, and it sure wasn’t me.

While I stayed small and petite, Phoebe has always glowed with a small waist, wide hips, and boobs to die for.

“I can’t believe we’re done with high school.

And to top it off, you’re going to be leaving soon to go to college in New York while I’m stuck here, going to Montana State.

I’m going to be so bored without you! You need to promise to let me come visit…

I’ve been dying to see your aunt's house for years.”

As much as I want to share in her excitement… I can’t. After everything last night—I don’t want to leave. Jamie said that all he knew was that he wanted to be with me, and I feel the same. I want to stay here with him. Tonight, I plan on telling him.

“You won’t have to,” I reply with a shake of my head. “I’ve decided I’m not going to NYU. I haven’t told my dad yet. He’ll be thrilled.”

Her lips part, eyes going wide as a soft gasp escapes her throat. “But I thought you were already accepted! Your parents had to put down a deposit, didn’t they?”

“My aunt and uncle are actually the ones paying for school,” I admit, feeling another rush of heat in my cheeks.

Embarrassment this time. My mom’s sister and her husband have been beyond generous to me.

“But I checked the deadlines for refunds, and I still have time. I can change my mind and stay here. I’ll go to MSU with you. It’ll be great.”

I wanted to get away and live in the big city for a while. Experience something different…bigger. More . But I can visit New York and enjoy the sights any time I want to stay with my aunt and uncle. I don’t have to live there.

Right?

I try to remain positive, but I know she can see right through me by the way her face softens. She takes a step toward me. “You’re not putting your life on hold for him, are you? You know that he wouldn’t want that.”

“I’m not,” I reassure. Though it’s technically a lie. I know he would want me to go, but the thought of leaving him isn’t something I’m prepared to do. “I just don’t want to leave you both.”

“Don’t use me as an excuse for you to throw away a great opportunity. It’s what you’ve been saying you wanted to do since…well, since forever. We both know you’d be staying for Jamie. Not me.”

“You don’t think I should.” I quickly stand and pace. “Do you think I’m being stupid about this? I mean… shit I don’t know what to do.”

Phoebe and I have been friends for too long for her to lie to me. Even when her honesty annoys me, I know I can always count on it.

“Oakley,” she says, sighing softly. “You’ve been talking about how much you want to get your business degree since we took that business class sophomore year. Most everyone else hated it, but you couldn’t get enough.”

Phoebe’s right. I’ve known since the tenth grade that the best way for me to be part of the Montgomery Ranch would be if I went and got my business degree. Learning all I can about how to make our family business better. Putting my skills to work to grow the family’s income.

I’d always planned to go off to school and find a way to come back home, only now the thought of leaving has my stomach tied up in knots.

“I can get a BBA here at the local college,” I tell her stubbornly.

Phoebe tosses up her hands. “Right. Because a BBA from NYU isn’t a much better opportunity for you. Not to mention a free ride? Your aunt and uncle probably won’t be thrilled if you decide to stay here for school, will they?”

She isn’t wrong about that…

“They’d want me to be happy,” I protest. I know my Aunt Kathy has been looking forward to me coming to stay with them ever since I first said I was considering NYU.

She and I have always been super close. I don’t want to disappoint her…

But I’m sure she’ll understand. And even if she doesn’t, I have to do what I know is best for me.

“Don’t let Jamie’s magic you-know-what distract you. As your bestie, I have a responsibility to say that.”

Before she can say anything more, a soft rap at the door reveals my mom as soon as it opens.

Her sandy blonde hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail to keep the hair off her neck while her white tank top and jeans are decorated with her favorite beige apron.

It never ceases to amaze me how dedicated she’s always been to the farm and her clinic.

This is why I made a point a long time ago to get a degree in something that could also benefit our family. She was my greatest inspiration.

“Girls? Are you ready?” she asks in a sweet-as-honey kind of voice. Her smile stretches across her face, showing off the whites of her teeth. “The guests are arriving. I’ve sent your brother down to make sure they know where to go.”

“Thanks, Mom.” I hug her quickly, pressing our cheeks together.

“You’re so grown up, both of you,” she replies, glancing over at the two of us as she pulls away from me. “It feels like just yesterday that Heather and I were dropping the two of you off for kindergarten together. I’m so proud of you both!”

Our parents have been friends since they were in kindergarten. So to see her get this emotional over my best friend doesn’t surprise me. Phoebe has always been like another daughter to her. Like a sister to me. Built-in besties.

“We’ll be down in a minute. Don’t let Dad scare anyone away, please.”

My mother laughs at my comment, knowing full well what I mean. He’s never been quite okay with Maggie and I growing up so quickly. So, having strange boys on the farm that he doesn’t know doesn’t quite sit well with him.

But in the end, my mom always gets the last say in our house.

With Mom disappearing with soft laughter, Phoebe and I finish up our last touches to hair and makeup before we put on flats that will make it easier to dance in.

The barn we’re using is the old barn at the far side of the property.

The original barn my dad had built when I was a baby, and the start of his company.

Over the years, with him growing the business, he built new structures and grew his enterprise.

But one thing he could never bring himself to do was to tear down the old barn where it all started.

So instead, it became our party hangout or event location for the town if my parents were helping to host something.