Page 95 of No Strings

I hand out the beers, I don’t think I have the mental capacity for this at the moment. We watch the last of the karaoke in silence. I feel Rhys’s eyes on me from time to time, and when I turn to face him, he makes no effort to pretend he wasn’t looking. I move closer to him. And at some point, his arm is around my shoulders pulling me into him, kissing the top of my head, a gesture I have quickly fallen in love with.

I’ll give myself tonight.

I can pretend he is mine and I can be just his.

The longer the night grows on, the drunker everyone becomes, and the crowd has thinned out. So eventually the karaoke is turned off, and they just play random music through speakers. Whatever was said or done between Rhys and Beau, is weighing heavily on the table, they’ve barely spoken to one another. So, we call it a night and head towards the camp site. Bed, that’ll put an end to tonight, and in the morning, we’ll go about the day as if nothing happened.

When we get back to our camp site, there is an old truck tyre rim someone found and obviously dragged over to the clearing between our tents and swags, lighting a fire.

Miles and Brent are still awake, sitting around talking low while Molly and Dani sleep. When they see us approach, they nod and hand out beers.

They talk about the rodeo and the events I didn’t see, too busy on the rides with Molly.

“Any of you guys’ rodeo?” I ask. But I second-guess the question. Did I ask that correctly?

Miles laughs, and shakes his head.

Brent says, “Horses are a waste of time and money.”

Right.

I know Rhys never did.

Davis said he actually grew up more in the suburbs, than in the country.

“Yeah, I used to bull ride,” Beau says

I don’t know why that surprises me, but it does. “Why stop?”

“Found more fun things to ride.” He throws a wink to Davis, who rolls his eyes in response. Rhys snorts despite still not uttering a word to Beau, and Miles chokes on his beer.

Brent tells us he’s calling it.

“Ever notice that when you open your mouth, Brent seems to scold us or just leaves?”

Beau just shrugs. “He just needs a root.”

And that’s when Miles follows Brent, calling it a night. They have tents, and the four of us have swags.

“So we’re the only ones roughing it?” I chuckle while asking.

“Don’t go all Princess now.” Rhys smirks. “I know you enjoyed the last time you were in a swag.” He winks while my cheeks blush with embarrassment.

I glare at him through narrowed eyes, while Davis asks, “What does that mean?”

“Nothing.” I quickly reply. Maybe a little too quickly.

Eventually the fire dulls, and Beau and Davis are calling it a night.

Somewhere in the distance, music is softly playing.

“Come on Princess, I think we should call it a night as well.” He stands, and walks over to me, offering his hand. Normally I’m a strong independent woman, but right now, though? I let him help me, taking his hand effortlessly.

I love the way my hand looks in his.

The song playing is slow, and when I stand, he intertwines our fingers together, and he holds our joined hands to his chest, while his free hand takes his brimmed cowboy hat off and places it on my head. I don’t even try tohide the smile. His hand then rounds my back and pulls me closer to him.

We sway to the music. “…I think I just better show you…”