Page 18 of Stay With Me

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her the truth, but I also don’t want to lie and pretend she’s right.

“I consider you a friend,Orchid.” I lighten my tone so she doesn’t scold me for using my nickname for her.

“Ugh.Friend?I have enough of those.”

“You deserve better than him. I hope you realize that,” I tell her instead of acknowledging herfriendcomment. “Relationships aren’t supposed to be this hard.Loveisn’t supposed to be this toxic.”

“Since when did you become the expert?” Noah chimes in with a chuckle. “You’ve never had a serious girlfriend.”

“Because I don’t want just a fling and that’s all girls my age are interested in.” And that’s not even a lie. At twenty-three years old, I’m ready to find my person and settle down. I work hard on the ranch every day. It’d be nice to come home at the end of a long day to someone I love.

“What about that redhead at the bar? She seemed into you,”Magnolia asks with a hint of jealousy in her tone, but I don’t even know who she’s referring to. My eyes were glued to her most of the night.

As Landen drives down our long driveway, I’m confused as to why most of the lights are on in the house with how late it is. Though Noah lives in the cottage behind our parents’ house, I don’t trust these two on their own tonight. When our cousin Mallory moved in last year after her parents died, Noah moved out so there was enough space for Mallory to have her own room.

Once Landen parks, I help Magnolia out, then carry her up the porch stairs since she’s not wearing any shoes. The door whips open with Wilder and Waylon standing in the entryway, looking like smug fuckers.

“What’re y’all doin’?” Landen asks as I set down Magnolia on the warm floor.

“Sheriff Wagner called Dad. Y’all introuble,” Wilder singsongs, leading us deeper into the house.

“For what?” I snap, watching Noah and Magnolia rush to the kitchen. Moments later, I hear them digging through the pantry for snacks.

“Landen! Tripp! Get your asses in here,” Dad shouts from the living room.

“Good luck. I’m going to bed.” Waylon checks out, but I don’t blame him. Five a.m. comes early when it’s close to midnight.

“Nah, I’m stayin’ for this.”

I glare at Wilder, tempted to punch him just for being a taunting asshole, but my knuckles are still sore from hitting Travis.

Landen and I walk in, dragging our feet like dogs with their tails between their legs. I’ve no idea what the sheriff said, but I’m playing innocent until proven guilty.

“Care to tell me why Sheriff Wagner called ten minutes ago asking about your whereabouts?” Mom asks with a hand on her hip.

Dad’s intimidating scowl means if we get caught lying, he won’t think twice about putting us on bitch work for a month.

“Not sure.” I shrug, shoving my hands in my pockets while Landen stands silently next to me.

“Cut the bullshit. What’d y’all do? It’d be better if we know before he comes and arrests you,” Dad states.

“Arrested for what?” Landen asks.

“Aggravated assault.” Dad folds his arms across his broad chest. “So tell us again. What’d you do?”

“It’s not their fault,” Magnolia comes in with a mouthful of food. “My boyfriend, well ex, drugged my drink and when he dragged me out of the bar, Tripp punched him before the Uber could take off.”

“And kicked him in the chest the second time he tried to take her,” Noah adds.

With a groan, I squeeze my eyes and tilt my head back, silently cursing my sister for adding to my charges.

“It’s true,” Landen says. “He was just protectin’ Magnolia.”

“True or not, someone called 911, and Travis is tellin’ a different story,” Mom says.

“What’s he sayin’? There’s witnesses anyway to prove he punched me first.” I stand taller, plant my feet firmer, and hold my stance. I’m not going to jail for that fuck face.

“That you assaulted him and abducted his girlfriend,” Dad explains.