Page 23 of Stay With Me

“You wish you could…” I taunt. “Now, should I begin with the nipple piercing story or the time you got drunk and begged a random guy on the street to tattoo your ass?”

“MAGNOLIA!” she screeches from the bathroom.

“Is that yourorgasmscream? Goddamn, I felt that one all the way downtown. No wonder Fisher was obsessed with you since the first night.”

A hairbrush comes flying past my head and smacks the wall behind me.

“Missed,” I muse, unfazed by her chucking things at me.

“You won’t miss my boot up your ass if there’s anything I haven’t approved beforehand.”

“Can I at least mention the first time you rode the mechanical bull and face-planted on the mat afterward?” I quirk a brow, and she shoots me a glare from the doorway. “Hey, it’s that or when you went to buy condoms for the first time, then tripped and the entire display collapsed to the floor. Pick your poison.”

She groans, stalking toward me with a scowl. “I hate that you know all my embarrassing stories.”

“Bestie privilege!”

She opens her closet and rummages through her options. “Just remember, whatever you say about me, I’ll get you back twice as much when it’s your turn.”

“Go ahead. We’ll be eighty before that happens, and both suffer from memory loss anyway.”

“Remember when we were like thirteen and promised to get pregnant at the same time so our kids could grow up together?”

I laugh at the random question. “Yeah, but I’m pretty sure wewere also supposed to marry brothers so we could become sisters. You ruined our plans.”

“If I recall, you’re the one who told me to go talk to Fisher at the rodeo. So you only have yourself to blame.”

“How was I supposed to know he didn’t have a hot, younger brother for me?” I scoff. “And since I can’t marry one of your brothers, we’re never gonna be sisters now.”

“I have four brothers, so never say never.”

“Tripp doesn’t want me, and I already went on a date with Landen, so that leaves me with the double-trouble twins? Don’t think so.” I pause, quirking up the corner of my lips. “Although…”

“No,” she says firmly. “They’re definitely not ready to settle down.”

“I could change that…”

Noah snorts, finally pulling out the clothes she wants to wear. “Says every woman they sleep with.”

I fall back on her bed, groaning. “Well, don’t wait for me to get pregnant, then. Go get knocked up, and I’ll just be the cool aunt who gives them money and candy.”

She throws a blanket over me, making the room go dark.

“You have plenty of time, drama queen.”

“If I’m gonna die sad and alone, just start sizin’ me for my coffin now.” I stretch out my legs and arms. “But make it comfy and spring for the high-thread-count pillow.”

“If you don’t stop wallowin’, I’m draggin’ your ass to the Twisted Bull”—she whips off the blanket, hovering above me—“and makin’youride the mechanical bull.”

“It’d take a keg and a half to get me on that thing.”

“Don’t tempt me.” She grabs my hand and yanks me to my feet. “Now c’mon. I’m takin’ you for food. Maybe that’ll fix your hangry attitude.”

Chapter Five

Tripp

“Goddamn, I’m a sexy motherfucker.” Wilder stands in front of the mirror, smug as shit, sliding his palms down his tux coat.