With her legs wrapped around me, I slowly walked us up the stairs and into the room where I was staying. I stopped right at the edge of the bed. She removed her legs from around me, and she gently slid down my body to sit on the bed. She started to move back, I crawled over her, just barely kept my body weight on top of her.

Then, she smiled at me, and my heart melted on the spot. I would do anything for this girl. I’d give up my own life for her.

“Heather, I don’t want your first time to be like this. It needs to be special, a night you’ll always remember with a smile and without any regret princess.”

Her smile faded. “Do you not want me?”

Wait…what?

“Holy shit, Heather. I’m using every goddamn ounce of energy I have not to make love to you right now.”

Leaning up her head, she captured my lips. She tasted like honey. She was so sweet and delicate. I needed more. I started to move my hand along her body.

“Wait, Josh. Was that the front door opening?” Heather whispered.

I stayed completely still and listened.

“Josh? Heather?”

“Garrett!” We both said at the same time.

I immediately flew off of her. I grabbed the comforter and threw it over Heather. I ran to the door and looked down the stairs to the hall. I could hear Garrett in the kitchen, so I ran downstairs to get Heather’s robe. I took it back to the room and started to help her put it on. She kept hitting my hands away.

“Jesus H. Christ, Josh. I can put it on myself. Go distract him so I can get dressed!”

“I’ve never heard you swear so much, Heather…it’s kind of a turn on.” I said as I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She smiled back at me and told me to go.

I ran down the stairs and jumped over the mess that was on the floor in the hallway and made my way to the kitchen. I was gonna have to tell Jeff that he needed to make sure his damn doors were locked if Garrett was just going to help himself inside.

“Hey, Garrett, what’s going on?”

“I called for ya,” Garrett said as he held up the empty coffee pot.

“Damn, where do I have to go to get a cup of coffee? I had to get away from all the clean-up from the party. Gunner said y’all are going to head into the honky-tonk in town, huh?”

“Um, yes, sir, we are. I’m just waiting to hear back from Jeff about how Ari is doing. I still can’t believe she lost the baby.”

Garrett shook his head and sat down on the bar stool at the kitchen island. Motherfucker. Less than five minutes ago, I was in heaven with the girl of my dreams, nak*d, and now I was standing across from Gunner’s grandfather, wondering what the hell he was doing here.

“Did you need something other than coffee, Garrett? Anything that I can help you with? I asked.

I could hear Heather picking up everything she’d dropped in the hallway. I reached for my phone in my back pocket but it wasn’t there.

Shit! I dropped it when I ran into Heather.

“Nah, I just needed to get away from the house for a bit.”

***

Garrett and I talked for about another ten minutes before Heather came into the kitchen. She was dressed in a white shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. I smiled at her, but she just glared at me.

What the hell? It wasn’t my fault that Garrett had shown up.

“Garrett, do you think I could catch a ride up to the house with you? I’m going to meet Ellie and Gunner there,” Heather said.

“Are you going out, too? That’s good, honey. You need to cut a rug once in a while. Sure, let’s head on up.” Garrett stood up and started to make his way to the front door.

I just stood there, staring at Heather. Why does she want to leave with Garrett?

I stepped in front of her and held her back.

“Why are you leaving with Garrett, princess?”

Heather looked up at me with tears building in her eyes. My heart stopped, and I had the worst feeling in my chest.

“Heather, what’s wrong?” I asked as I reached for the side of her face.

She backed away from me as one single tear rolled down her cheek.

“I’ve never been made to feel so foolish in my entire life,” she said, her voice cracking.

“What are you talking about? We just shared.”

“Stop! Don’t even talk about it.”

She tossed my phone at me, and I just barely caught it.

“Your f**k buddy is waiting for you.” Heather walked around me and left out the door.

When I hit the home button on my phone, I saw the text message I had sent to Lynda.

Damn, girl… ur looking hot…looks like I’m might be getting lucky tonight with this.

Motherfucker. I had forgotten that I’d sent this message.

It took me a few seconds to get my wits about me before I ran out after Heather. I caught up to her at the Jeep. Garrett was waiting in the driver’s seat.

“Wait! Heather, please wait. You have to let me explain.” I was ready to fall to my knees and beg for just five minutes.

She turned and looked at me. Her eyes were filled with such sadness.

“To think that I almost…I wanted to...” She started to move her head back and forth, like she was trying to clear her mind.

“How could I ever be so stupid to think that you would only want me? Enjoy your night with Lynda.” She jumped in the Jeep.

Garrett looked at Heather and then at me.

“Heather, darling, are you sure you don’t want to stay here and talk with Josh?”

“I have nothing left to say to him, Garrett, but thank you. I’m just ready to go.”

Garrett started the Jeep and gave me one last look. It was almost like he was trying to tell me something.

“Heather, please don’t…please don’t do this.”

I reached for her hand and she pulled it away.

“Garrett, please leave,” Heather said as she wiped away tears rolling down her cheeks.

I stood there, watching as the Jeep got farther and farther out of sight.

The moment I could no longer see it, I fell to the ground and buried my head in my hands.

I was pretty sure that I just lost the only thing I ever loved and wanted.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

HEATHER

One the way back to Garrett and Emma’s place, I tried desperately to keep my hands from shaking. I could tell that Garrett was trying to give me some space. I kept replaying what had happened between Josh and me only thirty minutes ago.

“Heather, I don’t want your first time to be like this. It needs to be special, a night you’ll always remember with as smile…and without any regret, princess.”

He didn’t want to make love to me because he was planning on f**king Lynda tonight. I should have known. He’ll never change. Ever.

Just then Garrett pulled me from my thoughts.

“Heather, are ya gonna let the boy explain?”

I spun my head toward Garrett and just stared at him.

“What?”

“Are you going to at least let him explain? He looked pretty torn up.”

Oh. My. God.

“No! Not to be rude, Garrett, but you have no idea what happened between us back there. Josh is a womanizer. He will never change, and I was crazy to think that I might be the one he would change for.”

I started to think about my father telling me how someday my prince would come for me. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes again.

I missed my mother and father. Why did they have to leave me all alone?

***

We drove up to the house just as Gunner and Ellie were pulling up. I flew out of the Jeep and started to make my way over to Ellie. The moment she saw, me she knew something was wrong.

“Ari?” Ellie asked in a panicked voice.

Oh shit. How could I forget about Ari? What kind of friend am I?

I shook my head and tried to smile. I needed to pull it together. Ellie didn’t need to hear me bellyache about Josh.

Fucker that he is.

“What’s wrong, Heather?”

“I guess I’m just thinking about Ari. Have you heard from her since you left?”

Ellie’s eyes filled with tears.

“No, but I did talk to Jeff. He’s not doing so well. He’s blaming himself. He was crying so hard on the phone that I could hardly understand him.”

“What happened with the whole Rebecca thing?”

“Oh god, I’ll fill you in on the ride over to the club.”

Gunner let out a laugh. “Ells, it’s not a club. It’s a honkytonk.”

Ellie shrugged her shoulders. “Whatever.”

As we walked up to the house, I heard someone pulling up the driveway. I turned around to see Josh’s truck. I started to walk faster, taking the steps of the porch two at a time, only to run right into Lynda.

“Jesus, watch where you’re going, Heather.”

I took one look at her and wanted to puke. She was dressed in a low-cut, very low-cut light blue shirt. I could see her bra through the shirt, and her shorter-than-short skirt was damn near up to her crotch. Her black cowboy boots rounded out the whole hooker-looking outfit. I ran my eyes up and down her.

“You think Josh will like what he sees?” She asked, giving me a wink.

I had an incredible urge to knock the crap out of this girl. I was just about to say something back to her when I heard Josh behind me.

“Heather, I really need to talk to you. Please.” His voice was practically begging me.

I turned around to face at him. Damn. He looked good in his white button-down shirt, jeans, and boots. I had the most intense feeling between my legs, I actually felt myself pushing my legs together.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“Heather, please don’t walk away from me after what happened between us. You have to let me explain.”

I glanced over at Ellie and Gunner. They both looked very confused and looked at me and then at Josh.

“Wait…what do you mean what happened between y’all?” Lynda asked glaring at me.

I didn’t want to air my dirty little secrets in front of everyone, especially the tramp standing next to me. I started to walk toward the barn and Josh followed me.

Lynda tried to stop him. “Josh, wait, I thought we.”

“Lynda, please, I just need to talk to Heather for a few minutes. Just give me a couple of minutes.”

I walked as fast as I could down to the main barn. Before I could turn around, Josh grabbed me and pushed me up against the side of the barn.

He kissed me with so much passion that I almost lost myself in him. Finally pulling my lips away from his, I tried to push him away.

“Stop, Josh! Just stop right now! How dare you even think of kissing me after what you did to me! How could you?”

Josh went to say something, but I cut him off.

“You never had any intention of sleeping with me because you already made plans to f**k Lynda tonight!” I screamed at him.

Josh closed his eyes. When he opened them, I swore it looked like he had tears in his eyes.

“Heather, I don’t know how to explain this to you. I was trying to do something the only way I’ve ever known how to do it. I wanted you so much, but you just kept pushing me away, and.”

“So, you’re saying this is my fault? I tried to explain myself the other day, but you wouldn’t let me. You just acted like a stubborn ass, and then you started hanging all over Lynda like the man whore that you are.”