“So it sucks?”
“It sucks ass.”
Sierra snickered.
“But my mom and dad had a bad year on the ranch and my mom had to get a job too. You’re so lucky that you don’t have to work.”
Her guilt increased. Boone wasn’t the only one struggling. “Are you helping support your family?”
“No. I have to pay for my own gas and earn my own spending money and I wanted to make sure I could get my little brothers something decent for Christmas.”
“You are such a good person, Marin.”
“I’m glad you’re finally figuring that out, Arizona.” She elbowed her. “Enough about that. What’s really going on with you and Boone?”
“Huh-uh. Tell me what happened with you and Mitch first.”
“He was so sweet. He’s such a great kisser and we just kept taking it a step farther each time until I had sex with him.” Marin sat up and sighed. “I almost did a really dumb thing and got pregnant.”
Shocked, Sierra said, “Are you serious?”
“We had sex a few times, like maybe five times, and we didn’t use birth control, which was stupid. So I was a week late and freaking out and Mitch was all, I ain’t marryin’ you if you were dumb enough to get knocked up. That pissed me off. So after I got my period, I broke up with him. Asshole.”
“God. That is scary. I can’t even imagine you pregnant right now.”
“Me neither. This really sweet and shy girl who you’d never think was messing around? She dropped out last year because she got pregnant. Now she’s workin’ at the Pizza Barn in Moorcroft and living with her parents. Her baby daddy was another one of them scum-sucking cowboys like Mitch.”
Sierra grinned. She’d missed Marin so much.
“So…” Marin poked her in the shoulder. “You and the hottie known as Boone West. I’ll warn you I’m gonna be pissed as hell if the rumors are true and you’ve been sneaking around with him since school started and you didn’t tell me.”
“I’m friends with him, but nothing else, I swear. I did a dumb thing too.” Sierra told her what had happened at the party and how Boone had rescued her. “So we decided we had to pretend to be together for a little while, but I’m not sure if we’re still doing that. I’ll have to ask him when he comes over tomorrow.”
“Your dad lets him in the house? I heard he punched Boone in the face and knocked him out cold at the hospital.”
“Puh-lease. I love my dad, but Boone? He’s like don’t-fuck-with-me tough. Know what I mean?”
Marin sighed. “Yes. And that is so totally hot in a guy.”
“No lie.”
“So you and Boone didn’t even…?”
“Kiss? Nope. But I have to ask…” Sierra fought a blush. “What was it really like? With you and Mitch?”
“It hurt the first time. Then the next time it didn’t hurt, but it didn’t feel that great either. I kept hoping it would get better, but honestly, I don’t get what the big deal is.” She grinned. “But I bet it would be awesome with Boone.”
“Marin!”
“Oh, don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”
Her dad walked into the room and she was happy for the interruption.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
Sierra looked at Marin. “Much better now.”
“Glad to hear it. Good to see you again, Marin.”
“You too, Mr. Daniels.”
“Please, call me Gavin. You girls need anything? Drinks? Snacks?”
“Can you stay a little longer?” Sierra asked Marin.
“Sure. It’s not like I’d rather be doing homework.”
“Thanks, Dad, pizza rolls would be good.”
“I’m on it.” He cut to the back staircase.
“You know, Arizona, your dad is kinda hot.”
“Eww!”
A beat passed. “Know who else is hot?”
“Who?”
“Boone West.”
Sierra sighed. “I’m never gonna live this down, am I?”
“Nope.” Marin smiled. “Because you’ll have me around every day to remind you.”
“Awesome.”
“Admit it. You missed me.”
“I really did.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Late February…
Gavin scanned the crowd at Ziggy’s. With more than half the damn men wearing black cowboy hats, he wandered through the entire bar before he saw Dalton, sitting at a table in the corner, far from the action. He took the chair opposite him. “Hey, Dalton.”
“Gavin. Glad you could make it.”
“I was surprised by the invite.”
“Well, we haven’t had a chance to catch up…” Dalton sent him a sheepish smile. “I’m fresh outta drinking buddies, now that Tell and Georgia got hitched, so since you ain’t hitched either, you were selected.”
Gavin grinned. No bullshit. He liked that. He ordered Crown and water from the cocktail waitress after she finished flirting shamelessly with Tell. “Vi told me Tell and Georgia flew to Vegas. Did you go?”
“I stood up for Tell. I never turn down a chance to go to Vegas. That said, I wouldn’t get married in Sin City on Valentine’s Day, but that’s what they wanted. From there they flew to Acapulco. I hung around a couple days after, played some cards.”
“Did you win?”
“I won big enough one night they upgraded my room at the Hard Rock to the high roller’s suite. Immediately all sorts of lovely ladies volunteered to help me celebrate.”
Gavin laughed. Dalton, like the rest of the McKays, had the rugged good looks women seemed to go for. He was a strapping guy, easily several inches taller than either of his brothers. Broader too. That baby-face was deceiving, according to Vi. Dalton McKay liked to fight. And he liked to win.
Once the drinks were on the table, Dalton lifted his glass for a toast. “To the last two single McKays standing.”
After Gavin drank, he felt the need to point out, “Since Rielle and I are in a relationship, technically I’m not single.”
“Technically you’re not a McKay either.” Dalton laughed. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist. So it’s serious with you and Rielle?”
“Wasn’t something either of us expected, but it’s…” He wanted to say she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, but that sounded sappy, so he said, “Good. We’re taking it day by day.”