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Josh looked down at the ground and then back up to me. His eyes glazed over, and I knew he was fighting back tears.

“I can’t do it, Jeff. When I walked in and saw that guy there, what happened between them hit me hard. I knew in that moment that I couldn’t do it anymore. She’s so worried about me leaving her, but it’s her who left me, Jeff. I need someone in my life that’s going to trust me and not worry all the time if I’m going to cheat or leave her or whatever other fears she might have. I can’t do it. I’m doing most of the business at my dad’s now, and I really think I could make this business grow even more. I need to concentrate on that, and Heather needs to work on finishing school. I think we are on the paths we are meant to be on.”

I looked at him and shook my head. “Do you really believe that load of shit you just spit out, dude?”

Josh sighed and turned to walk into the house. “I have to, Jeff. It’s the only way I can get up every day and move on.”

Ari and Heather were in the kitchen, laughing, and of course, talking about what to wear to tonight’s barn dance. I smiled when I saw Ari leaning up against the counter. She looked beautiful. Her skin looked like it was glowing, and her smile lit up the whole room. I was going to have to keep her pregnant often because she was even more beautiful carrying my child.

Josh and I sat in the living room and talked about the wedding. When I looked up, my breath was taken away. Ari was standing there, wearing a Longhorn T-shirt, blue jean shorts, and a pair of Longhorn cowboy boots. I let my eyes travel up and down her body.

Fuck me. She’s so damn beautiful.

“Those shorts are too short, Ari.” I tried to hide my smile when she raised her eyebrows at me.

“Um, no, they’re not. Sorry, I’m go

I looked into the kitchen and saw Heather getting out a Diet Coke from the fridge. Then, I glanced over at Josh, who must have seen her the same time I did.

I almost felt like I should walk over and shut his mouth for him. Heather had on a white tank top, blue jean shorts, and a pair of pink cowboy boots. How two girls can wear just simple shirts and shorts and look so good was beyond me.

“Close your mouth, Josh, unless you want to catch flies,” Ari said.

Josh snapped his head over to Ari and looked dazed for a moment or two. Just then, his cell phone went off. Ah, the bitch must have some kind of radar, she sensed him looking at Heather.

Josh pulled out his phone and looked at it, frowning

There was no way in hell he was happy with Lynda. I could tell just by his reaction to her call. She was fucking nuts, jealous as hell, and I had a fu

He got up and walked outside before he answered it. I looked at Ari who, was also frowning. She stood up when Heather walked into the living room.

“Y’all ready to go?” I am so in the mood to go to a barn dance,” Heather said as she smiled at Ari and me.

“Well then, let’s go. I talked to Gu

***

By the time we got to the barn dance, Heather and Josh seemed to be getting along as friends. I even heard them laugh a few times. Ari looked over at me and smiled. I knew what she was thinking, and I was a little less optimistic.

As we walked toward the barn, I saw Garrett and Jack were talking to a couple of older guys, and Emma and Grace were laughing with a group of women. Gu

“No, thanks. I’m only drinking Diet Coke tonight,” Heather said.

Ari let out a laugh and looked at Heather.

“You’re such a good friend to only drink soda because I can’t drink!”

Heather smiled just a little. “Not really, sweets. I stopped drinking last summer.”

Josh’s head snapped up to look at Heather, who was now looking down at the ground.

Garrett walked up and slapped Gu

“You heard the man. Take me in there and swing me around that dance floor, Jeff, before I find me another cowboy to do it,” Ari said with a wink.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said as I took Ari’s hand and led her into the barn.

Just as we walked in, Jason Aldean’s “When She Says Baby” started up. I spun Ari around before we took off two-steppin’. I’d never been with a girl who could dance to every kind of music out there. Girl sure as hell knows how to two-step.

I looked over to see Gu

Then, I saw Jack and Grace. I smiled when I thought about how happy Gu

“Do you see Garrett and Emma dancing?” Ari shouted.

I shook my head and looked around. Just as I spotted them, Garrett was spi

“Do you think they still keep a quilt in their truck?” Ari asked before she started to laugh.

I threw my head back and laughed along with her. “I bet they do, baby. I bet they do!”

***

After two hours of dancing, drinking, and laughing my ass off listening to Garrett and a few other old timers talking, Josh, Gu

Ari, Ells, and Heather were all dancing to Chris Cagle’s “Let There Be Cowgirls.” Damn. My dick was getting hard just watching Ari. I loved the way she threw her head back every time she laughed or the way her damn body moved to the beat of the song. I had to adjust myself and look away. I glanced over at Gu

I looked over at Josh. Poor stupid bastard was just staring at Heather out on the dance floor. I really felt bad for him, but I wasn’t really what to do for those two.

“How are the wedding plans coming along?” Gu

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Holy hell, the wedding plans. I cringed, just thinking about it.

“Fine.”

Gu

“Just fine? Come on, dude. You can give us more than that,” Gu

I let out a sigh and looked around. Ari’s parents weren’t there, but I swore I wouldn’t put it past her dad to have spies follow my ass around.

Josh got up and moved to the other side of me. “What the fuck are you looking around for?” Josh said as he looked around. “Is it top-secret shit?”

“I’m just putting this out there; I wouldn’t put anything past Ari’s dad. I can’t tell you how many times that man has threatened my life. He refuses to let us pay for any part of the wedding because according to him, ‘His baby girl will get the wedding of her dreams.’ I’m responsible for the honeymoon though. If I don’t make it special, he has threatened to cut off my dick.”

Josh and Gu

“It’s not fu

Josh took a long drink of his beer. “As he should. I swear if I ever have a girl, I’m go