Well, there was that time we both had so much to drink that Pap had to come pick us up and drive us home.

That was shortly after I found out about Clint, and Tania took me out to help me forget. She got the job done because I made it to the point where I couldn’t even remember my own name.

Grayson and I walk hand in hand as we weave our way through the crowded bar. A lot of guys he went to school with are here. They clap him on the back before offering me a friendly hello.

My stomach sinks with dread when I spot Mandy Whitmore, Grayson’s ex, at the other end of the bar, glaring at me.

Great.

She and I have never cared for each other, but since finding out she was one of the girls Clint slept with behind my back, I really don’t like her.

Grayson pulls me from the depressing thought, pointing toward Tania and Terrell who are sitting at a table on the other side of the room. They’re both laughing and chatting it up with the owner, Tucker Reeves. It brings a smile to my face to see how at ease they are. Ever since that last day at the courthouse, I’ve found a small sense of unity has been restored to our town, and there’s a semblance of peace among the people who live here as well.

Not all, but some.

And well…that’s a start.

“Hey, there they are,” Terrell hollers as we approach the table. “Took you two long enough. What were you doin’ that made you late?” He gives a suggestive grin.

I roll my eyes and Tania slaps him on the shoulder. “Oh, shush it.” Standing, she wraps me in a hug. “Hey, girl.”

I greet her back then turn to give Tucker a hug, too. “Hi, Tucker.”

“Miss Olivia.” He embraces me so tight I have a hard time breathing. “You look like you’re doin’ well, darlin’.”

I smile up at him. “I am, thank you.”

He greets Grayson with a handshake then takes our drink order. I sit in the chair across from Tania and Grayson takes the one across from Terrell. But as soon as I lean forward to speak my chair scrapes across the floor, moving several inches until I’m flush against Grayson’s side. He moves in close, bringing his mouth to my ear. “Better. I don’t like you so far away. I need to be able to feel you…always.”

His words send my heart into a heated frenzy, and his need to feel me so close to him brings a satisfied smile to my lips. His large hand settles between my legs, high on my thigh, distributing additional warmth through my blood. As our drinks are delivered, he turns his attention back to Terrell and starts talking about football. His thumb is brushing small circles on the inside of my leg, completely short-circuiting my brain.

With my cheeks flushed, I look across the table and find Tania shaking her head, stifling a laugh.

“The place is packed tonight, it’s like a damn high school reunion up in here,” she says. “Well for Grayson and T anyway.”

“I noticed.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to bring up Mandy, but I don’t, not wanting her presence here to interfere with our night.

Tania leans in closer. “Check it out. Four o’clock.”

I discreetly glance to the right and see Jay Maxwell leaning against the bar, gazing at Tania, his eyes full of need.

“Girl, he totally wants me, right?”

Amused, I look back at her. “Definitely, he’s been chasing you for months now. Are you finally going to put the man out of his misery?”

Jay went to school with Grayson and Terrell. He’s asked Tania out at least a dozen times but she never gives him a straight answer. I don’t know why because it’s obvious she likes him.

She shrugs. “Maybe someday.”

We both burst out laughing.

“Someday what?” Terrell asks.

“Nothing.” We both reply in unison.

He’s crazy protective over her; no doubt he would go all big brother if we told him his former teammate has been asking his sister out.

Terrell points at the leather band wrapped around Grayson’s wrist. “What the hell is that?”

Grayson takes a pull from his bottle of beer. “What the hell does it look like?” he fires back.

“Since when do you wear stuff like that?”

“Since my girl made it for me.” His hand gives my thigh a gentle squeeze before he removes it to take off the band to show Terrell the inscription.

Terrell looks over at me, impressed. “You made this for him?”

I shift, feeling uncomfortable. “Yeah.”

“It’s badass. Where the hell is mine?”

I chuckle. “You want one?”

“Damn right I do. And I want it to say, ‘Mack Truck’ Johnson kicks ass.”

Grayson grunts while Tania and I burst into another fit of laughter as he reminds us of his nickname from high school.

“All right, you’re next. I’ll get started this weekend.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” He sits back with a pleased grin, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

Shaking my head with a smile, I stand. “I’ll be back, I need to use the ladies’ room.”

“I’ll come.”

As Tania jumps from her chair, Grayson encircles my wrist and tugs me down. “Kiss me first,” he demands, setting that flock of butterflies loose in my tummy.

Sometimes I really like it when he’s bossy.

I brush my lips softly across his but his hand curls around my neck, hauling me in for a knee-weakening kiss. By the time he releases me, I’m unsteady on my feet and completely lost in a haze of desire.

“Hurry back,” he says with a smirk, knowing exactly what he just did to me.

I can only manage a nod before I turn to trail behind Tania, still trying to get my bearings.

“Girl, you got it bad.” She laughs, slowing down to throw an arm around my shoulder.

I don’t bother to deny it because it’s true. I have it bad for that man, and I’m not ashamed in the least by it.

Just before we make it to the restroom, Tania is tugged away from me. Turning back I see Jay has a hold of her arm, bringing her in close to him.

“Hey! Don’t be man-handling me like that?” she snaps, but it’s easy to see she’s not bothered by it at all.

I continue to the restroom, knowing she’s more than fine. If anything, Jay is exactly what my best friend needs. A strong-willed man to cut through her defenses.

After I use the facilities I walk out expecting to find Tania, but come face-to-face with Mandy instead. She leans against the sink with her hip cocked, staring daggers into the side of my head.

Ignoring her, I move to the sink furthest away, feeling her eyes on me the entire time I wash my hands.

“What are you doing here with him?”

She doesn’t need to elaborate who he is because we both know she’s talking about Grayson.

“That’s none of your business.” I try to keep my voice steady but my thumping heart is filled with anger, making it almost impossible to control my emotions.

“If you think he’s going to stick around you’re dumber than I thought. Grayson doesn’t do relationships. He only likes to fuck. Trust me, I know.” She smirks.

Don’t let her get to you, Liv. She’s only trying to bait you.

With a deep breath I turn to face her as I dry my hands, my eyes holding hers in a challenge. “Now that’s where you’re wrong. Grayson isn’t the same as he was back in high school, which you would know if you still spoke with him, but you don’t because he’s smarter than that. You see, some of us decide to grow up after graduating and get lives.”

That’s just the problem—Mandy never grew up. Since high school she’s been married and divorced twice because she can’t seem to keep her legs closed.

“You couldn’t even keep Clint, what makes you think you’re going to keep a man like Grayson?”

Her nasty remark hits me like a punch to the gut. It takes every ounce of self-control not to attack the bitch. I swallow back the hurt clogging my throat, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of seeing me upset. “There’s a big difference between Grayson and Clint. When Grayson has something worthy, he appreciates it. He takes care of it. He doesn’t sneak off to go slumming.”