14. Aspen

Fourteen

Aspen

A few days passed since the date with Boone, and it gave me plenty of time to sit with my thoughts. Whether that was a good thing or not, time would tell. It turned out to be a perfect night, but it also made me feel things I hadn’t experienced before. When he helped me off the horse and we both froze, I felt my heart beating in my throat, despite putting on my best calm face. My whole body felt on alert, wanting to lean into my thoughts of wanting to see if his lips felt the same sober. First time in a while, I was genuinely happy and excited. I thought I knew what it was like to feel that way, yet I was wrong.

The stand was doing well, The Cassidys appreciated everything I was doing, I saw more of my friends, and I felt inspired to start writing. That night, Boone was a complete gentleman, not that he wasn’t on a regular basis. He was gentle, patient, and attentive. He never raised his voice or made my questions seem like a burden. He showered me with attention, and let’s not forget, saved the muffin and shared it with me while we watched the sunset. The more I got to know him, the more I was in awe of the man who was once the boy I knew. He opened up to me, showing a vulnerable side that I imagined not many people got to see from Boone Cassidy.

Whenever I thought about that night, I wanted to write it down. I want to take all my thoughts and feelings and put them to paper to savor forever.

Luckily, Theo and Penny both agreed to come to the bonfire. The time was here, so I had to text them a reminder.

Aspen: Don’t forget. Cassidy Ranch, 8 pm.

Penny: ?? yes ma’am!

Theo: Will do!

Penny: What should I wear?

Penny: Better yet, will Mac be there?

Aspen: Last I heard Rhodes and Mac will be there.

Theo: Penny, I will pick you up at like 7:30! You better be ready!!!!!!

I was excited to have Penny and Theo come to the ranch. Tonight, it would be me and my friends with Boone and his. I liked the idea of our worlds colliding. If anyone had told me that years later, I’d be hanging out with Boone, Penny and Theo, Rhodes, and Mac at a bonfire, I would’ve called them crazy. But, here I was, getting ready in my cabin to go hang out with the “hot neighbor” and his group; life definitely keeps you on your toes.

* * *

Boone and I were outside getting things set up for the bonfire. I brought drinks to put in the cooler while Boone poked the fire. He was squatting down by the flames, using a metal poker to move the logs around. The signature hat was on his head and his mustache on full display.

My goal was to keep my wandering thoughts in check. Me and alcohol haven’t had a great track record the last few weeks, especially when Boone was involved. I made it my sworn oath to control myself and keep things completely platonic. He looked good tonight wearing his straight-cut jeans, hat, and a plain t-shirt, which made it that much harder. That man had one style, but it worked so well on him.

I decided to opt for a little bit more casual outfit choice. I wore my favorite—and really, only pair—of flare jeans with a black tank top, cowboy boots, and my hair half up and half down held by a claw clip.

“Hell yeah!” Mac yelled, coming out from the trees with Rhodes walking next to him. Mac was a slender guy, taller than most. Describing him, most would say he looked like he belonged as a bartender with a bad boy vibe about him. His brown eyes match the color of his wicked curly hair. He was wearing a cut-off t-shirt, clearly made at home with a pair of old scissors. His hair was tamed by a backward cap, and tattoos covered each arm. He had a patchwork style, nothing cohesive, yet the little pieces told some kind of story. One thing about Mac is that his personality showed whenever he was in the room, over the top and electric. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of him and Penny together; what a presence they would bring, like fire and brimstone.

Rhodes was roughly the same height as Boone and reminded me of a grizzly bear. His hair was as black as you could get, a messy mop on his head. Something all these men had in common, haircuts or a hair routine were completely off their radar. His bright eyes were sharp, the green of summer grass. Rhodes kept his style simple, matching the theme of a t-shirt and cowboy boots. He was reserved, yet still outgoing. I feel like you had to be to some degree in order to be part of Boone’s crew.

Rhodes and Mac both carried a six pack of beer in each hand. I assumed it was their drink of choice for the night. Other than some beers in the cooler, we had good ol’ faithful tequila, and I, of course, brought my favorite red wine. Not that I thought anyone outside of Penny would drink it. Theo was more of a beer kind of girl. “I have a cooler set up by the steps!” I pointed towards Boone’s cabin where I placed the ice in the cooler.

“Atta girl,” Mac said, sending me a wink. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. I poured a glass of wine and claimed one of the chairs around the fire. Boone was no longer tending to it. Instead, he was heading over to greet his friends. The sun was almost set, the sky getting darker by the minute. I took a swig of my wine, feeling the warmth from the fire on my skin.

“How have you been?” Rhodes asked, sitting in the chair to my left. He cracked open his can of beer, the foam spilling over the lip.

“I’ve been good!” I said back. “What about you? How’s the ranch life treating you?”

I haven’t spoken much to Rhodes or Mac, except for the last time we had a fire. I didn’t really know what to say to keep the conversation going.

“Working with Boone is easy, I can’t say I have much to complain about.” He took a sip of beer. “I, uh, saw Theo was back in town.”

That took me by surprise. “Yeah! She is. I think she may be staying for a while. She and Penny are coming tonight,” I replied.

“Nice.” Rhodes cleared his throat. “People have loved the farm stand since you took it over. My mama is one of them. I swear she makes a special trip every weekend to see if anything is new.” I loved hearing positive feedback about what I was doing to the stand. It gave me a boost of confidence to know I was doing something right.

“I think I’m loving it too,” I confessed. “I enjoyed working at The Coffee Cup, but something about the stand just feels right.”

Rhodes and I kept the conversation flowing while Boone and Mac talked on the other side of the fire. Rhodes asked if I had anything else special planned. Of course, I couldn’t divulge all my secrets.

Finally, Theo and Penny came up the driveway, the gravel crunching under the car tires. I glanced down at my phone to check the time, 8:15 pm, which told me Penny wasn’t ready when Theo arrived. I put my wine glass down on the arm of my chair and stood to greet them. Meeting them halfway, I grabbed the box of wine Penny was carrying. She loved anything cheap and in a bag.

“It’s about time!” I said, bringing them in one by one for a side hug.

“Yeah, well, Penny wasn’t ready. You’d think after all these years of friendship, I would’ve been more prepared,” Theo said, playfully rolling her eyes.

“I had to look good!” She whispered to us right before we got to the pit. “Well, hello!” she said, doing a little finger wave at the guys sitting by the fire.

I looked at Mac, trying to see if there was any reaction. I’m trying my best to play matchmaker. When I didn’t see what I was looking for, any outward expressions of lust, I looked to Boone, who was looking at me. I gave him a “we need to get to work” look which consisted of me just opening my eyes wide at him. Whether he was able to gather all that by just my eyes, we’d find out.

I took my place at the fire; Penny sat to my right, which put her right next to Mac. Theo found space between Rhodes and Boone. Thankfully, the man I needed to stay away from was seated across the fire.

As the night went on, I had the persistent feeling someone was watching me. Finally, I looked up from whatever conversation I was having and got my answer. Boone was reclined in his chair, staring at me over the flames. He put that shit grin on his face and took a slow sip of his beer. I felt teased by the way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. If it were just once, maybe I would’ve said it was a coincidence, but it was starting to feel like a pattern. I refused to look in his direction, not needing the temptation. We’re friends. He was my neighbor who was helping me find the inspiration I needed to write my novel. After one date, I’d say it was working.

“Boone, you’re never going to guess who I ran into in town the other day,” Mac said.

“I don’t think I wanna know,” Boone replied, sipping his beer.

“Miranda Yert.” Mac made his eyebrows go up and down, turning up one side of his mouth.

“Miranda Yert?!” Rhodes echoed, sounding shocked. “I haven’t heard that name in a long fucking time.”

She was the prom queen at our high school, a blonde bombshell. The typical “southern bell” you saw in the movies. She had the boys in school begging to take her out.

She was also probably one of the meanest girls in our school. Giggling and talking behind your back, but loud enough for you to hear. I sadly knew from first-hand experience. I cringed whenever I heard her name.

She moved to the city after graduation, and I had a sense of relief that I wouldn’t have to see her face in town and relive all the shit she made me feel. Miranda was the one who had Justin Bullock, my middle school crush, pretend to ask me to the eighth-grade dance as a prank. Talk about shots to the ego at a young age.

I sipped my wine, avoiding having any part of the conversation.

“Boone, you were one of the lucky ones who got to see what it was like to get in her bed,” Mac said, shaking his head.

My blood pressure spiked, and I felt dizzy and hot in a matter of seconds. Thinking about Boone and Miranda made me sick to my stomach. I was suddenly angry, irrationally so. I had no idea Boone had ever been with Miranda. Of course, he had. Of course, somehow, she would come back to haunt me. I was jealous, and I couldn’t help it.

“Meh,” Boone said, shrugging his shoulders. “I don’t even remember it.”

“Come on! She was all over you until we graduated from high school. It must’ve been something.” Rhodes replied.

“Well, once was enough for me,” Boone spoke in a tone that sounded like he was done with the conversation. He was no longer smiling, and when I looked up, he was back staring at me.

“Yuck,” Penny said, her face turning into a disgusted expression. “Miranda was, and probably still is, vile. The shit she put Aspen through, she deserves to have karma knocking on her door.”

Now, I wasn’t just red from anger, I was red from embarrassment. I needed to change the subject, right now. “Alrighty!” I said, clapping my hands together. “Why don’t we play a game or something?” I looked around the group. This was the first time I noticed Theo. She wasn’t drinking a beer, instead holding a water bottle. I took a mental note to revisit that later.

“What about Cheers to the Governor?” Penny suggested.

Cheers to the governor required just you and a drink; it was easy. “I’m good with that,” I said everyone else in the group nodded as well.

To play, you go around the circle and, one by one, take turns counting to 21. Anyone who messes up and says the wrong number has to drink. Once the number 21 is counted off, everyone yells, “Cheers to the governor!” and drinks. Whoever says “21” makes up a rule for the game. If someone breaks the rule during the next round, they have to drink, and the counting starts over.

“I’ll go first!” Penny yelled, “Then we will go to Mac and then Boone and so on.”

Penny started the countdown, and we made it through the first round easily; we all shouted “cheers to the governor” before taking a drink. The number landed on Boone, of course, meaning that he made the first rule.

“My rule is, no one can say my name; they have to call me daddy,” Boone said proudly like that was the best rule he could possibly come up with. I rolled my eyes, which didn’t get past Boone.

“What, Aspen? You don’t want to call me daddy?” He was grinning ear to ear, holding the beer can up to his mouth. He didn’t break eye contact as he tipped the can back and took a long pull. When he was done, his tongue started out and licked the residue from his top lip.

Play. It. Cool. Aspen.

I wasn’t going to let him push me. I smiled back, softening my eyes and peering at him through hooded lashes. “I bet you’d like that, Cowboy.”

The tension in the air was evident. I was pretty sure everyone else could feel it too. Penny cleared her throat, but I didn’t look. I kept my stare on Boone, refusing to be the first to break.

Being the sneak he was, he blew me a kiss from across the circle. I reached up, pretending to catch it, and put it in my pocket.

“Theo, you start this round,” Mac said, moving on.

The second round went smoothly as well. No one tripped up or broke the rule. The game clearly worked better when the crowd was already drunk. This time, I was the person to say 21, meaning I got the rule.

I had to think long and hard about this one. Something that would get Boone. “You can’t make eye contact with another player. If you do, you’ll have to drink.” I made sure to cast my glance across the pit. Boone was staring directly at me. Without hesitation, he took a sip of his drink, which meant I had to too.

Rules were broken and numbers were messed up. Luckily, I didn’t have to call Boone “daddy” at all. My rule didn’t affect Boone in the slightest. Every time he looked at me, he would wait until I saw him, and he’d take a sip almost to prove he was unfazed. Something about that made my heart rate spike. He knew I was watching, not giving a shit about the rule I put in place. Boone knew that rule was for him, and he decided to break it every damn time anyway. I thought I’d feel victorious, but he was determined to be the one on top.

After we all had enough of the game, conversations took over, and we split into our own worlds. Penny and Mac were talking between themselves, which felt like a win for me.

Penny always did this thing with her hair, twirling it between her fingers whenever she was into someone. I hoped they finally broke the ice enough for her to make her move. Penny wasn’t shy, so I was surprised when she didn’t approach Mac in the library and tell him she thought he was hot. She was playing shy and keeping her outgoing self in check.

I picked up my phone and glanced down at the time. It was getting late, and if I was being honest, I was getting tired. I stood up, stretching my arms above my head. It had been a while since I stood, which made my body tight.

Theo took that as an invitation to stand up as well. “I think I’m going to head out,” she said, looking over to Penny. Penny wasn’t ready to leave. Her face said as much; she didn’t have a choice. Penny sighed and said something to Mac only they could hear. I walked to Theo and gave her a hug. She relaxed and put one arm around my waist.

“I’m here if you want to talk,” I whispered in her ear. She didn’t respond; instead, she nodded her head as we pulled apart. I knew something was wrong, and one day, I’d have the guts to ask.

“Do you care if we crash at your place?” Mac asked Boone.

“Nah, go on in. I’m going to wait with the fire,” Boone responded.

Rhodes stood and started collecting bottles and trash from around the fire. The flames were still going, which meant someone couldn’t leave yet. Boone took the job, and I didn’t feel right going inside when I knew he was out here alone.

“I can wait with you,” I said. I should’ve just gone to bed and called it a night. It had been a success so far. I didn’t get drunk and embarrass myself in front of Boone. Boone nodded in response, laying back in his chair.

I said goodbye to Penny and Theo, walking to the car with them. As they pulled off, I blew them a kiss and waved obnoxiously. When I turned back around, Boone was the only one left around the fire. The trash was picked up and the alcohol was put away. The only thing to do was wait for the flames to die before I could curl up in bed. I plopped down next to Boone, where Theo was sitting. I couldn’t help myself when a yawn took over. I put my hand over my mouth and tried to be at least a little respectful.

“You can go inside. I’m a big boy,” Boone said, looking in my direction. I smiled and shook my head. Boone spoke again before I could reply. “Do I still need to drink if I want to look at you?”

My cheeks flushed, and my stomach fluttered. I was right, he didn’t give a damn. “I’m surprised you aren’t sloppy right now.”

This got me a chuckle from Boone. I took a moment to look at him, the low flames from the fire casting an amber glow on his face. The stubble on his cheeks was accented by the hues. His damn mustache did something to me.

When he smiled, his skin would crease around his eyes. Right now, he looked mouth-watering with this brown curly hair that formed a tapered mullet to the base of his neck. He was fully laid back in his plastic chair, hat slightly tipped forward.

“I couldn’t help myself,” Boone said. A part of me was glad he didn’t care. “Was it just me, or did it feel like Mac and Penny hit it off?”

“Oh, definitely,” I said back. He changed the subject; I was okay with that. “Even Theo and Rhodes were talking.”

I didn’t see Theo and Rhodes starting anything romantic, but it would be good for her to find other people to talk to if she was moving back here. Theo was the type to stay to herself and always had traveling. Now that she wasn’t seeing or exploring new places, I didn’t want her to feel lonely or lost here. I wanted her to be happy.

“Right? I felt like I was in the middle of their dates. Speaking of dates, I have our next one planned,” Boone said.

“Already?” I sat with my legs tucked underneath me. I finished my drink earlier and elected not to get another one. “Where shall we go this time?”

Boone sat up, putting his elbows on his knees. “The farmers market in town, Sunday. I’ll knock on your door at 9 am, so you better be ready.” I liked the spontaneity he had to just throw the date at me last minute. I was a plan it out kind of girl, but having Boone plan for me was oddly comforting. Not to mention, the farmers markets here were another reason I fell in love with this town. They covered blocks, even streets were closed off, and people came from surrounding cities to see what they had to offer. The vendors were mainly locals, but you had a few who traveled to set up their stands and sell their goodies. I could spend my whole day weaving in and out of the rows from flowers to produce.

“I love the farmers market!” I squealed. I couldn’t contain my happiness, the smile on my face stretching ear to ear. My mind started listing all the things I wanted to get: candles, soaps, some flowers for my dining room table.

“I know,” Boone whispered.

“It was a lucky guess.”

“I pay attention to you, Darling,” Boone responded, looking me in the eyes. The flames were softer now, and the smile he had on his face fell softer. I stared back, my own smile falling as well. I took him in; his blue eyes bore into mine. We sat like this for a few moments. I was the first to look away. It felt like I was the first to break whatever trance he put me under every time. I didn’t know what to say back, so I remained quiet, taking my legs out from underneath me. The fire was at a slow crackle, the flames nearly nonexistent. The wood smoked, which meant it was okay for us to head in. I stood first, and Boone followed.

“Goodnight, Boone,” I said, turning around and walking towards my cabin.

“Goodnight, Aspen.”