Olivia
Brittany sashayed back into the backyard. I looked behind her to see if Beau was with her, but I didn’t see him. I turned away and looked at Lucy so Brittany couldn’t see that I cared. But she walked directly over to me.
“You’re Olivia, right?”
“Yeah.” I nodded slowly.
She glared at me. “I had a feeling.”
“Excuse me?”
“Beau wanted me to give you a message.”
“Um, okay.”
“So I wanted to make sure that you’re Olivia.”
“We just confirmed that, right?”
“Yeah. He did say to look for the sluttiest woman in the back, and I saw you. So I kind of knew.”
“He what?”
“Well, he wanted me to tell you that he’s coming back to my place right now. He’s actually just gone to pack some things in his bag, and we’re going to be leaving. So have fun at the party.” She looked me up and down. “I can’t believe he even gave you a second glance. But I guess he’s come to his senses now.”
“Excuse me? I don’t—”
“You know exactly what I’m saying. Leave my man alone. And if I were you, I’d be gone by the time he gets back. No one likes a desperate woman.”
“I’m not desperate. And I couldn’t care less about Beau Hamilton.”
“Sure, honey,” she said, looking at me and then over to Lucy. “You must be the leftovers Austin hooked up with.” She started laughing. “I guess he’s slumming it as well.”
Lucy just laughed. “You think Austin’s slumming it with me?”
“No, honey. I don’t think; I know.” Brittany batted her eyelashes at us, and then looked back around the yard. “Such a beautiful place, Horseshoe Ranch. I can’t wait till I’m the matriarch of this family.”
“What are you even talking about?” said Lucy.
“When Beau and I get married, of course. Anyway, he’s probably at the front waiting for me. Ta-ta!” She waved her fingers and walked around to the front of the house. I could feel tears prickling in my eyes again.
Lucy took my hand. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said with a quick nod.
“I don’t believe her, Olivia. She’s trash.”
“She’s beautiful. And she is his ex-girlfriend. I heard him saying something like she made him realize that he wants more in life or something like that.”
“There’s no way he’s with her. She’s joking. He’ll be out in a second,” she said.
“You think so?” Hope was the only thing I could cling to in that moment.
“Yeah, you’ll see. And then we’ll laugh, and he’ll laugh, and he’ll say that she’s just some psychopath, like from Single White Female or something. At least I don’t have to live with her.”
I pinched myself to stop the tears.
“You’re not really going to leave, are you?” Lucy said quietly.
“If Beau doesn’t come out and if this isn’t a joke, I am going to leave. I just don’t know what I’m doing here.”
“You’re here because you wanted to see me.”
“That’s true; I did come to see you. But I have a little confession to make.”
“Oh, what’s the confession?”
“You know when you FaceTimed me when you first got here months ago?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, Beau was in the background then.”
“Yeah, I remember.”
“And I kind of thought he was hot.”
“I know.” Lucy’s eyes widened. “Wait, you came for him and not for me?”
“Don’t take it like that. I came for both of you. Of course, I wanted to see you. I missed you. But I kind of wanted to check him out, I guess. He’s gorgeous, and I don’t know. Maybe I saw us having a love story like you and Austin.” I could feel my face getting warm. “I’m embarrassed even saying that out loud.”
“Don’t be embarrassed, Olivia. We all have daydreams and fantasies of a true love story.”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t always work for us. Or at least not for me. It worked for you.”
“Austin’s amazing. I’m glad I came here. I took a chance, but it might not have worked out. Probability says that it wouldn’t have worked out. You know that right?”
“I know.” I sighed. “I think I need to go pack my bags.”
“Oh, please not now. Please?”
“Maybe after I eat something.”
“Come on.” Lucy led me over to the grill, where Austin was standing.
“Have you seen Wyatt?” he asked.
“No. Why?”
“He was meant to man the grill. I bet he’s gone off to do some bullshit just so he wouldn’t have to take his turn. He’s so irresponsible.” He shook his head. “You girls, okay?”
“Yes. Thank you.” I nodded.
“We’re hungry,” Lucy said. “Can we have some burgers, please?”
“Coming right up,” he said. “You want cheese?”
“Yes, please,” Lucy said.
“Hey, Sadie!” Austin shouted.
Sadie trotted up to us. “Yes?”
“Where’s Wyatt?”
“How am I supposed to know? I’m not his keeper.” She turned to me and Lucy. “Oh my gosh, Wyatt is really getting all my nerves. Do you know what he said to me?”
“No, what?”
“He said that only hookers wear red lipstick in the day.”
“No way!”
“Yeah. Can you believe that?”
Despite being upset about Beau, I laughed. “How old is he? He sounds super old-fashioned.”
“Right?” She paused. “You know what? I’m not even going to give his words any more credence. He’s such an asshole.”
“Yeah, I guess you could say that. Maybe he’s just—” I was about to say into you, but Lucy shook her head.
“Maybe he’s just what?” Sadie asked cluelessly.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “So Brittany said that she and Beau are leaving.” I looked at Sadie and Austin to see if they knew what was going on.
“What do you mean, leaving?” Austin growled.
“She said that he realizes he wants more from life and that he needs the support or something. And I guess he wants to try with her again.”
“No fucking way!” Austin cursed. “I can’t believe this bullshit. After everything I’ve done for this dude, he goes back to Brittany.”
“So they had a special relationship before?”
“I don’t know that I would say special. I mean, they fucked.” He paused and looked at Lucy, who was glaring at him. “Well, you know,” he stammered. “Look, I’m a dude and I don’t really know what you want to hear. But let’s just say Beau has been kind of out of his mind recently. He’s taken on a lot here at the ranch, and maybe it’s just been too much. Me and the rest of our brothers talked to him, and we told him we’ve got his back and he should focus on other things. But I didn’t mean to get back together with Brittany.” He shook his head. “That dude is crazy.”
Lucy touched him on the arm. “I think that’s enough about Brittany.”
“What? I’m just saying. You’re the one that asked; I was only answering. It’s not like they were in love or anything. They banged a couple of times, and I don’t even—” He stopped and looked at me. “Sorry, Olivia. Is this a little TMI?”
“It’s fine,” I said, almost choking on my words. “If they had something and they’re getting back together, I guess it is what it is. Good for him. I’m happy for him. He deserves happiness. He’s a good guy. I need to go inside now.” I turned and rushed into the house.
“You see what you did, you jackass?” I heard Lucy hiss at Austin as she followed me. “Hold up, Olivia. Hold up!” She ran after me and grabbed me by the arm. “I’m sorry. He’s a man, and you know men don’t think when they talk.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m glad to know the truth. I guess Beau’s not coming back out.”
Sadie caught up with us. “Hey, is everything okay? What was that about Brittany and Beau?”
We stood next to the French doors in the kitchen as the tears ran down my face. Then Arya stepped into the kitchen as well.
“I saw you girls running. Is everything okay?” She saw my face. “Oh no, Olivia what’s going on? What happened?”
“It’s fine,” I said. “Beau’s just gone to be with his ex-girlfriend.”
“No,” she shook her head. “No, there’s no way.”
“He did. He left. And he sent her to come tell me. He’s gone. He’s not in the house. I guess he didn’t want to face me. Maybe he knew he would hurt me, and he didn’t want to deal with it. I don’t know. I can’t believe this has happened to me.”
“I thought he really liked you.” Arya looked stunned. “I guess I really can’t tell what guys are thinking at all. I’m so sorry, Olivia.”
“It’s okay. It’s really okay.” I said, though I’d never felt less okay in my life.
“I just don’t believe it,” Sadie said, flabbergasted. “Brittany has always been a crazy bitch. Wyatt and I could never stand her when they were dating. And I don’t even think Beau even liked her that much. Is he crazy?”
“I think all the Hamilton men might be crazy,” Lucy said.
“You’re right about that. Wyatt’s acting like an asshole, too,” Sadie grumbled.
Lucy stroked my arm. “We could go to the bar again tonight.”
“No,” I said. “I’m not going to the bar anymore. I just want to go home.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Lucy asked. “Can we get you anything? Do you want us to sit inside?”
“You guys go back to the party, okay? I just need some time to myself to think and pack.”
“You can’t leave,” Lucy said. “Not right away.”
“I don’t want to see him again, Lucy. It hurts too much. I feel used. I feel stupid. I feel—I don’t even know anymore, but my heart is breaking and I can’t see him. What if he comes back with her? I couldn’t bear to see them together, kissing each other and touching each other. I just couldn’t.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “I’ll fly back to New York with you.”
“No, you can’t. You belong here.”
“I’m not letting you go back alone. I’m your best friend. Austin will be fine without me. He’s lived most of his life without me anyway.”
“I’ll come too,” Sadie said. “I’d love to see New York. And if you have me in town and you have to show me around, it will keep your mind off Beau.”
“Oh, Sadie, you don’t have to do that.”
“I’d offer to come,” Arya said, “but I really have no money, and I can’t move Eloise again.”
“Please don’t worry about it.”
“But I can come, right?” Sadie said. “Please?”
“Okay, sure. It’ll be fun. And maybe you’ll meet a New York guy, and you won’t even want to come back to Montana.”
“That would be pretty cool. I’d miss my family. But sometimes, it kind of sucks being around the Hamilton brothers,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong. I love them, they’re fantastic, and they’re like my family. But do you know what it’s like to grow up with seven really attractive, really hot guys and not one of them look at you like you’re a woman?” She sighed. “And I am a woman now. I’m not a little kid. I’m not a tomboy. But they don’t see me like that. They make me feel invisible.”
“I never really thought about it like that.” I gave her a quick hug. “But you’re gorgeous, Sadie. Trust me, any man would be happy to be with you.”
“Well, I hope so,” she said. “Maybe once I get out of this small town, I’ll meet a guy that really appreciates me.”
“Oh, you will,” I said. “Trust me on that. But, guys, go back to the party. I don’t want people to start worrying and talking. I’ll be back out in a little bit. I just need some time to myself, to compose myself and have a little cry.”
“Okay,” Lucy said. “But if you need anything, you text or call me and I’ll come right to the bedroom.”
“Thanks, Lucy. You’re amazing.”
“You’re my best friend.”
“You’re my best friend, too. And Sadie and Arya, we might be new friends, but you’re two of the best women I’ve ever met in my life, and I’m proud to call you my friends as well.”
“Thank you, Olivia.” Sadie beamed at me.
“I’ve loved meeting you all,” Arya added. “I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
“Okay, guys, let’s not have a cry fest,” I said. “Shoo. I’ll talk to you later.”
I headed to my bedroom. I needed to be by myself. I needed to let it all out because my heart was breaking. I couldn’t believe that Beau hadn’t been man enough to come and tell me himself. He’d sent Brittany, who seemed like an absolutely horrible person. Even if he wasn’t with me, Beau could do better than her.
As horrible as she was, there was no denying she was beautiful. I guess for some men, that was all that mattered.
I opened my suitcase and started flinging my clothes into it, then gave up, falling on top of the clothes and sobbing into them. This was going to be so hard— leaving my new friends, my new family, and the man I had fallen for.
Because I knew one hundred percent that I had fallen in love with Beau Hamilton with all my heart.