Chapter 1
Addison
Putting on my blue denim skirt, I grab my red cowgirl boots.
This is our last night in Nashville, and I want to have fun before we are back at school.
Grabbing my purse, I walk downstairs to see my best friends Sloan and Emmy taking shots.
“You look so hot,” Emmy says, removing a lemon from her mouth.
“Is it too cowgirl?” I ask.
“Emmy is wearing a cowboy hat, you’re in boots. I think we would be okay.”
Grabbing a shot glass, I pour myself one.
Raising my glass, I say, “This is to our last spring break before we graduate and become real adults.”
Clinking our glasses, we all take a shot.
Sucking on the lemon, Brooke says, “Oh, the Uber is here,” grabbing her purse.
Putting the shot glasses down, we leave our Airbnb, walking to the Uber waiting for us.
Piling into the back, we leave.
“I cannot believe we leave tomorrow morning,” Brooke says, looking at our flights.
“We leave at 10:30, right?”
“Yes.”
“Whose idea was it to book a flight that early?” Emmy asks.
Looking at Brooke, she smiles. “Listen, we will be getting home our time by like 1:30, get home, sleep the rest of the weekend before classes start up again on Monday.”
“She has a point,” I say, looking at Emmy.
“But that means we can’t be out the whole night.”
“Which is more of a blessing.”
Laughing, we pull up to the bar.
Getting out, I follow them to the bouncer.
Showing him our IDs, he lets us in.
Walking up the stairs, we hear the music blazing.
“It’s going to be fun,” Emmy squeals.
Walking in, everyone is on the dance floor with a cowboy hat on.
The boots are definitely not even going to be noticed.
Walking to the bar, Brooke says, “Three shots.”
Nodding, the bartender gives us the shots.
“Let’s get fucked up tonight,” Brooke says, raising her glass.
“Or at least fucked.”
Laughing, we take the shot.
Turning around, I wave the bartender down.
“I am gonna do a glass of tequila.”
Nodding, he walks away.
Turning back around, Emmy and Brooke are already on the floor grinding on guys.
I don’t know how they do it so fast.
Handing me my drink, I walk to the balcony.
It’s hot in here.
Walking to the wall, I put my drink down, overlooking the busy city.
It sure is one busy night.
Taking a sip, I put my head back, looking at the sky.
“Long night?” I hear a male voice say.
Turning around, I see a tall, muscular man with a beer in his hand.
Not even looking at his face, I look back out.
“You could say that.”
“It’s a bit loud in there, ain’t it?”
Narrowing my eyes, I smile.
He has a small accent.
“It is.”
Looking at him, he has scruffy dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and a full mustache.
He is wearing a black cowboy hat.
Keeping my body away from him, I hope he gets the message.
“You’re not from around here, huh?”
“California.”
“You don’t speak much, do you?”
Shrugging, I say, “I am just enjoying my night.”
“Alright, I respect that.”
In the corner of my eye, I see his figure move against the wall.
He takes two big steps, making me laugh.
“What?” he asks.
“You just scooted over two steps in a funny way.”
“I am just respecting your wishes.”
Taking a sip of my tequila, I smile.
“So you’re not a piña colada type of girl?”
Shaking my head, I say, “Nope. If I am gonna get drunk, I would rather get drunk on something strong.”
“That’s my motto, get drunk on real alcohol.”
Turning my body towards him, I tilt my head.
“Then why are you drinking a beer?”
“I don’t wanna get drunk tonight.”
Smiling, I look behind him at the people taking shots and dancing.
“Nashville is wild, huh.”
“Is this your first time?” he asks.
“It is.”
“You either leave here having the best hangover or just completely missing the atmosphere.”
“Do you come out here a lot?”
He shakes his head.
“Only when I need to for business.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a cattle rancher.”
“So, like a cowboy?”
Laughing, he shrugs.
“Depends who you ask.”
“So what is a cowboy doing in Nashville?”
“We’re looking at a few cattle operations out this way, and my little brother wanted to spend his birthday in Nashville.”
“Oh, so they are getting drunk.”
He nods.
“Oh, for sure.”
“And you’re the responsible one?”
“Would you believe two of them are older than me?”
“No way.”
“Someone needs to make sure my brothers stay out of jail,” he says, taking a sip of his beer. “So California is a long way from Nashville.”
“Where are you from?”
“Montana.”
“You’re a long way away as well.”
“I am.”
“So the cowboy hat is real?”
Raising his eyebrow, he nods.
“As real as it could get.”
“How old are you?”
“Wanna take a guess.”
“I would guess twenty-six.”
“Nope, but I sure as hell am taking that as a compliment.”
“How old then?”
“Twenty-nine.”
My eyes widen.
Twenty-nine.
There’s no way.
“I would’ve never guessed.”
“And how old are you?”
“Twenty-one.”
He nods.
“Eight years younger.”
I smirk.
“Age is always just a number.”
Laughing, he says, “Yes, it is. I am guessing you’re in school?”
“I am. I graduate in a few months with my nursing degree. You?”
“I actually have a business management degree.”
“Oh wow, what made you choose cattle ranching?”
“My family owns some land up in Montana.”
“Like a ranch?”
He nods.
“Something like that.”
“That makes sense.”
“I am Mason, by the way.”
“I’m Addison.”
“That’s a pretty name.”
Blushing, I look away.
Hopefully he doesn’t notice.
“This may be too forward, but can I get your number?” he asks, pointing his beer at me.
Smiling, I say, “I actually have a rule, no phone numbers to people I just met.”
“Smart girl. What about Instagram?”
Moving my head left to right, I bite my lip.
What the hell.
Like I am ever gonna see him again.
“Open your phone.”
Handing me his phone, I type my Instagram handle.
Giving it back to him, he smiles.
“I gotta say, I don’t think I have ever met a girl like you before.”
“A girl that isn’t easy?”
“That’s not it.”
“Adds, let’s go. Brooke is throwing up,” Emmy says.
“And that’s my cue to go.”
“It was nice to meet you, Addison.”
“You better message me.”
“You can count on that. Have a good night.”
Waving back at him, I smile.
“Goodnight.”
Walking inside, I can’t help but blush.
I don’t know why but that conversation felt different.
And he was actually handsome.
Too bad I know I would never see him again.
We lived far apart.
We lived completely different lives.
