• Enemies • Friends • Lovers •
What if two people destined to be together were too afraid to leave the friend zone?
This enemy-to-lovers story focuses on River, a boy whose scars aren't just surface deep and who has a mind that can't focus on anythi...
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My boots had tassels and studs.
I liked them but I'd never admit that to anyone.
I wore them every year for this rodeo event. Along with my staple outfit of denim shorts, a white tank cropped top, tasselled suede waistcoat and of course the unforgettable cowboy hat.
I guess to anyone else it was silly. The community mashing together in a small space to line dance, ride a mechanical bull and drink house-made cocktails but for me it was nostalgia hay-wrapped inside a room.
Grammy was a much loved member of the line dance community and she invented this party. So we continued it, in her name.
"River is late for his shift!" Justin yelled from the kitchen, he sounded stressed.
My heart strained every time a new customer jingled that little door bell, my paranoia causing me to look over my shoulder all shift.
I tried to occupy myself, watching Tommy trying to hold onto the spinning bull for his life. I bit back a smile, laughing at him swearing up a storm about how the saddle hurt his balls whenever it jolted him.
"Hey Millie, could I get a glass of water please?"
"Sure thing Mrs Oats." I grabbed the jug of iced water and a clean glass, not really concentrating on my task.
The bell jangled above our entrance door and River walked in. My jaw fell to my toes and my eyes forgot how to blink.
River wore black studded boots. They were real ones with a metal spur making clanking sounds whenever he took a step.
He had leather-look pants on that made him look hot as hell. His shirt was white, kind of puffy and it was unbuttoned low down below his collarbones, hinting at the scar beneath. Draped over it was a tasseled leather waistcoat left open.
No cowboy look was finished without a hat but River really went all-out on this outfit and held a real-lasso whip in his hands.
"Millie!" Mrs Oats shouted at me.
I looked down at the glass of water, it had overflown all over the counter because I had over poured.
"S-sorry." I stuttered, grabbing a towel to clean the spillage away.
She looked back over her shoulder and turned to me smiling smugly. "I see what you were distracted by, nice."
I furrowed my brows at her but otherwise tried not to react in anyway. "Your water." I stated, handing her over the glass.
"Hey." He shoved his phone underneath the cash register and grabbed one of the serving trays.
"I see you got the costume." He stared at me unamused.
"Shut up." I chewed down on my lip to stop my laughter.
"Is it a stripper cowboy costume?" He frowned at me. "What is with the whip?"
