Free Into the Nothing (Broken Outlaw Series Book 1) by BT Urruela

have either of their numbers,” I say. “Did you text them?”
    “Yeah. They haven’t texted back. You don’t have Paige’s number?”
    “No.”
    “Why not?
    “I don’t know. There hasn’t been a need, I guess. Why?”
    “Oh, just curious. You guys seem to be hitting it off. I figured you would’ve already exchanged numbers by this point… if not more.”
    The condescending way he says that stops me in my tracks. After a few steps, he stops too.
    “You got a problem with me, man? I work with the Watsons… Paige is a friend. Whatever it is you have in your head, get rid of it.” I keep my tone neutral—or as neutral as I can—but I’d like to take his glasses off his fucking face and throw them. Would I be allowed to hit him then?
    “I just want to know what your intentions are with Paige. She’s a dear friend of mine. It’s my business to ensure her…um…safety. I feel that way for all the Watsons.”
    I want to tell the fucker I’m pretty sure Paige only keeps him around out of pity—and Brandi because he’s her lap dog. But I hold back. I’m not going to stir up any shit with a friend of the family.
    “Listen, you don’t know me, man, and I don’t know what relationship you have with the Watsons. While I can respect it, you also need to know I’m not going to put up with this shit. I’m not trying to judge you, because I don’t know you. Do me a favor and show me the same respect.”
    I turn and walk away without letting him get a word in. When I spot the Watsons’ tents and Teresa drinking from a large wine glass behind the table, I breathe a sigh of relief.
    “Hey, man,” Ethan calls out from behind me, his voice grating my nerves. “No need to get harsh with it. I’m just looking out.”
    I don’t bother looking back—or even answering, for that matter. Instead, I greet Teresa with a smile. “Hey, Teresa…have you seen Paige and Brandi?” I ask, just as Ethan catches up.
    “Hey, guys! They were just here to grab a bottle, and I believe they were headed toward the dance floor.” She looks at her wrist as if a watch is there. “It’s about that time anyways, if I know my daughter!” She smiles widely and offers up a glass of wine—in a real glass this time—which I happily accept.
    “Are you having a good time?” she asks, eyeing me as I take a big drink. She readies the bottle for another pour. Their pinot noir truly is a thing of beauty.
    “I’m having a great time!” I nearly shout, but not on purpose. “Jack took us over to Stan’s, and we had about a keg of craft beer. It was like I was in heaven. The guy had some great war stories too. I could’ve sat there all day.”
    “Oh god, Stan is something else. Only believe half of what you hear. He’s harmless though. Well, go find the girls, and here”—she fills my glass almost to the top—“take some for the road.” She lifts the bottle up for Ethan, but he waves her off. I lift the glass to Teresa in thanks and make my way to find Paige and Brandi with Ethan close behind.

 

     
    I ’m so drunk I don’t feel like I have control over my arms anymore, as if they’re completely separate from my body. The wine bottle I snagged from Mom is just moments from shattering into a hundred pieces all over the dance floor as Brandi and I make our way across it. Brandi periodically snatches my arm for balance which threatens to bring the both of us down.
    The band is playing a killer version of “Sweet Home Alabama,” and she and I are doing our best to make complete asses out of ourselves. When I see Xander heading toward us, my brain tells me to stop dancing like an idiot, but my body doesn’t respond. I continue gyrating and thrusting as if I popped right out of an 80’s music video. Instead of laughing at me, Xander hops onto the dance floor and starts doing the most ridiculous “lawn mower” move I’ve ever seen. He quickly shifts to a lassoing cowboy that draws laughter from some of the others on the