Tailgates and Whiskey

Chapter 1

Across the bar, obnoxious laughter sounded from a group of drunk men. She narrowed her brows, raising her glass of whiskey to her lips. One of the men, seemingly the soberest, eyed her before speaking to his friends.

She placed her glass down on the counter, watching him stumble over with disdain.

"Heyy, Names Cade. You're a pretty fine lookin' lady,'' He spoke, slurring his words. She frowned, taking a large gulp from her glass, sighing. "Could I get your number?" She stared at him, narrowing her eyes.

"What makes you think I'd want your number?" She snarled, leaning against the counter. He looked taken aback, taking a seat on the open chair beside her.

"Fair point...but because I could treat you right." He sat confidently, drunkenly grinning at her. She rolled her eyes, laying some cash on the counter beside her empty glass. She stood, going to leave before he grabbed her wrist.

"At least tell me your name, please?" He looked up at her with pleading eyes, taking his hand off her arm. She frowned.

"Hadley." She walked out the door, her western boots clicking on the flooring. He grinned, mumbling her name.

A small town in South-Eastern Alberta. Everybody knows each other, rodeos are popular. Hadley had lived there her entire life, and while she loved it, she was growing tired of it. She wanted something new, something more adventurous. The best thing about this town was the view of the mountains and the farmers' fields. Ever since she turned 20, she had been spending more and more time in bars. Finding love was supposed to be easy in a small town, but the cowboys made it difficult. Granted, every boy in this town was some sort of cowboy.

So, the following night she found herself sitting at the bar, a whiskey in hand. She sipped from it, listening to the old farmers share stories. As she listened, Cade slipped into the seat next to her, this time sober. He grinned, tapping her shoulder.

"Evening, Hadley." She stared at him, her mouth slightly parted.

"You again?" She grumbled, holding her head in her hand. He only grinned, tucking a strand of her short brunette hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, me again. I'll be honest with you, I think I fell in love with you last night." He revealed, leaning his elbow on the counter and grinning up at her stupidly. She slightly groaned, taking a long sip out of the glass.

"You were piss faced."

"So?"

"You can't just fall in love with someone you just met!"

"It's called love at first sight, darling." She slightly blushed when he called her darling, but rolled her eyes.

"Bullshit."

"Oh come on now," He slightly groaned. "Just give me a chance!"

"No."

"Please?"

"No!"

"Fine!" He frowned, slipping her a paper. "If you change your mind, call me." He left the bar, running his hand through his hair, huffing angrily. He would do anything he could to have her as his wife. Yeah, maybe he's thinking way too far ahead, but he found himself dreaming of a future with her; A farm of their own, one or two kids running around.

She stared at his number, sighing. She put it in her phone, making him a contact. She left the bar, climbing into her father's truck and driving home.

Throughout the entire night, she had that chat open, thinking about messaging him.

That entire night, his eyes never left his phone. He would be scrolling through social media, but his eyes always glanced towards the top of his screen, waiting. He had no clue when he fell asleep.

It was at three in the morning when she had fallen asleep, after tossing and turning nearly all night.

Part of her wanted to try it with him. She wanted love.

But she didn't want to stay.