Page 37 of Holding Hope

“Is that like a nickname or something?”

Her eyes were wide, hungry for embarrassing details about me—of course she was.

And naturally, the boys were more than willing to indulge her.

“Annie, short for Annaliese—” Colton began, but I cut him off.

“I was named after my mother, and I am proud of that, alright.”

I couldn’t hide the laughter in my voice as my brother’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

“True,” he said, “but we never called you Annie because you were named after Mama.”

He raised his brows, lips curling beneath his mustache.

“Annie Oakley.”

“Annie Oakley!” Ethan shouted, throwing his arms up. Avalon looked around, confusion painted across her face.

“Who the hell is Annie Oakley?”

Silence fell over the table like someone had hit pause on a remote.

Three pairs of eyes turned toward her. Avalon’s widened. Ethan slowly lowered his arms, leaned forward, and placed his large hands on the table.

“Annie Oakley? Are you being serious right now?”

When Avalon didn’t respond, he sat back dramatically, hand over his heart.

“Oh, Avalon, you’re breaking my heart here, girl. Do you really not know—she doesn’t know.”

Avalon let out a nervous laugh, spinning the rings on her fingers. “Was I supposed to know who she is—or was?”

“Is,” Colton corrected. “Her influence still lives on today.”

“Okay, but she died over a hundred years ago,” I said, trying to ease the pressure on Avalon. She already looked out of place, even with the cowboy hat she’d bought to blend in. “You can’t fault her for not knowing someone who didn’t have much influence in her world. She is from California, after all.”

I meant it sympathetically, but the look on Avalon’s face told me I’d missed the mark.

“You say ‘she’s from California’ like that’s a bad thing,” she huffed. “We’re not all bad out there.”

Colton took a sip of water and cocked a brow. “Well, there are more bad ones than good—at least in my personal experience.”

“Oh, and you’ve had personal experiences with everyone in California, or just the buckle bunnies?” Avalon shot back.

Beside her, Ethan snorted, choking on his water.

“I’m sorry,” he wheezed, “you have to admit that was pretty fucking funny.”

Colton shook his head, a smile ghosting his lips. He didn’t argue—because he knew she was right. We all did.

My brother had a reputation that stretched far beyond being one of the best bull riders this side of the Mississippi. He left a trail of broken hearts behind him. It was one of the reasons I dreaded talking to my best friend about his proposal. I loved my brother, but I couldn’t always defend him—and I couldn’t let her throw away everything she wanted just for him.

Colton had always been good-looking, even before the money and fame. Girls chased him everywhere, and he made each one feel like she was the most important person in the world.

That was the problem. They believed he loved them. Until they woke up alone.

I’d always felt bad for the girls he left behind—but I never understood their pain until it happened to me.