Samantha
We made our way back to the car after a leisurely stroll through the streets of Silver Ridge. Maya and Lily were still buzzing with excitement from their visit to Pine and Vine, chattering about everything from the food to Nonna Maria's warm welcome. It brought me joy to see how much they seemed to enjoy themselves.
As we piled into the Escalade, I spied on Ethan. He looked content, a small smile playing on his lips as he listened to Maya and Lily's animated conversation.
He should smile all the time…
The drive back to the house was filled with lighthearted banter. Victoria and I tossed around ideas for the evening—maybe indulge in a fancy dinner first and then head out? That probably wouldn't work. It would be hard for them to get to one of the elite dining experiences and get to the Rusty Spur. Besides, we would need to get Ethan and the girls some upscale clothes.
I will wait until tomorrow to tell Ethan that.
As soon as we got back to the house, Ethan mentioned he needed to head out again. "I'm going to check on James and pick up some stuff for dinner," he said, his tone casual, but there was a hint of something deeper in his eyes—maybe a need for some space or just the usual desire to keep everything running smoothly.
"Okay," I replied, trying not to read too much into it. "We'll be here when you get back."
He nodded and headed out, leaving me standing in the living room with Victoria and the girls. As soon as the door closed behind him, I felt a flutter of nerves start to build in my stomach. Tonight. I was going to spend the evening with Ethan in a setting that felt much more intimate than anything we'd done so far.
And then it hit me—I had no idea what I was going to wear.
"Okay, I need to figure this out," I muttered to myself as I headed to my room. My friends had always been my go-to when it came to wardrobe crises, so I quickly pulled out my phone and started typing a message.
Samantha: Guys, I need help. I'm going dancing tonight with Ethan at the new Cowboy Bar here in town. Fashion emergency.
The response was almost immediate.
Olivia: Ooh, dancing with Ethan? Jealous!
Grace: Spill the tea, girl. How did this come about?
Natalie: And more importantly, what are your intentions with this mountain man? 😏 . You've seen Footloose. You know that dance leads to sex right?
I quickly typed out the details, telling them about Luca's invitation and how I'd roped Ethan into coming along. But as I tried to describe my intentions, I found myself hesitating. What were my intentions?
I pushed those thoughts aside for now and focused on the task at hand—finding the perfect outfit. I needed something that said "country," but also "sexy." Something that would make me feel confident, but still fit in at a place like The Rusty Spur.
I rifled through my closet, pulling out a few options and laying them on the bed. There was a cute sundress with a floral pattern that could work, but it felt too sweet. Then there was the black off-the-shoulder top and denim skirt combo—definitely more on the flirty side, but maybe a little too confining. It was really tight around my legs, and I wanted to be able to move. Finally, my eyes landed on a pair of dark skinny jeans and a fitted plaid shirt. I paired it with a wide leather belt, and for the finishing touch, my favorite pair of brown cowboy boots.
"Perfect," I whispered to myself, holding the outfit up to the mirror. It was the right mix of country and sexy, with just enough edge to keep it interesting. I quickly put it on and admired the way the jeans hugged my butt and the shirt accentuated my waist. The boots added just the right amount of height, and I couldn't help but feel a little thrill of anticipation.
I snapped a quick selfie in the mirror and sent it to the group chat.
Samantha: What do you think?
The responses came in a flurry.
Olivia: Damn, girl! You look crazy hot. 🔥
Grace: It's ridiculous how hot you look. I am soooo jealous. Dancing? Country? A mysterious mountain man? I want to go! 😉
Natalie: Yeehaw, cowgirl! You are definitely going to turn some heads tonight.
I giggled at their reactions, feeling my nerves settle just a little bit. This was going to be fun. It didn't have to be anything more than that.
I looked at myself in the mirror one last time—maybe I should go with something a bit more revealing.
Maya and Lily burst into the room just as I was adjusting the fit of my outfit. Their eyes widened with excitement when they saw me, and I could practically feel their energy bubbling over.
"Wow, you look amazing!" Lily exclaimed, her voice filled with awe.
"Yeah, you look like you're ready to rock that dance floor!" Maya added, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
I smiled, feeling a warm rush of affection for the girls. "Thanks, girls. I'm glad you like it. But you know what? I think it needs a little something extra."
Maya tilted her head, considering the outfit. "Maybe a hat? Like one of those cool, wide-brimmed ones that cowgirls wear?"
Lily nodded eagerly. "Yes! That would totally complete the look!"
I chuckled at their enthusiasm. "You know, I think you're right. A hat would be perfect."
The girls immediately started searching through the closet, their excitement contagious. Within moments, they found a stylish, dark brown hat that complemented the outfit perfectly. I tried it on, and the girls' faces lit up.
"Now you look like a real cowgirl!" Maya declared, clapping her hands together.
Lily grinned, her eyes shining. "You're going to knock everyone's socks off tonight!"
We spent the next few minutes fussing over the outfit, adjusting the hat, and deciding on the right accessories. The girls were having a blast, offering suggestions and helping me with every little detail. It was fun, almost like a mini fashion show, and I loved how involved they were.
As we were finishing up, Maya suddenly asked, "Can we help with your makeup? We've been practicing, and we want to make sure you look perfect!"
I hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Alright, but just a little bit. I don't want to overdo it."
The girls giggled with excitement and immediately got to work. They were surprisingly careful and precise, and I was impressed by how much they'd learned. They applied a bit of eyeshadow, some blush, and a touch of lip gloss—just enough to enhance the look without making it too heavy.
When they were done, they stepped back to admire their work, their faces beaming with pride.
"You look gorgeous, Samantha!" Lily said, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
Maya nodded in agreement. "You're going to be the star of the night!"
I looked at myself in the mirror, and I had to admit, they'd done a fantastic job. I felt confident, sexy, and ready for whatever the night had in store.
As the girls continued to admire their handiwork, Lily suddenly blurted out, "So, are you going to kiss Dad again?"
I froze, caught off guard by the question. "What?" I stammered, trying to play it cool, but my cheeks were already heating up.
Maya giggled, nudging her sister. "Yeah, you kissed him in the jewelry shop; Daddy was speechless. It was so cute!"
I bit my lip, unsure of how to respond. "Well, that was just a little thank-you kiss," I explained, hoping to downplay the moment. "It wasn't a big deal."
Lily looked unconvinced. "But you like him, right? Maybe you should kiss him again tonight."
Maya nodded eagerly. "Yes! It could be so romantic!"
My face flustered, and I could feel it heating up. "You two are just too much," I said, shaking my head. "But I don't think kissing your dad is on the agenda for tonight. We're just going to have some fun and dance."
The girls exchanged knowing looks, clearly not buying my casual dismissal.
"Well, if you do kiss him," Maya said with a sly grin, "just make sure it's a really good one. With lots of tongue."
"Maya!" I exclaimed.
Lily giggled. "Eh. Yuck. Tongue? That is so gross!"
I laughed along with them, even though my heart was racing at the thought. "Alright, you two troublemakers. Let's focus on making sure I look good for this dance. No more talk about kissing, okay?"
The girls giggled again but nodded in agreement. I took one last look in the mirror. The outfit, the hat, the makeup—it all came together perfectly. I felt a flutter of nervous excitement in my stomach, but it was mixed with anticipation.
Tonight was going to be interesting, that was for sure.
After the laughter died down and the girls seemed satisfied with the makeup and outfit, I had an idea. "Hey, how about we take some pictures before we go? You two did such a great job helping me get ready; we should document it!"
Lily and Maya's eyes lit up at the suggestion, and they immediately started jumping up and down with excitement. "Yes! Let's take pictures!" Maya exclaimed, grabbing my phone off the dresser.
Lily nodded eagerly, already positioning herself next to me. "We need to get some good ones! Can we take a selfie first?"
I laughed at their enthusiasm. "Of course! Come here, let's make sure we get the hat in the shot."
We huddled together, the three of us, and I held the phone up, trying to get the best angle. The first few pictures were classic selfies—smiling, laughing, even a few silly faces thrown in for good measure. But soon, the girls got more creative.
"Let's do one where we're pretending to be supermodels!" Lily suggested, striking a dramatic pose.
"Yeah, like we're on the cover of a magazine!" Maya added, copying her sister's pose with a serious expression.
I played along, trying my best to channel my old modeling days, though I couldn't help but laugh at the exaggerated expressions on the girls' faces. We took a few more shots, each one more ridiculous and fun than the last.
"These are going to turn out so good!" Lily said, scrolling through the photos with a big smile on her face. Then she frowned. It was so abrupt I didn't know what to say.
"Maya, should we send some to Mom?"
I paused, taken aback by the suggestion. I hadn't expected them to want to share these pictures with their mom. The desire to share was telling. Lily, at least, still wanted to connect with their mom, despite everything that had happened.
Maya was troubled. It was easy to tell.
"Alright," I agreed, giving them a supportive smile. "Pick a couple of your favorites, and we'll send them to her."
Lily and Maya quickly selected a few of the photos, choosing ones where we all looked particularly happy. They even added a little message, something simple and sweet: "Getting ready for a fun night!"
I watched as they sent the pictures off, feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was glad they still felt connected enough to want to share these moments with their mother. On the other hand, I couldn't help but wonder what Sarah would think when she saw them—me, with the girls, looking so comfortable together. But I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the happiness on the girls' faces.
Just as we finished up, my phone buzzed with a series of notifications. I glanced down and saw that the Harpies had texted me.
Grace: OMG, Sam, your pics with the girls are blowing up on social media! People are loving them!
Olivia: Seriously, it's like the cutest thing ever. Who knew you had such a natural mom vibe? 😉
Natalie: They're adorable. But you know what that means… everyone's going to be talking about how you're settling down now.
I checked Instagram. It was true—the pictures I'd posted earlier with Lily and Maya had already gotten a lot of attention, but I hadn't expected them to blow up like this.
Samantha: What can I say? The girls are just that cute. 😜
Grace: So, are you ready for tonight? What's the plan with Mr. Ruggedly Handsome?
Olivia: Yeah, are you going to make a move, or are we going to be stuck living vicariously through your dance pics?
Natalie: Also, more pics of you in that outfit, please. We need to see the whole look!
For just a moment, I felt a bit of anxiety creeping in. We are just dancing. No big deal. Ethan doesn't have any expectations.
Samantha: I'm taking it slow, okay? But I'll definitely keep you all updated. 😊
I snapped a few more pictures of my outfit, posing playfully in the mirror with the hat tipped just so, and sent them to the Harpies.
Olivia: Well, Hello there Nebraska. 🔥
Grace: He's not going to know what hit him. Seriously, you look amazing!
Natalie: If he doesn't fall head over heels tonight, there's something wrong with him.
My phone continued to buzz.
Olivia: Sam, you look absolutely stunning! Seriously, that outfit is killer! But… you know what would make it even better?
I grinned, already anticipating their playful suggestions.
Samantha: What do you have in mind, Liv?
Grace: You know, just a little something to spice it up! How about popping open a few of those buttons on your shirt? We all know how amazing your rack is!
Natalie: Totally agree! It adds that effortless, I'm-just-here-to-have-a-good-time vibe. I also think you tie the bottom off to expose your midriff. Your stomach you're your rank. He won't be able to resist. You'll look even more amazing!
These girls were always full of ideas. That seemed a bit bold.
Samantha: You think? I don't want to overdo it.
Olivia: Trust us, Sam. Just a couple of buttons—it'll look perfect. You'll be the hottest one at the bar, guaranteed!
Grace: Exactly! It's all about the little details. You've got this, girl!
Taking a deep breath, I turned to the mirror and carefully undid the top two buttons of my shirt. It was a small change, but it made a surprising difference. The outfit still looked classy and put-together, but with a touch of playful charm that I had to admit, I liked.
I sent another picture to the Harpies, showing off the updated look. "Alright, how's this?"
Their responses were instant.
Natalie: YES!!! That's it, Sam! You look gorgeous!
Olivia: 🔥🔥🔥
Grace: Now go out there and have some fun! And don't forget to tell us all the details later!
Samantha: You guys are the best. I'll let you know how it goes!
Olivia: And don't forget to take more pictures! We want to see how the night unfolds!
Grace: "And remember, just be yourself!"
With that final boost of confidence, I took a deep breath and turned away from the mirror, ready to face the night ahead. The Harpies were right—tonight was about having fun. Don't overthink it.