The next morning some of us are doing better than others. Summer has huge bags under her eyes and Casey looks like she’s been run over by a car. Taylor won’t get out of bed and Charlotte is trying to figure out how to get her in a car since check out is in thirty minutes.

The rest of us seem to be just fine or slightly hungover. Ivy looks like she didn’t drink anything last night which is great considering she has to drive home. I don’t understand how the smallest girl here who drank just as much as the rest of us looks like she’s ready to run a marathon.

We all head to breakfast except for Charlotte who decides to drive Taylor and Casey home. We part ways after breakfast. Summer has to take Tacoma to the airport and I know Easton will be disappointed she isn’t going to stop in White Creek at all. Tacoma gives me her number and reminds me to be a dick to Easton and I’ll get whatever I want. Grace and Laney go with them so it’s me, Bella, and Ivy in the truck again.

I tell them I need to stop at the phone store to get a new phone and they don’t mind. As we’re walking back toward the hotel, we pass a boot store and Ivy stops in the middle of the sidewalk.

“Harper cannot leave Nashville until she buys a pair of boots,” she announces.

I look at Bella and she just shrugs so we head into the store.

I don’t even know where to go. They have tons of boots. Everywhere. How am I supposed to decide?

“I don’t know what color to get.”

“That’s easy, buy two pairs so you have more options.”

I look over at Ivy like she’s grown two heads. “I’m not really on the financial path to buy two pairs of boots.”

Ivy looks at me and taps her finger on her chin. “Well I have this great interior decorator who really could use a bonus and I think the best bonus gift is a pair of boots!”

I roll my eyes at her and start walking around the store. As I try on a few pairs, I can’t believe how comfortable they are. They also look super cute with my jeans and t-shirt. Maybe I am turning country.

“I like the blue ones and the brown ones,” Bella tells me.

“I disagree, I think she should get the red. But definitely yes to the brown.” Ivy tells Bella.

“Red is just so vibrant. Wait don’t you have red ones?”

“I do have red and they are my favorite. Hence why I think she should get red. They will be her favorite too.”

I look back and forth between the two of them as they argue over what colors I should buy. I tell the salesman to box up the brown ones and then decide on the navy pair over the blue and the red. They don’t even notice me get up as I walk to the cashier. I decide to wear the navy ones out of the store because they look too cute not to wear. Ivy finally realizes I have walked away and hurries to the register and shoves her credit card in the cashier’s face.

“These are on me.”

“No way. I’ll pay for one. You pay for the other.”

Ivy frowns and then agrees. As we walk back to the hotel to get the truck, I can’t help but look down at my feet and admire the boots.

“Those look good on you,” Bella tells me. “I bet Easton will love them.”

“I think Easton will love anything she wears. Especially that dress she had on last night.”

I glare at Ivy but know she can’t see my eyes through my sunglasses. So I do what normal people do, change the subject. “Oh, a souvenir store. I should run in and get something for my mom. She would probably be happy to see me in a big city. Maybe she’ll think I moved here and am husband hunting.”

Ivy cracks up and says, “We should find some random guy, take his picture, and send your mom a ton of info on him. Like that he’s a millionaire business tycoon here.”

“If only that would work, but she would Google him and probably have lunch scheduled with his parents before I even finished telling her about him.”

Bella looks at me confused. “Your mom would what?”

“Don’t worry about it. She’s crazy.”

I run in and out of the store quickly and pick up a few things for them.

The drive back is faster than the drive to Nashville. Probably because I spent this drive being social and laughing. As I collapse into my bed that night, I breathe a sigh of relief. My first one in months. I enjoyed this weekend. And I only thought about the mess of my life a few times. Which was a huge improvement over my daily pity parties.

I hope I get to spend more time with the girls while I am here. Their friendships felt solid and real. They accepted me no ifs, ands, or buts without even knowing me and it was freeing. As I start to doze off to sleep, I hear my phone buzz. I pick it up and see a text.

Easton: Night sweet cheeks, I’ll see you tomorrow.

I fall asleep with a smile on my face.