Before the Sunset (Cottonwood Cove, #4)

by Laura Pavlov

I didn’t need a relationship with a woman because I had Reese. And this year with her being gone… it had shown me just how much I needed her.

I couldn’t even begin to count how many times we’d watched those movies, and how many Halloweens we’d gone as Chewy and Hermione. So, I’d always called him Chewy for as long as I could remember, and he’d called me Miney

I’d visited her four times over the last year, and she’d come to my opening when Big Sky Ranch premiered. Her ex-fiancé, Carl “The Shit-Turd” Barley, hadn’t come one time to see her.

He’d been too busy pouting because she’d left, and then he’d grown impatient and jumped in the sack with the one woman he knew would hurt her the most.

“You needed me,” I said, kissing the top of her head. “We made a deal years ago. I wasn’t about to break it now.” She tipped her head back to look at me. “You call. I come. And vice versa.”

That girl was… a lot. She lured me to her house, saying she didn’t want anything but a one-and-done, and then she tried to tie me up while I was sleeping. I ran and took cover in the bathroom until you got there.”

I stroked her hair. Damn, it was good to see her. Reese was my girl in every sense of the word—minus the sex. She was the one I shared everything with and who I trusted with my deepest secrets. My best friend and my favorite person.

Sir…. Do you not hear your thoughts right now

She smelled like violet and amber. It had always been my favorite scent. Reese Murphy had always smelled like home.

“Well, you’ll never be without me. And I’d be the one who’d be lost. It’s been the best year of my life professionally, and I felt really—off. I didn’t like you being gone. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’m proud as hell of you, but I missed you like crazy, Miney.”

Because this girl had always completed me in a way I’d never understood.

No more grieving over a dude who doesn’t deserve your time or your tears.”

We’d been together so long that we’d lost all the excitement.

Not how that works 💀💀💀 (not that my 23 years of singleness provides any evidence to back that up but 💀💀)

Aside from the fact that he really was dating someone else, and my relationship was fake. “So, you want to use me?” “Totally,”

Finn’s presence had healed a lot of my hurt already.

“Have you ever been all sexed up?” Finn asked. “You guys didn’t seem to have a very exciting sex life.” “How the hell do you know?” “Because that last time I got those tequilas in you, you told me you’d never had an orgasm during sex. That doesn’t sound very impressive.” “That’s a me problem,”

Girl it is not a you problem (also how would you know? You’ve been with one guy 🤨) And you still want to get back with him 💀💀

“Whom we shall leave unnamed because the fact that she uses a three-name title is annoying as hell.”

Oh so thats like a thing

It was never that I didn’t want to marry Carl. I just wanted him to support my dreams the way I’ve supported his.” “And you think he’s done that?” Olivia asked, and she didn’t hide her irritation.

his smile was like sunshine on a cloudy day. He’d always had a way of grounding me and making me feel like everything was going to be okay.

Because Finn Reynolds really was my favorite person on the planet.

But I didn’t know she would taste so good. I liked the way her lips felt, the way they melded with mine.

It bothered me that he kept fucking with her head. He’d cut her off, had gotten fully into another relationship, and didn’t have a care in the world about Reese. Until he found out that she was coming home and that she was with me.

For a moment, I wondered what it would be like if she didn’t go back to Carl. And she stayed here with me. Forever.

but I couldn’t help but wonder if our lack of connection had something to do with me. Maybe I don’t appeal to guys in a sexy way. Maybe I’m safe or something like that.

Disgusting that a man could make her think that about herself

The boy who’d convinced me at the young age of five years old that if we left food out at night for our gummy worms, they would come to life while we were sleeping.

Thats adorable. I love childhood friends to lovers for little memories like this

Even when I was dating Carl our senior year, he’d still hold that spot for me, just in case I didn’t want to sit with my boyfriend that day.

I’d thought about it a lot since it had happened. The man could definitely kiss. His tongue slipped in, and my hands moved on instinct to his hair as I urged him closer. God. I’d never been kissed like this, not before Finn. A loud noise pulled me from my daze, and I realized Carl was clearing his throat, reminding us that he was there.

Maybe you were right about going to London. I shouldn’t have tried to hold you back. I own that. I wasn’t looking at things from your side. I was wrong.

“There’s more passion, physically, I guess. I don’t hold back with her because she’s more experienced than you were.

Boy

Did he really just admit that he has good sex with his new girlfriend while our sex life was vanilla at best?

Yes yes he did

“Yeah. Well, now we have new partners, Carl. And that was your doing.” His eyes widened. He wasn’t used to me being so confrontational. But the new me was done being a doormat.

“Not a fucking chance. He doesn’t deserve her. He never has. But after the way he treated her for chasing her own fucking dreams, I don’t know why she’s even trying to get him back.”

yourself. I don’t fucking leave, Miney. I’m not the one trying to make you into someone you’re not. I’ve always known who you are.”

Because even when I felt lost… he always felt like home.

He was trying. This was what I’d wanted. But I couldn’t get back to Finn and Gracie quickly enough.

I was tempted to look back to see if he was watching me, but for whatever reason, my gaze was locked on Finn and Gracie, who were waving at me and laughing. I had no desire to look back. And that was unexpected.

You can’t make this shit up. How the fuck is a pig playing video games?

Be honest, Finny. Have you never thought about being with Reese? Reese is in love with Carl. Hugh I like the way you avoided that question.

“You need to have sex,” she whispered as she fanned her face. I barked out a laugh. “Yeah. I do. But my girlfriend won’t cross the line with me, so I’m fucked.” “Your fake girlfriend.” “Potayto, potahto.

This was the line that made me read this book hehehe

Not that Finn wasn’t the greatest guy I knew, but I didn’t know that Maggie wasn’t a fan of Carl.

I always felt like he wanted you to be on board with his plan. It always seemed like it was his way or the highway.

I understood my family and Finn having an issue with Carl, but not someone who didn’t know all the details of what had gone down between us.

Maybe I’d been trying to show him that I was just as important as he was. It was true. It was Carl’s way or no way, and after a while, that had gotten old. I’d lost myself and my identity while doing everything for him, his way. There was more to this than I’d realized, and now, talking with Maggie, I was seeing things more clearly.

Finally!!! REVELATIONS!!!!! I do get why she needed to hear it from an outside perspective though

It’s been a while since I’ve seen you smile like this. It looks good on you.” She pushed to her feet. Hadn’t I always been happy?

I was pissed. Why was I keeping that to myself? Here he was, telling me that he missed me, and I knew what he’d been up to. “I can’t stop thinking about you.” “Really? Were you thinking about me when you were fucking Christy in a closet at the hospital?” His eyes widened, and his face paled. “How do you know about that?”

And I couldn’t wait to get home. To see Finn. And that thought alone terrified me.

or the fact that I wanted her in a way I’d never wanted anyone. And that was fucking scary.

Tasting and exploring my mouth like he was memorizing every side. Every angle. I’d never been kissed like this. Like nothing else mattered in the world.

like he was unwrapping a present he’d been waiting for his entire life.

I didn’t know when it happened, but I knew it now in my gut. I didn’t know if she’d ever feel the same about me. But I was going to do everything in my power to show her that we were meant to be together.

He’d always teased me that he’d get me a boob job as a wedding gift. I wasn’t actually sure if he’d meant it as a joke or if he was hoping I’d bite at the offer.

Ewwwww gross. Hiss boo tomato tomato