luke grabbed libby by her arms to get her to stop. she took a step back and looked at him.

"libby...i..." luke looked away as libby began sobbing.

i walked up and took her in my arms. i had no idea if libby was more upset by what luke had done to me or if he had done something to her.

"lib, it's okay, honey. he didn't even hit me that hard." i glanced over to lex, who was still holding colt back.

"you want a shot, too?" i asked him.

he walked up to me and looked me in the eyes. "i need to talk to you...alone."

i nodded my head and kissed libby on the forehead. "i'll be right back, honey. please don't worry. i'm okay."

libby nodded her head and stood there as colt and i walked away from everyone. we headed to the barn. when we stopped, i turned to face him. he stood there and stared at me.

"if you're gonna hit me, colt, just do it."

he shook his head. "i'm not hotheaded like luke. i just want to know one thing. do you truly love her, will?"

i smiled and nodded my head. "i love her more than anything, colt. she's my reason for breathing."

he slowly nodded. "did you make it special for her?"

"yes. at least, i hope i did."

"all right. i just want you to know, i love you like a brother. you're my best friend, will. but if you ever hurt her, i'll hurt you."

"i won't, colt. i promise you, i'll never hurt her."

colt stuck out his hand, and we shook. he went to turn, and i grabbed his arm.

"hey, i have something to say to you."

he gave me a crooked-ass grin. "what's that?"

"you hurt lauren, i'll hurt you."

his smile faded. he turned and walked back toward everyone.

libby and lex both walked up to me.

lex went right into my arms and whispered, "what did he say?"

"he told me that if i ever hurt you, he'd hurt me."

she giggled. "i'm so sorry about luke."

i gently pushed her back from me, so i could look her in the face. "i would have done the same thing."

i held out my arm for libby, and she walked up next to lex. i hugged them both. when i looked up at luke, i could see the pain in his eyes. i wasn't sure if it had more to do with lex and him hitting me or with libby breaking down and crying. if he cared at all about libby like i did lex, i knew that libby's tears had probably caused him pain.

libby reached up and kissed my cheek. "i love you, will."

i smiled as i kissed her back on her cheek. "i love you, too, lib."

she turned and started to head to the house. luke looked like he was going to say something to her, but he stopped. she walked right by him and followed grace and lauren into the house.

luke ran his hands down his face and glanced back at me. "i'm going to bed. you working on the fence tomorrow?"

i nodded my head. "yeah."

"fine. be here at six in the morning, or we're leaving without you." he turned and stormed off into the house.

lex let out a sigh as she watched him. she turned to me and said, "i'm so sorry. he had no right-"

i pulled her to me and kissed her. she wrapped her arms around my neck and let out a sweet moan.

"thank you for tonight, lex."

she grinned from ear to ear. "thank you. thank you for my promise ring and for your promise. thank you for making it the most amazing night of my life."

"let's just hope your dad never finds out!"

we both started laughing.

colt walked back out. "alex, you ready to go home?"

lex looked up at me and gave me a weak smile. "i love you, will."

i leaned down and kissed her gently. "i love you, too, lex."

lex turned and made her way over to colt's truck. she paused for a second to turn back and look at me. she waved and blew me a kiss, and i smiled and waved back. i watched as colt's truck drove down the driveway.

"are you okay?"

i nodded my head and turned to face my sister. "yeah. you ready to go home, lib? mom and dad decided to come home early."

the look on libby's face turned to horror. she slowly moved her hands up and covered her mouth. "they didn't..."

i laughed. "nah, but they knew. lex and i were in the kitchen when they walked in."

libby closed her eyes. "shit, will. mom texted me earlier and asked what we were doing. i said we were all watching movies at luke's. she asked if you were here, and i said yes. will, i'm so sorry. we're both going to get in trouble now."