“Oh, don’t you worry. I’m going to force that man to fucking communicate with me as soon as he gets back.”
“What’s this I’m hearing?” Jude questioned, joining us with Charli held to his chest. “Do I need to go break some fucking legs?”
“I think she’s got this one handled.” Romy patted his arm.
“Do you want to dance with us, Mama?” he asked, bouncing a sleepy baby Charli.
Romy’s eyes lit up, her face going soft and happy. “Always,” she said, taking his arm and heading back to the dance floor.God, I wanted that. As I glanced out at the dance floor, watching Sage enjoying her dance more than she’d ever admit, and seeing Jude’s little family join them, I knew I wanted all of this with Reed. But everything that came with it honestly scared the shit out of me.
So much for “being right back.”I don’t know what provoked me, but once I got Penn to bed, I grabbed the six-pack of beer I’d swiped from Jude’s house and headed out to the backyard. There was no way in hell I was going to sit in the quiet house while she slept and I waited for Reed to come home. I needed to blow off some steam, and the champagne had fallen flat, not even taking the edge off. My mind was spiraling and my body had to fucking move. Otherwise, I was going to scream.
A roping dummy sat in the yard, and rope hung from the nearby hitching post. I cracked open a can, sipped down the foam, and set it on the picnic table. One of the upgrades Jude made to the double-wide property was putting in grass and a play area for Penn. There was even a paddock, ready for Penn’s riding lessons. I was already making plans to teach her to circle barrels.
Gathering a rope in my hands, I ran it out until I had the lasso in my grip. Swinging it above my head, I threw it at the dummy horns. The loop landed and I pulled tight, lassoing the bull just like my daddy taught me. I loosened the rope, yanking it back into my grasp. Resting my hand on my hip, I picked up my beer to take another sip before lassoing again.
The back screen door swung open behind me, the hinges creaking in the summer night. I chanced a glance over my shoulder, knowing it would be him. I picked up the can,chugging a few gulps. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, watching the lipstick smear across it.
“Shit, so much for waterproof makeup,” I grumbled to myself.
I felt the air shift as Reed stepped up beside me. In my periphery, his head was bowed beneath his cowboy hat, and his hands were stuffed into his pockets.
I went again, lassoing the dummy horns like it was second nature.
“You were gone awhile,” I said matter-of-factly. I tried to hold it back, wanting to hear him out, but I couldn’t help the venom dripping in every syllable.
“I know, I’m sorry. Did Penn go down okay?” he asked sheepishly.
We still hadn’t looked at each other.
“She went down fine. I had to lie down with her for a little bit while she was falling asleep. She misses her mom and dad.” I knew my words stung, but he needed to hear them.
Reed grimaced. “I know. I hope this won’t be forever. We’re just going through a transition right now.”
I spun on him. “So this is just a transition? For how long? Until Elise gets dumped by Junior? Until you decide you want your family back?”
Reed’s eyes were smoldering beneath his hat brim. “That’s not what I meant. I meant, transitioning into being a single parent, transitioning Penn into this new arrangement. Trying to figure out this shit with her mom.”
I nodded, running my tongue over my teeth. “Sounds like you need some time to figure out your shit, and all I’ve been is a distraction. You should be focusing your energy on Penn and your transition into single fatherhood, not on me. She needs her dad right now.”
Taking another swig of beer, I set down my empty can and walked over to put the rope back on the hitching post.
I turned to see Reed still standing there, his dark eyes boring into me, his jaw tight and his chest heaving. I froze. He looked like a bull ready to charge. He took long strides across the yard, heading toward me. My heart began to pound. One more step and he was stepping into me, his hand wrapping around my neck and pushing me back against the hitching post.
“Sweetheart, you’re the one thing I don’t need to fucking figure out.”
His mouth crashed down on mine, his teeth nipping on my bottom lip, begging me to open for him. I savored his taste for only a second before pushing as hard as I could on his chest to get him off me.
“Then why the fuck did you go to her? Why did you fucking go to her and leave me during a family wedding? Do you know how embarrassed I was? Or should I say how embarrassed I am …again? It’s bullshit!”
His brow furrowed. “I know. I’m so sorry, Lina. Fuck, that’s the last thing I wanted. I didn’t mean to embarrass you, to leave in the middle of Jude and Romy’s wedding. Should I expect a visit from Jude soon?” His words were serious, his last question edged with sarcasm in his attempt to break the tension.
“No, I think you showed everyone tonight that they aren’t worth your time.” I knew full well no one thought that, but I was hurt—and hurt people hurt people.
He stepped back as if I’d just slapped him. “That’s not fair. I had to deal?—”
“What? What did you have to deal with that was so important that it had to happen right at that moment? Is this going to happen every time your wife––”
“Ex.”
