Page 100 of One Reckless Moment

“It’s okay to miss him and also need time for yourself. It’s also okay to love him,” she whispered into my ear.

I couldn’t meet her eyes and slipped into the car without another word.

The drive back to my apartment was quiet as I got lost in my thoughts. I pulled up Cash’s contact and stared at it. My thumb ghosted over the Call button, my heart pleading just to hear his voice. I locked my phone instead. I couldn’t run to him until I was ready. I couldn’t cave and ruin this experience for myself.

I owed it to myself to embrace this time so when I went back to Montana it was with a clear mind and an open heart. I had one month left before I knew I was going to have to face him…I just hoped I was ready.

45

WHAT IF SHE DOESN’T LOVE ME ANYMORE?

CASH

ONE MORE MONTH LATER

Someone kicked my bed, and I groaned as I pulled the blanket back over my head.

“Get up,” Walker grunted as he kicked my bed again.

“Stop waking me up like this. It’s my day off,” I mumbled, burrowing farther into my blankets.

“Not anymore, it isn’t. We have to get shit set up for the welcome party.”

I groaned again and flipped my blanket down. I knew Lottie and Owen’s wedding was this weekend, but I was nervous about what that meant.

I was nervous to see her.

Three months. I had gone three months without a single text or call from the love of my life, and it was agonizing. I knew Paige needed some time to figure her shit out, and I respected that, but I couldn’t act like I wasn’t a little panicked about what she discovered.

What if she met someone?

What if she wanted to move out there permanently?

What if our plan doesn’t work?

I had debated for months on what I was going to say if she told me she wanted to move to LA. The only conclusion I came to was that I would follow her anywhere she went just for the opportunity to have her in my life.

We were end game and hopefully she understood that.

I got out of bed and threw on some jeans and a tee. I slipped on my boots and a backward hat before following Walker out to the main house. Gigi was frantically running around the kitchen, cooking up a storm, while Axle and Reid were setting up tables in the backyard.

Tonight there would be a welcome party, followed by the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night, and the wedding the following day. It was a weird feeling knowing that, in only a few hours, Paige would be back in Ashton Creek.

The beginning of the summer felt like a lifetime ago.

Walker and I were tasked with setting up a bar in the backyard, and stringing twinkle lights around the outdoor space.

“How are you feeling?” Walker asked, without looking over at me.

When I got back to Ashton Creek two months ago, I was a mess. Opening up to the boys helped me process all of it, but I still felt this empty hole that Paige left in my heart.

“Fucking nervous,” I said with a soft laugh.

Walker grunted back at me and continued to hang the lights. To my surprise, the Brooks brothers were completely on board with my plan to win her back. It was a lot easier to work through what was happening with their support.

We worked in silence for a few hours; the entire time my stomach was in knots as the seconds counted down to the moment Paige would walk back into this house.

Axle walked up to us swinging a pair of keys. “You guys ready to head to the airport?”