Page 54 of One Reckless Moment

Taylor laughed at that, but Lottie’s face remained serious as she asked, “When did you get married?”

This was it. This was the moment that the full truth was actually going to break my sister’s heart.

“In Vegas,” I whispered.

“What?” Lottie sputtered as she blinked in surprise.

Micah and Taylor whipped their heads to me. Everyone had assumed we went to a courthouse and got married in front of a judge in some hick town on our rodeo tour, but no one had actually asked us where we tied the knot.

“We got married in Vegas,” I said with a little more confidence because it was one of the only truths I had.

Micah placed four shot glasses on the counter and uncorked the bottle of gin, pouring up the shots and shoving them in front of us. She read the explosive tension in the room and knew this conversation was going to need something strong.

I picked mine up quickly and threw it back. I needed all the courage I could get.

Lottie took her shot and gestured for another, taking it before placing the glass down and looking at me with a terrifying anger in her eyes. I wanted to shrink away and say it was all a lie. I wanted to save our relationship that was quickly deteriorating in front of my eyes.

“Which night in Vegas?” Her voice was so quiet it was practically lethal.

I swallowed hard. “The first night.”

“You’ve got to me fucking kidding me.” She laughed maniacally. “The night you ditched us to hook up with a stranger, you actually married Cash?”

I nodded as she hit the nail on the head.

Lottie laughed harder, but there was no joy behind it. I think she might’ve been having a nervous break.

“There was a creepy guy at the club who tried to drag me away. I was upset so I called Cash. We went out to a country bar and got consumed by the moment. It wasn’t premeditated, I promise.” I was pleading, throwing my truths out there like a lifeline.

She wouldn’t look at me. My words about it being a spontaneous decision weren’t being heard through the roaring anger brewing inside of her.

“I fucking defended you. I told everyone that you were just young and got lost in the moment by recklessly getting married, but the entire time you were only thinking about yourself. Just like you always do.”

“That’s not true. It was one reckless moment. That doesn’t define who I am.” I could feel the tears forming behind my eyes.

“Oh? It doesn’t? You didn’t disappear during my bachelorette party to marry your secret boyfriend and then lie about it?”

“I mean, I did, but⁠—”

“No”—Lottie held up her hand—“no more fucking excuses. I thought we told each other everything.”

“Like you told me about Owen last summer?” I snapped back at her.

“That was different!” Lottie shouted as she stood, picking up her drink.

“Please, tell me how that was different?”

“Owen and I weren’t dating. We were going to be here for a month and then break up. None of it was real.”

“And if I came to you and said I was dating Cash, what would you have said?”

Taylor and Micah remained silent as their eyes bounced between Lottie and me at a rapid pace like they were watching a tennis match.

“I would’ve said I love him but he’s a fucking manwhore who tortured you for years. He doesn’t deserve you.”

“Exactly. So why would I say anything? No one would understand.”

“I would have learned to be okay with it.”