Page 59 of One Reckless Moment

“Cool, so then why even talk to me about it? Lottie is perfect and always right, while I am clearly manic and being stupid. Great conversation. So glad we cleared the air.” I turned to walk away, but Reid jogged to step in front of me.

“Don’t play that shit with me, P. I’m not taking Lo’s side, okay? I just don’t like to see you fighting.”

I avoided eye contact as the pressure started building behind my eyes. I was so sick of crying and causing a scene. It really wasn’t helping my argument that I wasn’t in the middle of a mental crisis.

“Lottie and my fighting is between Lottie and me. The rest of the family doesn’t need to be involved,” I said harshly. I knew I was being cold, but I was fed up with my siblings tiptoeing around Lottie’s feelings and not caring about mine.

“It is, but it also hurts to hear you say we all don’t care about you.”

“Ugh, it’s not that I think no one loves me, okay? It’s just that for years I have existed in Lottie’s shadow. Now that I’m in the spotlight, everyone is mad at me. I didn’t think it would be such a huge deal.” I shrugged.

That wasn’t exactly true. I knew everyone would get mad, but that was only because the guy I spontaneously married was Cash. If it was some other random man, the reaction wouldn’t be the same.

“Lottie also said hurtful things about Cash, and I’m going to defend him. He’s my husband,” I added, not masking my hurt.

Reid perked up at that. “What did she say?”

I looked at my feet, embarrassed to repeat the words that cut through me.

“She said he was a manwhore who didn’t deserve me.”

Reid let out a slow whistle. “She was wrong about that.”

“She was?” I risked a glance at his face.

“Look, Cash has made some decisions I don’t agree with, but that doesn’t make him a bad man who doesn’t deserve you. For years he watched out for you. He took care of you in silence, and now it’s clear why. Sure, y’all tortured each other with words, but his actions? That is what makes him a good man.”

“Then why did Walker punch him?”

“Because he should have told us about you guys before it got to this point. Were we upset when we found out? Yes. But it’s starting to sink in that this is real. If he’s who makes you happy, then who are we to stand in your way?”

I ran into Reid’s chest and wrapped my arms around him.

“I really needed to hear that,” I whispered.

“We just want you to be happy. We aren’t going to stop that if this is what you choose.”

“Lottie doesn’t share those same feelings,” I said into his chest.

“She’ll come around.”

But what if she never did?

I didn’t know if I could exist in a world where Lottie wasn’t my best friend. She was starting a new life so I guess the idea was more of a reality than I wanted to admit. People naturally drift apart as they aged which was a hard pill to swallow. You grew up and got married and started new families. It was a concept I knew was coming one day, but it felt incredibly sudden.

“Okay, enough tears and girly drama. I actually came over here to ask if you wanted in on this new arrival we’re about to release into the ring.”

I jumped off his chest with the biggest smile on my face. “What’s the bet?”

Reid swung an arm around my shoulders and started guiding me to the training paddock where I could already hear the cheering.

“I was hoping you’d ask.”

27

HEART ATTACKS AND WILD HORSES

CASH