Page 68 of One Reckless Moment

I sank down on the sectional in the middle of the room and crossed my arms tighter. If we were going to have it out, I wasn’t starting the conversation. Lottie started pacing the room with her hands on her hips.

“Can you just say something so we can get the fuck out of here?” Lottie said in a harsh tone.

“Me?” I placed my palm on my chest and snorted.

“Well, I don’t know what to say.” She stormed to the kitchen and tore open the fridge. “Oh, thank god,” she muttered before pulling out a bottle of wine. She uncorked it and took a swig before placing it back onto the counter. “I’ve never been more grateful that our family drinks way too much.”

“Your new family probably doesn’t,” I muttered under my breath, my gaze locked on the ugly floral area rug beneath my feet.

“What was that?”

The fire in my chest was threatening to make me burst. I wasn’t normally afraid to speak my mind, but Lottie intimidated me—as much as I hated to admit it. Normally, I never stood down from a fight, and I didn’t intend to start now.

“I said, your new family probably doesn’t.” My voice was louder and had a bite to it.

“What the fuck is your beef with the Kellys?”

“I don’t have beef with the Kellys. I love the Kellys.” I did love them. I’d had nothing but positive interactions with them in the last year that Owen and Lottie had been together.

“Okay, then what is with the comments?” Lottie asked.

“You still don’t even get it.” I moved to the back door in frustration. I grabbed the handle to unlock it, but Cash showed up on the other side of the door.

“Don’t even think about it,” he said, blocking the locked door.

“She’s unreasonable,” I barked at him.

“I’m unreasonable?” Lottie laughed behind me. “You’re the one who stormed out the other night like a child.”

I whirled around. “I removed myself because I was over being insulted and steamrolled by you.”

“I wasn’t steamrolling you!” she shouted.

“You called my husband a manwhore!” I shouted back.

“You got married during my bachelorette weekend!”

“You called me selfish!”

“You said I didn’t care!”

“You left me behind.” My voice lowered to a whisper as I dropped my eyes.

Lottie paused and looked at me with sadness etched into her face. “I didn’t leave you behind, P.”

I could feel the pressure building behind my eyes but I refused to cry.

“You did.”

“I’m sorry I freaked out about Cash, okay? I was in shock, and you never even hinted that you and Cash were together.”

“You knew I was in love with him,” I said, wiping at a stray tear.

“Sure, I knew you had a crush, but you guys tortured each other. Then suddenly you were married. I was thrown off and hurt.”

“You never asked me,” I pushed.

Lottie laughed. “You know, your whole argument is that you think I have this whole new life that I left you out of, but in reality you’re the one who had an entire life you left me out of.”