Page 73 of One Reckless Moment

We gushed about Cash as I told them about the time he drove to my dorm to profess his love to me in secret. We swooned over Lottie and Owen’s adventures in LA, and Taylor was glowing as she talked about her boyfriend Johnny back in Seattle.

Every time Taylor talked about him, you’d think the man cured world hunger, but we’d only met him a handful of times since he rarely came to Ashton Creek with her. A few years ago we took a girls’ trip to Seattle to visit, but Johnny had been so consumed by his phone that he barely said ten words the entire weekend. Taylor deserved to be happy, and she claimed Johnny supported her so we all kept our mouths closed about it. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something about him didn’t sit right.

They met their freshman year at the University of Washington. He lived on the same dorm floor as her and Micah, and they’d been together ever since. Taylor insisted they were going to get married and have a large family, but it had been almost ten years and she still didn’t have a ring. I wondered if he was hesitant because she ultimately wanted to buy land in Ashton Creek. He made it clear his work would keep him in the city. Regardless, it was her life and she wanted to stay with him, so who were we to object?

The entire time we talked about our men, Micah stayed notably quiet. Every time I glanced over at her, I could see a sadness in her eyes I couldn’t quite identify. She’d been with her boyfriend Shane for four years. When we met him, he was charming—and hot as fuck in that tattooed military kind of way—but Micah acted more reserved around him. As if she was afraid to be too bold and confident in his presence. Lottie never mentioned it to me, so I wasn’t sure she’d noticed, but it was like Micah acted one way in Ashton Creek, and completely differently at home.

He was also mildly terrifying. The man’s thighs looked like they could crush a watermelon with minimal effort. He never did anything to make us uncomfortable, but there was an unexplainable feeling in my gut that made me not trust him.

I reached over to touch Micah’s hand as Lottie and Taylor swooned around blush and glitter in the bathroom. Micah jolted a little at my touch but her face quickly morphed into a warm smile.

She was always like that.

Always a little on edge when eyes weren’t on her.

Micah curled my hair and Taylor did my makeup as I sat in a velvet office chair in the middle of Taylor’s en suite bathroom. I felt like a disco cowgirl princess as they pampered me.

“Take a look, babe,” Micah said, pointing at the mirror.

I stared at myself in the full-length mirror that I’d stood in front of hundreds of times, and did a little twirl—I looked good.

I settled on a white fringe miniskirt paired with a silver tank and bedazzled knee-high cowgirl boots. The girls gave me a sash that said “Pip’s Last Rodeo” and a beautiful white flat brim hat with a queen playing card sewn into the ribbon and the initials PL branded next to it in the felt.

Paige Leonard.

I hadn’t let the thought enter my mind until now, and damn, if I didn’t love the way that sounded. Cash and I were legally married but I never once considered that I could change my name. It wasn’t a conversation we had because this was all for show.

It was too much paperwork to change it back once the divorce was final.

“Okay, one more surprise,” Lottie said, holding something behind her back. She lifted her arms and held out a cropped white jean jacket with fringe along the arm seams. On the back it said Leonard, embroidered in silver thread.

“Oh my god,” I gushed as I took the jacket in my hands. “Guys, this is way too much.” I felt the traitorous tears building behind my eyes.

“No, this”—Micah gestured to her pink tight mini dress—“is too much. That is just enough.”

I pulled them all into a group hug and squeezed as tight as I could.

“I love you guys so much,” I said, willing myself not to cry.

“We love you more,” Lottie said with a sniff.

“Nope.” Taylor breathed deeply. “No tears.”

“You’re all killing me. Let’s go get drunk and dance our asses off.” Micah laughed as he took my hand and dragged me down the stairs.

We sauntered into the Iron Saddle Saloon and cheered as we made our way to a table near the dance floor that was marked as Reserved. I burst into laughter because this was not the type of establishment that reserved tables, but I was positive Lottie or Taylor charmed their way into convincing the bartender to mark the table with the little plastic sign.

A country band was playing on the small stage in the corner as Lottie grabbed my hand and dragged me onto the dance floor. We twirled and sang along with the band until Micah showed up next to us with tequila shots.

“Drink up!” she shouted as we grabbed the small glasses off her tray. We threw them back and raised our arms in the air with a shout. We were a complete country bachelorette cliché, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Lottie and Owen did the whole Vegas thing, but that would never be something I’d want. This—a small night surrounded by my best friends—was all I’d ever dreamed of.

The pattern of shots and dancing continued until my feet were burning and I had to sit down. I plopped next to Lottie at our table and swung an arm around her shoulders.

“I’m so happy you love me again,” I said, swaying a little in my seat.

“I always loved you, babe.” She laughed and poked at my cheek.

“This was the bestest surprise ever.” I giggled. “And I only partially mean the bachelorette party. The best surprise of the night is seeing Micah dressed like that.” I pointed to where Micah stood at the bar as a cackle rose from my chest.