Page 80 of One Reckless Moment

“No. I wouldn’t have fired him,” he said sternly. “Cash!”

Cash’s head snapped in our direction and his eyes went wide. My dad gestured for him to join us. Cash downed his drink before walking over like a timid animal with his tail between his legs.

“Sir.” He nodded as he wrapped an arm around my waist like a lifeline.

“I think you both need to hear this,” my dad started. “I love you both so much. I might not have predicted this is how you would get together, but I couldn’t be happier for you. I’ve watched you both grow up on this ranch, and I’d like to think you both have a good head on your shoulders. Marriage is tough, but I have faith you guys will make it.”

Cash’s jaw dropped. “Thank you, sir.”

“If you treat my daughter the way I know you will, you have my blessing.”

I could feel the tears falling before it registered that I was crying. I wrapped my arms tightly around my dad’s waist.

“I love you, Dad,” I said into his chest.

“I love you too, sweet pea.”

Cash stuck his hand out and my dad shook it firmly.

“Go enjoy your party tonight, and tomorrow let the moment sink in. It only happens once and you’re going to want to remember it.”

I smiled through the ache in my heart.

It only happens once…unless you recklessly get married in Vegas to the boy you’ve been madly in love with for over a decade.

Cash pulled me out of my thoughts as he dragged me over to sit at one of the empty tables. He sank down into a chair and gestured for me to sit on his lap.

Someone cleared their throat into a microphone, drawing the attention of everyone to where Tweety stood with a sheepish smile.

“Hey, everyone. Buck and I know that this has all been a little weird the last few weeks, but we had the pleasure of traveling with Paige and Cash the last month or so. Paige was always walking around with her camera taking videos and pictures. We thought you might enjoy a little peek into the Paige and Cash you’ve never seen.”

The crowd let out a round of cheers as a projector turned on against the back of the house. A film reel counted down as the video started. My hand covered my mouth as all of my vlogs played on a reel. There were videos of Cash getting ready for the rodeo. Videos of the boys fooling around. Videos of us out at the bars, dancing and joking. Videos of us the last two weeks here in Ashton Creek. They were silly and fun and made us look like best friends traveling the world together, even if we were only a few hours away in the same state.

Cash kissed my cheek as I relived our adventures from an entirely new lens.

I swiped at a tear that fell down my cheek as the videos morphed into ones of me and Cash that I didn’t know were being taken. Clips of us on the ranch bickering. Clips of us riding our horses in the field. Clips of Cash throwing me over his shoulder as I laughed. There wasn’t one clip where we weren’t attached at the hip. In every single video, Cash looked at me in a way I’d never noticed when I was filming them.

Even in the videos taken before Vegas.

Before I knew what he tasted like.

Before my feelings grew.

Before what I knew it would be like to finally get the guy.

If you didn’t know the truth, we looked like a couple who was madly and hopelessly in love.

“You ready for this?” he whispered into my ear as the video ended.

Our friends and family clapped and cheered as Buck and Tweety bowed like they just won Sundance.

“Yeah,” I said honestly.

This might not have been how I thought I’d get together with Cash. It might not be a fairy tale, and we may be lying to my entire family. But there is not a man I would rather be on this journey with than the one smiling down at me.

Maybe one day this would all be a really great story I got to tell my kids. The story of the man I got to love with all my heart, just for the summer.

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