Page 94 of One Reckless Moment

“I think if that’s what your gut is saying then you should. What do you want?” Keegan chimed in.

“I want Cash, but I’ve never left Montana. I’ve never lived my life for me. I think I need to do that.”

My phone started buzzing on the counter and I sent the call to voicemail. Cash had been calling nonstop since I landed in California, but I was too much of a chicken-shit to face him.

“Is that him?” Maggie pointed at my phone. I nodded.

“Have you talked to him?” Keegan asked.

I shook my head. “What do I say?”

“The truth, babe.” Lottie nudged my shoulder.

My phone buzzed again so I picked it up and saw Cash’s name lighting up my screen. With a few hushed words of encouragement, I walked out onto Lottie’s back patio and swiped to answer the call.

42

HEARTS SHATTERED TO DUST

CASH

“Paige?” I asked when she finally answered her phone.

This had been one of the longest days of my life. I woke up expecting to find Paige wrapped around me, and instead the bed was empty and cold. I walked into the kitchen expecting to find her with a mug of coffee in her hands, but she wasn’t there. That was when the panic started to seep in.

I frantically ran around the house but every trace of her was just gone. Her wedding rings laid abandoned on the dresser but there was no note. My breaths came in shallow as I ran out to the front porch, praying she would be there.

I had tried calling for hours without an answer. I sent texts. I called Walker. No one had heard from her. My mind was racing with the worst possible scenarios and I was ready to hit the road and search for her to drag her back to me.

“Yeah, hey, I’m here.”

Just hearing her voice had tears springing to my eyes with relief.

“Where are you, baby?”

“California,” she whispered.

California?

What the fuck was she doing there.

“Are you okay?”

She didn’t answer for a moment and I heard her footsteps as she paced.

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“Okay…” I trailed off. “What happened? When are you coming back?”

She was quiet again which had the panic seeping back in.

“I’m not.”

My heart shattered from two simple words.

“What do you mean, you’re not?” My voice was gruff as I tried my hardest to keep myself together.

Paige let out a breath. “I think I need some time to explore who I am. Some time alone.”