Page 97 of One Reckless Moment

“Hard pass.” I rolled back over. I didn’t feel like going out and I wasn’t going to be much fun right now. I was in my sad boy bag and I wanted to be alone.

“Please don’t make me punch you again.” Walker sighed, still standing in my doorway like a bouncer at a club.

“You don’t scare me,” I said over my shoulder.

Walker could be an intimidating motherfucker when he wanted to be, but I could take him. If he hit me right now, I’d let him. The pain would be less severe than what I’d experienced for the last thirty days.

Walker grabbed my arm, lifting me out of bed until I was on my feet.

“Get dressed. This isn’t optional,” he growled in my face.

I rolled my eyes but conceded because I really didn’t feel like getting a black eye today. I shoved out of his grasp and changed before following him back up to the main house where Reid and Axle were already in the idling truck.

I climbed into the passenger seat before Walker started toward town.

The Iron Saddle Saloon was crowded, but we managed to snag a table near the bar. As soon as we sat down, the drinks were flowing. Axle ordered us three rounds of Creek Bottom shots—which got their name from being so strong that you’d end up at the bottom of the creek if you took too many of them. They were an Ashton Creek staple, and I’d seen many tourists throwing up in the parking lot from over indulging.

For the next hour, there wasn’t a minute when there wasn’t a drink in my hand.

I stood to get another round and swayed on my feet before sinking back down into my chair.

Fuck, I was drunk.

“I think you fuckers got me drunk,” I slurred, pointing between the three of them and squinting one eye so they’d stop moving around.

“I think he’s ready,” Axle clapped Walker on the shoulder.

“Ready for what?” I asked, steadying myself by gripping the edge of the table.

“Tell us what happened with Paige.” Walker’s tone wasn’t as harsh as I would have expected.

I sighed and sank into my chair. “I love her so fucking much.”

“We know, dude,” Axle said, drumming his knuckles on the table.

“I swear I didn’t do anything.” I raised my hands in defense.

“We don’t think you did,” Reid reassured me.

“I knew you guys were mad at me, but I have been in love with her for so long.”

“How long?” Axle asked, arching his brow.

I took a deep breath and started telling them the story. I told them about how I fell in love with the girl who talked to her horse. I told them about the time Paige kissed me and I ran away. I told them about the years that I avoided her so I wouldn’t ruin our friendship. And then I told them about how I married the perfect woman.

“We didn’t know you felt this way,” Axle said when I finally finished.

“You wouldn’t because I didn’t tell a soul. And then she just left. She left me behind and hasn’t called.”

“She’ll be back.” Walker sounded confident, but I wasn’t so sure. Paige craved adventure and being with me meant living a small life on a ranch. A simple life.

I shrugged. “I miss her so much.”

“We know. Paige really needed this, but she’ll always come back,” Reid said, taking a long pull from his drink.

“She feels like I didn’t choose her, like I was trapped,” I mumbled.

“So, fight for her. Show her exactly how you feel when she comes home,” Axle said, a devious smile spreading across his face. “I have a plan.”