Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Dean nods. “Cool.”
“Cool.”
We ride in silence for a while after that. Dean starts singing Frozen songs to himself, thinking I can’t hear him over the clomping of the horse’s hooves.
Then out of the blue, he says, “I think Mom would be happy. You know, that we’re having sleepovers now.”
I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or brush off the thought. It’s kinda weird. It’s also…
Kinda nice.
Would Abby be happy for me? I’m not sure if we would’ve stayed together if she hadn’t passed. I was always willing to give our marriage another try, but she had feelings for the man she had an affair with. Much as that hurt back then, now I understand the whole situation in a way I didn’t before. I get how lonely she must’ve felt when I put all my attention and energy into parenthood, relegating our marriage to the back burner. I didn’t try nearly enough to connect with her or make her laugh or be a good friend to her.
I get it, Abby. I really do.
What if she fell in love with her guy so I could fall in love with Lainey? Sounds strange—maybe I’m even crossing a line by thinking that—but I’m trying to glean some meaning from everything that’s gone down. It’s nice to think all that pain, the betrayal and the heartbreak and the loss that we went through, would lead to something good.
Because at the end of the day, she was a good person just doing her best. I’d like to think I’m the same.
I just want to do right by our son. And I genuinely believe that’s what I’m doing by bringing Lainey into our lives.
“I think so too.” I’m wiping away more tears. “She’d be so proud of you, buddy.”
He glances up at the sky. “Bet she’s having a good old time up in heaven.”
“She is. We’re having a good time down here too, right?”
He grins. “The best.”
“You think we should ride over to Lainey’s?” I ask. “Maybe grab her a horse on the way so she can practice riding, since she’ll be doing a lot more of it with us?”
Dean throws up his arms. “Yes! Yes, Daddy, please!”
“Which horse do you think she’ll like best?”
He thinks on this for a minute. “Cream Puff will work in a pinch. But I think we should get Lainey her own horse. Maybe for Christmas!”
I burst out laughing. “Since when does Santa put horses under the Christmas tree?”
“I’ve been super good this year, so I’ll ask him. Pretty sure he won’t say no.”
Lord save us.
But really, will Lainey stick around that long? Because I’m already thinking about what I’d make for breakfast Christmas morning (cinnamon rolls for Dean, breakfast burritos and Bloody Marias for us). We’d open presents by the fire while we sipped our cocktails.
Dean would be in heaven. Not only because he’d get to open a small mountain of presents but also because Lainey would be at our house in the morning. Which meant she’d, yes, had a sleepover with us the night before.
Hasn’t happened yet.
I’d very much like it to.
“Won’t hurt to try,” I say. “C’mon, let’s go get our girl.”
“Let’s go!”
CHAPTER 32
New Beginnings
LAINEY
“How about a round of rose and thorn?” Billie asks, setting down her margarita. “But the explicit version, now that Dad’s not here to lecture us about being degenerates and drunks.”
Sipping my own margarita—the Tajín rim means it’s a little salty, a little spicy, and a little sweet, just how I like it—I can’t help but smile.
“There’s an explicit version?” I ask.
Colt settles his arm over my shoulders, the vinyl booth creaking as he angles his body toward mine. “If Billie’s playing, there is.”
Ryder thumbs his girlfriend’s chin. “Always such a lady.”
“You’d be bored if I were ladylike,” Billie replies, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. “Hell, I’d be bored.”
“Of course I’d be bored. Why do you think I ended up with a hellion instead?” he asks, grinning.
She bites her lip. “Want me to raise some hell tonight?”
“Absolutely.”
“You’re on.” Her arm moves underneath the table.
Ryder smiles. “Always on for you.”
“Y’all are stupid,” Beck says. “It’s actually kind of cute. But also, please don’t get arrested for having sex in public.”
Colt groans, but I see the smile flirting at the edges of his mouth. “Can you not go there? I just stopped being pissed about all this.”
“Sorry, Colt,” Ryder says. “Don’t mean to rub it in your face.”
Billie lifts a suggestive eyebrow. “I kinda do.”
There’s seven—no, eight of us squeezed into one of the sticky booths tucked beside the bar at the Rattler. It’s Friday night again, and we’re waiting for Frisky Whiskey to go on. This time, all the Wallace siblings came out with us.
So did Ryder and a couple of his brothers, Cash included. He and Mollie are currently canoodling at the bar, Shiner Bocks in hand.