Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Paisley squealed, her words a ramble that flew out of her. “Oh my God, you’re a mom? I’m a mom, too! I mean, my fiancé has a little girl, too, and she’s absolutely mine in my heart, if you know what I mean? How did I not know this about you?”
“Oh, I don’t know, probably since we haven’t talked to each other in like six years?” I said, completely droll.
She laughed. “Well, that is never going to happen again, Hails Bells.”
A soft chuckle rolled out of me at the old nickname she’d given me. “Oh God, I haven’t heard that one in a long time.”
“Well, get used to it because you’re going to be hearing it a lot. Are you married?”
I tamped down the agitation that wanted to rise, and I somehow managed to keep my voice even when I said, “I’m in the middle of a divorce.”
I just wished it was that simple. Something that could be stamped and stowed away, a mistake that never had to be thought of again.
“Oh, no, I’m so sorry.” She paused for only a second before she rushed, “Come out with me and my friends tomorrow night. We obviously have a ton to catch up on.”
“I’m not sure—”
“Don’t even try to say no. We’re going out to celebrate my bestie’s brother getting a big job, and it’s the perfect chance for you to meet everyone. Then another time we can get our girls together.”
She stated it like it was already done.
“I…” I hesitated.
In my pause, she demanded, “Say yes!”
Honestly, I could use it.
A distraction.
A night out.
Fun.
Friends, even.
My chest tightened. I’d thought I’d never want to have them again. Had thought it would hurt too bad to even think about putting my heart on the line that way. I’d isolated myself for years.
I imagined that was part of the reason I’d been so blinded by Pruitt. Needing a connection while denying the type that had caused so much pain.
So lost in my own world that I hadn’t realized what was happening right in front of me.
But I’d come back to Colorado to make a change. To reclaim who I was or maybe discover who I wanted to be.
Hiding out in my house wasn’t going to help that.
“Fine. I’ll come as long as my grandmother doesn’t mind watching Maddie for a little while.”
“Heck, yes, baby! This is going to be a blast. I can’t wait to see you. We’re going to Mack’s in Time River. Be there at seven.”
Hesitation suddenly bubbled up, and I bit down on my bottom lip. “Are you sure your friends won’t mind?”
I didn’t know much about Paisley’s personal life since our topics of conversation had always centered around horses. Our experiences. Different training techniques. Our dreams surrounding them and our goals for the future.
“Are you kidding me? They will love you. Believe me. Just come.”
Where I thought I might feel reservations, I felt…excitement. There was something about being here that felt…healing.
“Okay, I’ll be there.”
A squeal reverberated through the line and basically shook the cab of my SUV. “Wear your dancing boots, Hails Bells. We’re about to get our party on.”
Oh lord, what did I get myself into?
“I’ll see if I can find them in the mountain of boxes I still need to unpack.”
“Just look at it as motivation to get through a few of them,” she drawled, her voice sly.
There was no containing my grin. “That’ll probably do the trick.”
“Good! Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow. Be prepared for the best night of your life!” she sang before the line went dead.
I laughed out loud at the whirlwind that was Paisley Dae.
She was someone I hadn’t even expected might come back into my life. Anticipation thrummed, a gratitude that she’d taken the initiative to reach out, and I thought this might be the start of something great.
Ten minutes later, I pulled my Durango into the angled drive of my little house.
My gaze drifted over our home. It was painted white with blue eaves, and there was a manicured lawn out front in a kidney shape, lined by rocks to give it extra texture and design.
A bed of pink and white flowers ran along the walkway and swinging pots containing the same flowers hung from the porch.
Pride welled in the depths of me, though it thudded with something deeper.
No. It wasn’t anything extravagant. Not even close to the type of excess I’d lived in my entire life. Both at my father’s ranch and at the estate I’d shared with Pruitt outside Austin.
But it was what this house represented that made it magnificent.
Freedom.
Goodness.
A safe, untainted place for my daughter to learn, live, and grow. A place that would be filled with love and belief and joy.
I sat in the magnitude of it for a few moments, let it enfold me, the determination that I would do whatever it took to give her all those things swilling. Bricks building to conviction.