Chapter 29 Lina
lina
Romy met me in the stables as soon as we pulled in. She had Penn with her, who ran full speed at her dad when she saw him. It warmed my heart to see them reunited. I could tell he missed her. Reed practically lit up, swooping her up into his arms.
“Hey, Rom,” I greeted her, going in for a hug. It was the first time I saw her without baby Charli, and she appeared absolutely frazzled. “You look like you’re stressed out. Getting some wedding jitters?”
Romy suffered a laugh while helping me unload Mushu’s tack. “You arrived just in time, it seems. We moved the wedding up to this weekend.”
“Wait … what? Why?” I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my tired brain, then leveling her with a look. “You already got knocked up, so there’s no need to rush it. We all know you’re not a virgin.”
She smiled at my joke, but I could tell that whatever was bothering her was causing her to withdraw. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”
I followed her into the tack room, both of our hands full.
Mine with the saddle, hers with the bridle, reins, and lead ropes.
As we put everything away, she said, “Hazel’s being sentenced next week.
Her lawyer told her it’s looking like she is going to be serving three years.
It’s the minimum, which I guess is good, but that means she’ll miss the wedding.
We want her to be part of our day while she still can. ”
“Oh, Romy.” I positioned the saddle on the rack before taking her in my arms. “Of course you need your sister on your big day. I know Dad would’ve loved to walk you down the aisle, but there is no one better to do it than Hazel. She’ll probably steal the show,” I teased.
That received a watery laugh from Romy. She pulled away to wipe a stray tear from her eye. “Ever since I became a mom, I’m all waterworks,” she complained.
“But you look gorgeous doing it. I’m sure Jude would’ve married you a year ago if you’d let him.”
Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes shone at my mention of Jude. “Being in Vegas last summer, I’m surprised he didn’t drag me into one of those chapels after his fight.”
“Kicking and screaming, probably.”
She giggled at that. “Don’t worry, I’m not running this time. Jude has me talking with a therapist. There won’t be a runaway bride at this wedding.”
“Oh, God, I hope not. Otherwise, we may need to hog-tie you.”
“You’d probably like that too much,” she teased back.
“Look at you with your smart mouth. I must be rubbing off on you. But yes, you’re probably right. I would like that too much.” I winked.
Reed entered the stable, Penn skipping at his side while he led Mushu to his stall. I couldn’t help it. I had to stop and look at him. The man was pure sin. Even after the roadside car sex earlier today, I was ready to go again.
“Looks like someone’s rubbing off on you, too,” Romy quipped, her eyes flitting to Reed.
I shot her a look to try to warn her off, but I couldn’t help my lips twitching.
Her eyes and mouth grew big. “No fucking way. I knew it!”
“Oh my God!” I threw up my hands. Reed and Penn glanced our way at our commotion. “Does everyone know?”
She nodded her head slowly, as if to punctuate the affirmative yes. “We were just waiting for you to catch up. So,” she whispered, “is the sex phenomenal?”
I could feel myself blushing, and I never blush, even when talking about sex. Ever. “Romy, let me tell you, it is the best fucking sex I’ve ever had. The way that man knows how to play with my body. And,”—I lowered my voice even further, leaning in conspiratorially—“he’s fucking pierced.”
She slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from yelling.
I pressed my lips together to keep myself from squealing, nodding in agreement.
“No,” she said in near disbelief. “What does it feel like?”
“Oh, baby, it just rubs in all the right places.” I hummed thinking of that deliciousness.
Romy and I both looked at Mushu’s stall, watching Reed with his daughter.
“I’ll never look at him the same way again,” she said wistfully beside me.
I grinned, crossing my arms to watch the best fucking sight in the world. The horse I loved. The little girl I was falling for. And the man who was my everything. “Same.”
Progress had been made building the barn beside Jude and Romy’s place. The floors were laid, horse stalls were framed out, and the roof was in place, but the walls weren’t up. The sunset would be the backdrop as soon as Romy and Jude said “I do.”
The flower arrangements Sage and Hazel helped assemble decorated the space.
Blue, purple, and yellow wildflowers lined the center, creating a makeshift aisleway.
A few folding chairs were on either side, where Christian and Kale sat.
Christian held a boombox—he was on music duty—and Kale was ready to shoot video on his cell phone.
After moving the date up, they couldn’t get a DJ and photographer in time.
But this was Romy’s style anyway, and Jude didn’t care as long as she was his for life.
A centerpiece sat on top of a small, round table at one end, where they would exchange their vows. Dad stood there now, rocking on his heels, while he read over the script he’d printed out. He quickly got ordained online to be able to officiate.
“Are you ready, Dad?” I asked.
“There’s one thing I don’t care for, and that’s public speaking,” he grumbled.
“You’ll do great.”
“I just hope you don’t ask me to do this for your wedding. I’ll probably already be a mess.”
I blanched at the mention of my wedding, my stomach doing a somersault.
My wedding? I gulped. I’d never thought that far ahead.
I’d never been one of those girls who had their colors picked out and a dress circled in a magazine by the time she was fourteen.
Horses and rodeo consumed any plans I’d made.
But now, with Reed … I suppose I had to start thinking that far ahead.
I wasn’t sure I was ready to get married.
Or to become an instant mom. All of this was rushing that reality to the forefront, and it scared the shit out of me.
There seemed to be a lot we still needed to discuss.
I was so in love with him, and I now knew how he felt.
But would he even want to get married again after being divorced? Did I want to get married?
Never seeing a happy marriage—well, maybe my mom’s if you considered being happy meant getting a Porsche and a limitless credit card—I didn’t really know if it was for me.
Would it hurt Reed to know that? I’m sure he was not going to bring a woman into his and Penn’s life without the potential to create stability for his daughter.
Marriage meant commitment and permanence, and I just didn’t know if I was there yet.
Would that be a deal breaker for him? My heart seemed to crack just thinking about it.
Jude walked out, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. I whistled. Dressed in a suit, Jude looked every bit “The Bull” this evening. “Cuz, you look like you just stepped off a GQ photoshoot.”
“I’ve done one of those, and I’d much rather scoop horseshit,” he complained.
I scoffed. “Of course you would. Are you disappointed Alex couldn’t make it?” His old coach was planning on flying out from Vegas, but with the abrupt change in plans, he wasn’t able to make it.
“It’s all right. I would’ve married Romy anytime she wanted. It could’ve just been me, her, and Charli, and I’d be a happy man. Why were you able to get back early?”
I shrugged, not wanting to dampen his day. “Just had a feeling I needed to get home. And I’m glad I did. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” I wrapped him up in an embrace, giving him a big kiss on the cheek. “Proud of you.”
He wiped his cheek, checking his hand to see if my lipstick came off.
“Rude!” I hit him in the arm before rubbing his cheek. “Just rub it in.”
“Is it off?” he asked.
“You’re good. It’s waterproof anyway, asshole.”
Hands wrapped around my waist, drawing me back to a solid, warm chest. I squeaked in surprise before peeking over my shoulder, but I already knew it was Reed.
“Hey, sweetheart, you’re a smokeshow in this dress,” he whispered in my ear.
He leaned down to press his lips to my bare shoulder, goose bumps scattering beneath the tight, strapless, black lace maxi dress.
I loved this dress, mostly because of the slit that went straight up my thigh so I could show off my black cowboy boots, and it gave plenty of room to move.
I lifted my gaze then. Jude and Dad’s eyes were burning right into me. Heat washed over me, replacing the goose bumps.
I held my breath. My cheeks flamed. Thank God for the two pounds of blush and bronzer I was wearing. “Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to let y’all know Reed and I are together.” I reached back to grip Reed’s neck, arching into him, claiming him in front of my family.
I didn’t know what I expected from either of them, but it wasn’t the smug look on either of their faces. Christian and Kale already knew, and I could hear them snickering behind me. Without even turning around, I flipped them off.
“I don’t think you could have chosen a better man,” Dad said, reaching out to shake Reed’s hand. I released a breath in relief. “I’m just glad you eventually saw what I saw.”
“Dad.” He was going to make me choke up. What was it about love that turned me into a fucking pile of mush?
Jude leaned back on his heels, his arms crossed, a lopsided smirk on his face and humor in his voice. “Good luck to you, man. I think you might need it with this one.”
“Hey!” I scolded.
But he winked, teasing, before his face went stony, staring Reed down. “But if you break her heart, I will break your fucking legs.”
“Okay, Bull,” I huffed, giving his chest a solid thump. “Go back to your corner.”
Jude relaxed a bit, dropping his arms, his eyes then growing wide and his face softening as he looked past us. Dad’s attention shifted, too, his smile growing.