AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Nah, that's not for me.” Caleb shakes his head and goes to move us on past.
“Figured you’d be a fuckin’ chicken ‘bout it. That’s the Mason way.” Zane scoffs a laugh and it instantly makes Caleb stop.
“I’m not a chicken.” He puffs out his chest, trying to act defensive, and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from smirking.
“Maybe your wife here should climb on instead. Looks to me like she’s got more balls than you do.” Noah crosses his arms over his chest, and it’s all the encouragement Caleb needs to let go of my hand.
“Fine, I’ll get on the stupid thing. Hundred bucks says I outlast any one of you assholes.” He steps up to the challenge, climbing on and gripping the leather strap tight in his hand.
I stand ready to watch my husband make a fool of himself, and just as the ride starts to move, something comes from beside me, snatching at my wrist and dragging me behind the cotton candy stall.
“Wade!” I don’t know if it’s panic, frustration, hatred, or relief that makes my chest feel like it’s gonna combust, but I do know thatthisis gonna get me in a lot of trouble.
“Listen, I only got as long as your husband can stay on that dumb fuckin’ bull to say what I gotta say, and I’m bettin’ on that not bein’ as long as I need. So, I’m just gonna tell ya this… Hate me, Leia, I deserve it. I thought I was doin’ right by ya and I caused this.” He swipes his thumb over the makeup I’ve used to cover the final traces of my bruise.
“But I’m here to tell ya that I’m gonna fix it. I’m gettin’ ya outta this.”
“Wade, you can’t, there's too much—”
I’m silenced when his mouth slams over mine, and when his tongue pushes between my lips and rolls around mine like we’ve never been apart, any intention I had to force him away and tell him I hate him disintegrates.
“I’m comin’ for ya, Leia, and you can hate me as hard as ya want, but I know you hatehima whole lot more.” His rough palm slides into the back of my hair and he tugs it just enough to cause a little pain. The noise on the other side of the screen picks up, forcing him to pull away.
“You're mine, you’ve always been mine, and it doesn’t matter what your name is, or whose ring you wear on your finger, that ain’t ever gonna change.” He presses another kiss on my lips, sending me dizzy, then spinning me around he forces me back out into the crowd that has gathered around my husband.
Caleb picks himself up from the inflatable mat and starts making his way back toward me. He’s all red and agitated as he grabs hold of my hand and drags me away. I look around trying to see any sign of Wade, touching my fingers to my lips to check that what just happened was real.
* * *
“I could get used to these kinds of traditions,” a voice comes from behind me, and when I turn around and see Savannah, I smile politely. After what happened the other day she’s the last person I want to see, and all I can do is hope that she hasn’t told Maisie what she saw.
“Leia!” Maisie calls out my name when she notices me too, leaving the stroller she’s pushing with her mother-in-law, so she can rush toward me.
“God, it’s good to see you.” I hear the relief in her voice as she wraps her arms around me and squeezes me so tight it takes my breath away.
“Careful, you must still be sore,” I remind her, trying to hold back tears. She’s a reminder of the life I had before, and the guilt of being such a shit friend to her over the past few weeks when she’s needed me the most feels like it’s choking me.
“I’m fine, honestly. I’m just so happy to see you. I’ve been worried.” She clings to me like she’s afraid to let go, and I remain still, enjoying how it feels to have some familiar comfort. I want to burst into tears, but I can’t. I won’t have her worrying about me, and that's why I’m about to lie to my best friend.
“I’m great, I've just been so busy. You know how it is, everyone wants to hang with the newlyweds.” I force out a laugh to back up my fake enthusiasm.
“I tried calling, and I must have messaged you a hundred times.” Maisie stares back at me like she’s not convinced.
“I dropped my phone just after I visited you in hospital, I haven’t got round to having it repaired yet.” I feed her another excuse before diverting the attention from me onto something much more interesting.
“Look at these three.” I peek into the stroller at the three sleeping babies. “They’ve already grown so much.”
“That’s because she’s doing such a great job.” Teresa puts her arm around her daughter-in- law's shoulder encouragingly, while Savannah gives me a not-so-subtle roll of her eyes.
“We gonna watch this thing together, or would that be fraternizing with the enemy?” Maisie smiles, looking toward the men that have got themselves lined up for the tug-of-war final.
It’s no surprise that both the Carsons and the Masons have made it to the final. It always ends up that way. The difference, this year, is the fact that Leonard and Caleb have stepped up to the challenge instead of leaving it to their bunkhouse boys.
“The view from here looks good to me.” Savannah stares across at Cole who's up front for the Carsons; he has his head down and his eyes stern as usual.
I watch Wade take his position at the rope, and when he tips his head and winks at me with that boyish grin on his face, the flutter I get in my lower stomach makes me blush.
“I’m glad he’s back.” The words seem to tumble out of my mouth.
