Page 13 of Shattered Mind

Maybe seeing Savannah so loved up with Hunter messed with my head. Perhaps the love bug that’s infected my best friend’s brain is contagious.

Yep, that’s probably it.

Or maybe you can’t be trusted after drinking two bottles of wine with Hunter’s mum.

Whichever it is, I’ve never felt such burning embarrassment as I do in this moment.

I drop my head back against the door with a heavy thump, causing a dull ache to form and I welcome the pain. Anything to take away from the painful mortification I currently feel.

I peel off my shoes and skulk my way into the living room, throwing myself down on the sofa with a huff. I look around the room, taking in the unusual silence, and sigh.

Tonight, will be the first night I’m alone in the house. And it just so happens to be the one night I need my best friend here to vent to. I curse her internally for falling for a cowboy and leaving me all alone in my time of need.

All jokes aside, I’m happy for Savannah. She deserves to be loved the right way. To be with someone who chooses her every day. Someone that loves her and Reign to the fullest of his ability. And I truly believe that Hunter is going to be the man to give her that.

I just wish she were here to give me some advice.

I lay my head back against the sofa and close my eyes as my mind runs wild with thoughts. About Grayson. About Savannah. About what I’m gonna do with my life now.

I must doze off, because what feels like only minutes later, I feel something warm brush against the bridge of my nose and I pry my eyes open, finding Reign sitting in my lap, her eyes wide and innocent.

I give her a groggy smile and she beams at me. “Morning auntie Livvy.”

“Good morning, my girl.” I return her affection, running my finger down the bridge of her nose before booping it. She giggles, wrapping her arms around my neck in a crushing hug. I hold her against me, breathing in the familiar scent of detergent with a mix of lotion.

God, I love this kid.

The moment I held her for the first time I felt an overwhelming feeling of protection. Like I would do anything for her, no questions asked. They say that you don’t know love until you lay eyes on your child for the first time, and although she isn’t mine, I love that kind like my own. I don’t know if children are in my future, but I know that if they are they’ll be damn lucky to have Reign as their cousin.

“Why are you sleeping on the sofa?” she asks against my ear, and I release her.

“I think I fell asleep here by accident.” I laugh.

Savannah enters then, her face glowing and deliriously happy. I give her a knowing look as I ask, “Good night?”

She blushes. “Mmhmm.”

“Hunter is going to babysit me while mummy goes for girls’ night,” Reign interrupts and I raise a brow at her mum.

“Is that so?”

Savannah nods at me sheepishly, almost as though she’s embarrassed. “Bella invited us both out tonight and Hunter offered.”

I give an impressed nod. “That was nice of him.”

“Yeah. So, get up and go shower. We’ve got outfits to plan, and you smell like a winery.”

I give Reign a mock shocked look, earning a giggle from her before dragging me ass off the sofa and doing as I’m told.

***

I think I drink too much.

I stumble towards the cab, my arm wrapped tightly around Savannahs as we keep each other upright. Theworld tilts around me like I’m riding a seesaw, and I giggle to myself.

I’m wasted.

“Liv?” Sav whispers, and I look at her, closing one eye to focus.

---