Page 106 of Hot Lap
I crack up. “Goat Yoga?” My voice goes high on the last word.
He laughs. “Yeah, I wasn’t sure if you thought that was a god or what?”
“Oh my lord.”
“You put fake flowers in your hair. I promised you rhinestones and eternal snack privileges.”
“This is just… wow.”
He’s smiling and I can tell he’s loving these memories. “You laughed through half the vows and cried when Elvis pronounced us husband and wife.”
“Icried?”
“Just a little.” His voice softens, and he brushes my hair over my shoulder. “Not in a sad way.”
I stare at him.
“Then I carried you across the threshold out to the parking lot. Elvis was still singing, and Hector filmed the whole thing.”
My throat tightens. “Shit. I wish I remembered.”
“Maybe I can get the video from Hector.”
I nod and study the ring on my finger, turning it so it sparkles in the dim light, then I look at him. “Can I ask you something else?”
Reece grins. “That’s two questions in one night. You sure you wanna blow through your quota?”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. Go on.”
“You said Graham chose Peony for you. So were youreallygoing to marry her? Even knowing she wasn’t your choice?”
His amusement fades and he sighs. “Yeah. I guess I was.”
“Why?”
His gaze drifts to the ceiling, and he takes a minute, probably asking himself that same question. Maybe it’s something he hasn’t wanted to ponder before. “I thought that’s what stability was. Predictability. Acceptability. She came with a pedigree Graham liked and no sharp edges. She wouldn’t shake anything up or embarrass anyone, and… I didn’t miss her when I was gone for more than half the year.” Reece’s gaze cuts back to mine. “That used to feel like the safe choice.”
“And now?”
He fingers a lock of my hair. “Now I know being safe isn’t the same as being seen. Or chosen back.”
I rest my cheek on his shoulder, heart thudding in quiet harmony with his.
He doesn’t say anything else, and he doesn’t need to because I haven’t forgotten the pain in his voice when he told me how he’d caught her with someone else.
I will never forgive her for wounding him.
“I do remember something important from that night, speed demon.”
“What’s that?” He’s resumed the lazy circles across my back.
"You said you kept the ring so when we met you'd have it. Then you put it on my finger and when it fit, you said I was supposed to be your wife."
He kisses my head, so gently. “Yeah, and you liked how much it sparkled.”
“I still do.” I turn my head to see his face. “But I like you more.”
