Page 49 of Wild Then Wed
I grin and lean forward, popping a piece of popcorn into my mouth. Luckily, Lark always buys the kind I can eat. “We all know your soulmate is Ridge. The universe keeps shoving him onto your path no matter how many times you push him out the way.”
Miller gags, clutching her chest like I’ve just stabbed her. Then she chucks a handful of popcorn at me with Olympic-level precision.
I laugh, brushing kernels out of my hair. Then I lean over and yank the bowl from her. “It’s true.”
Lark tips her glass toward us, looking way too pleased with herself. “He’sdefinitelyin love with you.”
Miller lifts a brow, deadpan. “Ridge is in love with someone new every week. Usually whichever girl with somewhat decent tits and a pulse smiles at him first.”
Sage sighs dramatically, like this conversation is exhausting her on a soul-deep level. “As much as it pains me to even suggest this…why don’t you two just hook up already and get it over with?”
The room goes quiet for half a second, the fire popping loudly in the gap.
Miller starts ticking reasons off on her fingers. “One—he’s a man-child. Two—he’s insufferable. Three—he calls my Louboutins ‘fancy lady stilts.’ Four—”
But I’m not listening to her list. I just smile into the popcorn bowl, because we all know the truth:
Miller’s not disgusted. She’s terrified.
She acts like she’s immune, like Ridge is just another guy she can out-talk, outwit, outlast.
But I see it—the way her posture shifts when he’s around, as if she’s trying not to look like she’s paying attention. The way she picks at him, sharp and quick, because it’s easier to be annoyed than it is to be honest.
She’s obvious in all the ways she thinks she’s not.
And Ridge, bless him, is still too fucking blind to see it.
Miller shakes her head, still tossing popcorn into her mouth like it’s fueling her. She points a finger at Sage. “What aboutyou?What’s your excuse?”
Sage blinks, caught mid-sip of her wine. “For what?”
“For being single,” Miller says, like it’s obvious and Sage is just being slow.
Sage leans her head back against the couch, her blanket slipping down to her shoulders. “You already said it yourself. Dating sucks ass.”
Miller snorts, reaching for her glass. “Surely there’s someone.”
Lark perks up, brushing her braid over her shoulder. “What about the new hands that just started? Colby and Jake?”
Sage shrugs. “I have no idea who they are. There’s too many hands running around this place now. I can’t keep track.”
Miller stares at her like she’s grown a second head. “How do you not know who Colby is? He’s hot.”
Sage raises an eyebrow. “Then why don’t you go after him?”
Miller sighs. “I tried. He said I scare him or something.” Then she rolls her eyes and takes a long sip of wine. “Pussy.”
I laugh, the sound slipping out before I can catch it.
Because it’s so perfectly Miller—sharp, unapologetic, completely immune to the idea that she should be anything other than exactly what she is.
Miller shifts her gaze to me, tipping her chin in my direction. “What about you?”
I raise a brow. “What about me?”
“Who do you like?”
I snort. “Nobody.”
