Page 109 of Broken Trails
Zoe:Isla has forcibly instructed me to tell you to make sure Xavier is on his best behaviour.
Zoe:I don’t know why she can’t just text him that herself.
A grin tugs at my mouth. Of course, she can’t. It gave her an excuse to messageme.
Smart move, Isla.
Me:He’s too whipped to misbehave. If he so much as looks in another woman’s direction, he’ll start apologising to the sky.
Zoe:Lol. So, are you… having fun?
Me:Without you? Not a chance.
Zoe:Oh, shut up.
Me:Just being honest, Freckles.
Zoe:Sure. Be safe.
Two words. That’s it. But it’s the first time she’s said anything that sounds like she cares. And shit, it gets to me. Xavier notices my smile and groans. “Jesus. He’ssmilingnow. We’ve lost him.”
Bradley knocks back the rest of his drink. “Honestly? Good. About bloody time.”
Harrison raises his glass. “To the downfall of Michael Price.”
I roll my eyes and sip my whisky. But the thing is—
They’re not wrong. I don’t want anyone else. Not tonight. Not tomorrow. Not after the way she looked at me in the dark and let me in—just a little. I’ve had the distractions. The hookups. The distance. Now?
I want her. All of her. And for the first time in a long time… that actually scares the shit out of me. Harrison pushes another shot into my hand, then another. I don’t refuse either. Because this woman has me feeling lighter than I’ve felt in years. Cloud nine.
And climbing.
33
back to friends – sombr
“Okay, ladies. Kids are officially asleep, according to Grace. So, it’s show time!” Isla calls out, tossing her phone onto the couch.
“God, who even agreed to watching this show?” I mutter, curling deeper into the throw blanket on her couch. We’re watching last season’s Bachelor, of all things.“I swear, if one more guy cries on this show, I’m throwing the TV off the deck.” Isla doesn’t even blink. “That’s the third time he’s cried tonight. He’s emotionally in touch.”
“He’s emotionally unhinged.”
Imogen tops up her glass of Moscato. “You hate this show.”
“I do.”
“And yet you’re still here.” Isla smirks.
I lift my wine. “Because the company’s tolerable.” Dinner had been demolished earlier, after Isla’s girls made their appearance. I’d officially met them for the first time before she dropped them off at Xavier’s mum’s place. Callie, her eldest, gave me a solid forty minutes of stubborn silence before breaking into a barrage of toddler-level interrogation. Isla had looked so damn proud. Her littlest, Gracie, with her soft curls and sticky fingers, had been quieter, clinging to her mum most of the evening.
Imogen’s two are staying with their grandmother tonight as well. She’d joked about how lucky the grandmothers were, saying she missed them already, even though she also relished the peace. Her face softened when she spoke about Joseph and Hope—especially Joseph, who she admitted was glued to Michael more than anyone.
I didn’t comment, just sipped my wine and nodded, but the thought stuck with me. The image of Michael—all brooding, unreadable, but way too cocky for his own good—being someone’s safe place. Someone’s favourite. Yeah, it’s ingrained in my head.
Imogen’s phone starts to ring. She sets her glass down with a frown. “It’s Xavier,” she says.
Isla leans forward, eyes narrowing. “Weird. Why is he calling you?”
