Page 33 of Freeing the Wild
“Alright, well, I’m just gonna cut the shit for a minute here while little ears are still out of the room.”Dean starts obviously missing that I’m firing invisible daggers at Haden with my eyes.
“As usual,” Nash chuckles.
“Shut yer piehole, boy, I’m being serious here.”Dean turns his eyes to me.“That’s no joke what you went through in California.”
“It was … unforgettable,” I say honestly, willing the tears not to spill over as twelve pairs of eyes focus on me.I feel them all, especially Haden’s.It feels like he’s watching my every expression, and I can’t tell if it’s because he’s concerned or he’s judging me.My heart races as my palms start to sweat.That’s the thing with trauma—even the smallest thing can set you off in the middle of a perfectly normal conversation.
“You’re Ivy’s family.Which means you’re our family.You need anything you just holler.We’re all here for you.And remember …” He shrugs.“When life throws you into a storm, turn around, throw your middle finger up and play in the puddles.”
“Look at this charmer,” Wade chuckles, breaking the tense air around us.Dean just grins and nods as he takes a bite of his eggs.I decide he might just be my favorite.
“Thank you all,” I tell them as I look around the table.My eyes lock with Haden’s for just a moment and then he looks away, though I swear they soften for a fraction of a second.
CeCe and Ginger’s friend Olivia – who is sitting beside me – leans in.
“What am I missing?You two fuck on the walk over or something?”she asks in a whisper.I nearly choke on my coffee as she nudges me with her shoulder and laughs.There seem tobe no boundaries on this ranch.But maybe no boundaries is just what I need.A place where having a social filter isn’t required.A place where you’re just accepted for who you are.
“Alright, y’all,” CeCe calls from her seat as Mabel comes back into the room and sits with Cole.“We wanted to have you all over to welcome Cassie but also …” She turns to Nash with the world’s most lovesick grin on her face.“We also wanted to tell you some news.”
“We’re having a baby!”Nash says to the room with an easy smile.The smile of a proud daddy.
The table erupts in an echo of cheers as Nash slings his arm around CeCe’s shoulders and pulls her over to him to kiss the top of her head.
Mabel, who’s back from getting the honey, jumps up and down in excitement and asks, “I’m gonna have another cousin?”
CeCe hugs her.“Yes, baby.At the end of July.And we just found out yesterday that it’s a girl!I’m sixteen weeks along.”
“I already knew.”Mama Jo smiles.
“Me too,” Ginger pipes up.
“Me three,” Olivia adds.
Nash looks around the table.“What happened to keeping it a surprise until we knew what we were having?”he asks CeCe.
“Sorry, Nashby.You might be her husband but we’re her partners for life.”Ginger smirks at him.
The table chuckles as everyone who didn’t know stands to hug and congratulate the pair.Amidst the chaos I see Haden shake Nash’s hand before telling Wade he’s going to take a plate of breakfast to the guys that couldn’t make it up to the house.I watch as he hugs CeCe and smiles wide at her.It’s the biggest smile I’ve seen him wear since that night we were together, and I have to admit, it’s just as beautiful as I remember.Maybe even more so.
He makes his way over to me before he heads out, and Ican’t help but wonder what is going on behind those eyes as they focus intently on me.
“Take a few days to settle in,” he says, before adding: “And Ivy is right.It’s a good idea to ride.Horses—well, all animals really—they help with trauma.”
“Then I guess all I need is Silver Pines,” I say as I fold my arms over my chest, one eyebrow raised.
“Look.I love your family, and they want to see you get better.”His gaze is serious, which makes me nervous.“But I have two rules.I ride early, and you do what I say so I can keep you safe.Which means no social media stunts.I’ll see you Monday morning.Meet me at the main barn at seven a.m.”
“Seven?” I ask incredulously.These days, I rarely get up before noon.
Haden smirks at me, but it’s the kind of smirk that tells me he probably thinks I’m spoiled.
“Yes, Princess, seven,” he says before turning away from me.“Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll take it.”I say just loud enough for the people in my surrounding area to hear, but Haden doesn’t turn back.It’s like he can’t get out of here fast enough.Olivia snickers beside me.I look over at her and return her smile.She might have the prettiest smile I’ve ever seen.Her auburn waves fall around her shoulders as she leans in.
“There’s definitely a story there.So if you ever feel like talking about it …” She picks up my cell from beside my plate and passes it to me.I look down at it, then back to her questioningly.She smiles again.“I’m giving you my number.”
“Oh,” I say, unlocking my phone and handing it to her.She types for a second then hands it back and we start to clear the breakfast plates.As we approach the kitchen, Olivia wraps an arm around my shoulders.
