Page 14 of Reckless
Mom:It seems to me that getting along with the family is a pretty important feature when choosing a boyfriend or girlfriend. Not that I’d know. You never introduce me to anyone.
Theo:I don’t have any girlfriends to introduce you to.
Mom:I think it’s more like you have too many.
* * *
Ihaven’t been able to take my eyes off Winter all night. I feel like I’m watching the Discovery Channel, studying the merging of two packs of hyenas or something. The chatter in the house doesn’t stop, neither does the laughter.
No one is trying to make her uncomfortable. They don’t need to. She does it all on her own.
She watches every movement so closely, and she listens hard, turning over every snippet of conversation in her head. And every time she catches me staring, she looks away so quickly that I’m sure she’s going to have a sore neck tomorrow.
“I think I’m going to head back.”
I saw her working up to this declaration. Fiddling with her fingers anxiously. Leaning forward a bit when there was a lull in the conversation. Her lips would pop open, but then conversation would surge back up and she’d visibly shrink back in her chair.
The remarkable contrasts of this woman, removed and bordering on insecure in one moment, cool and snippy the next. And to think she started off all fucking fiery and flying off the handle.
She must be exhausted.
“Are you okay to drive?” Summer asks, always doting on everyone.
Winter’s gaze darts out the window where snow is still falling.
No.
“Yeah. I’m all good.”
My molars clamp down tightly. She’s not all good. She wasn’t two hours ago, and she won’t have magically become comfortable driving on snowy, dark roads just by eating dinner and having a single glass of wine.
“I can drive you. I’m sure we can get you your car tomorrow.”
She scoffs, rolling out the ice princess routine as she shimmies her shoulders and tips her nose up. “That is entirely unnecessary.”
I give her my bestyou’re full of shit, sweetheartlook from where I’m sitting on the leather couch opposite her.
“Don’t give me that look.”
“What look?” I make my face suitably blank.
Her finger squiggles in the air at me as all eyes in the room volley between us. “That one that says you know better than me.”
“In this case, I might.”
Her lips purse, so damn prim. “I guarantee you don’t. I’m a doctor.”
“Oh? Did you take a special winter driving class at med school?”
“Did you at bull riding school?” she snipes with some venom, but I just want to laugh.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Bull riders don’t go to school. We’re lucky if we learn how to tie our shoes and brush our teeth.” I give her a flash of my pearly whites, not caring that everyone is watching us.
“I already know you can’t tie your shoes. The hygiene part doesn’t come as much of a surprise either, if I’m being honest.”
“Flattered you looked long enough to notice my boots weren’t tied. And I’d be happy to prove you wrong about my hygiene since you’re clearly very invested.”
Her eyes narrow, and I laugh. Try as she might, she can’t get under my skin because this iswaytoo fun.
