Page 60 of Holding The Reins

Of course they assume this. There’s no way on earth they wouldn’t. I love Ginger but she definitely has a gossipy side. I trust her completely but would she be able to deny Cole if he asked her? She’s been in a love-hate relationship with him since we were fourteen. They have a weird kind of vibe between them where I’ll catch them bickering as he’s pouring her a drink in my kitchen. Sometimes I wonder if it’s partly why she’s my friend.

I don’t have to see the girls until tomorrow night for Avery’s birthday dinner so I can avoid their questions and give myself a day to even figure out what to say. I decide that is best.

Liv

I didn’t hear that we were wrong though.

You’re wrong. I’m alive. He didn’t fuck me to death.

Ginger

To death.

She rode a cowboy.

Liv

Holy shit I must concur.

I never said that. I’m going to work now. Love you both.

Ginger

She said she loves us. She definitely got laid.

Fine. I hate you both. Gossipy bitches.

Ginger

Too late the cowboy’s out of the bag.

I laugh as I pull my blouse out of the closet. I definitely did ride a cowboy—a part-time one, at least—and there’s no sense in trying to hide it, my girls clearly already know.

Imanage to keep it together around Wade, but just barely. The world has shifted on its axis and yet everything here seems the same. The familiar panic creeps up my neck as I sit in the kitchen I’ve sat in for twenty years eating a muffin like any other Thursday morning.

“Heard you knocked Drew the Dick around a little last night.”

“Heard that already?”

“I knew last night.” Wade smirks. “Mama looked like she was about to go after him with the town and pitchforks.”

“Fuck,” I chuckle as I pull my hat off and rub my forehead. I wouldn’t want to be on Jo’s bad side.

“I’m not complaining. Good to know you still have CeCe Rae’s back.”

Yeah, her soft, silky, naked back…

“Sometimes she smiles and nods, but she’s a mess of emotion on the inside. I wouldn’t put it past her to go back to him.”

That sentence sobers me up in one second flat. “You think?” I wonder if the horror on my face is apparent.

“You never know. She spent a lot of time with him and she’s always wanted to get married and have kids.”

I nod and wonder if he realizes the full extent of how Andrew treated CeCe.

“She should find someone that… wants that too and treats her right, then.” I clear my throat. Over my dead fucking body will she spend one minute alone with Andrew ever again.

“I sure as fuck hope she wouldn’t, but stranger things have happened, and CeCe is loyal to a fault. It’s one of the reasons I’m so glad she started working with you right away. She sees things through to the end. You’ve given her a place, something to stay invested in, and this festival as a project. It’s good for her, and I guess… well I’m just grateful, bud.” Wade claps me on the shoulder.

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