Page 135 of Love Me Reckless

The giant tree in the backyard sways in the stiff wind, sending needles onto the snowy ground. When I check my phone, Ava has sent me a message in our group chat with Sofie.

Glory Holes, 10 am?

I reply with a thumbs up.

I’m bringing a guest

Sofie adds a thumbs up.

Sheldon,right?

I’m playing tour guide today

Great, see you soon

Sheldon is still in the bathroom with the fan on when I finish my toast, so after cleaning up the kitchen, I go back upstairs to brush my teeth. Last night, Sawyer and I shared his because we left our things at the vacation rental.We’ll get you your own for next time, he said with a wink.

I like the sound of that. But it also brings up my uncertain future. Today I had planned to reach out to the realtor and my bank, but that will have to wait. I tell myself it’s just one day. Maybe by tomorrow I’ll know a little more about what my financial future looks like.

When I return downstairs, Sheldon is just coming out of the bathroom.

“We should leave soon,” I say. “Are you ready?”

“Lead the way.”

I grab my coat from the mudroom. Sheldon hovers in the doorway, apprehension tightening his eyes.

“Do you need to borrow a coat?” I ask him.

He rubs his arms. “Actually, yeah, I was hoping someone had a spare.”

It strikes me that he’s wearing the same clothes as last night. Where are his things if he’s moving to Florida? In the car, maybe?

“I’m sure Sawyer wouldn’t mind.” I slip the ski parka I bought for him hanging from one of the pegs and hand it over.

“Thanks.”

He doesn’t fill it out like Sawyer, but it’ll keep him warm.

We leave through the front door and I lock it behind us. The strong wind whips at my hair and stings my eyes. I tuck the loose curls behind my ears and pull up my hood.

“So how long have you and Sawyer been together?” Sheldon asks as we walk the shoveled path to the sidewalk.

I pause mid-step as I try to form an answer that doesn’t make me sound crazy. “Um, we met at Zach’s swearing-in ceremony back in September.”

“You better invite me to the wedding,” he says, flashing me a grin over the hood of Sawyer’s truck.

This throws me—until I realize how it must appear. The ring on my finger. Me staying in Sawyer’s room. Though I want to explain the truth, I don’t exactly have the words for it yet. “Of course.”

I climb into Sawyer’s truck, and to my relief, the engine purrs to life. Sawyer walked me through the steps to getting it started if my first try failed. Carefully, I back into the street.

“So what do people do in this town?” Sheldon asks once we’re underway.

“For fun, or do you mean commerce?”

“Both, I guess.”

At the stop sign, I turn right, toward downtown. “Recreation is a big draw. Skiing in the winter, hunting in the fall, and outdoor adventure in the summer. We have a thriving arts community. Our summer symphony series brings in world class musicians.”

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