Page 11 of Reckless

I nod, counting the seconds until I can get out ofhere.

Self-consciously, I survey my outfit, eying the cutoffs and the old boots my sophomore-year roommate gave me. When my sister asked me to come home with her for a few days, I didn’t think she’d drag me to an interview the first chance she had. I brought clothes so I could hang out on her farm and do her laundry, maybe cook for her, not sit in front of a firing squad. In this gorgeous, sprawling house noless.

I hate this, not planning ahead and always being the lowly person in need of something. Not being good enough. Story of mylife.

Shit.

My eyes sting, and I blink back the heat. I willnotcry in front of thisguy.

When I pull in a breath, I sniffle. Damnit.

“Hey. I’m sorry,” he says gruffly. “I don’t mean to be anasshole.”

“Yeah, you do.” I shake my head, not wanting to look at him. “But no worries. I’m gonna go.” I sniffle again. “Sorry we messed up yourafternoon.”

Jumping off the stool, I quickly wipe my eyes and stalk off to find my sister, who is sitting on the living room floor with Izzy and two other kids jumping around her. Why in the world is she downthere?

“Tori!” the little girlscreams.

This must be Mila, Ethan’s daughter. What acutie.

She looks familiar. I probably met these kids at one of the festivals my sister hosts at her farm. Mila runs toward me and launches herself into my body. I reach out and try to steady myself before we both topple over, but a strong arm grabs me before I completely lose myfooting.

My breath catches and goose bumps break out all over my body when I look up into those intense blue eyes. Immediately, I shake off Ethan’s grip and direct my attention to hisdaughter.

Kneeling, I smile at her. Another sniffle escapes me. “Hey, Mila. Long time no see! How have you been,honey?”

She wraps her arms around my neck in a tight hug. “Did you come to play dress-up with me?”Oh, my God. What a sweet kid.“Kat said you like to play dress-up. Remember when you painted my face? Can we do that again? I liked that.” Vaguely, I remember a younger Mila asking me to draw a butterfly on her cheek. When she pulls back, she worries her bottom lip. “Or did you come to talk to my mom? She doesn’t live here anymore. She’s ’posed to come this weekend, but I don’t know…” Big tears well in her eyes. “Sometimes she doesn’tcome.”

Oh,shitshitshit.

“Know what? I’d love to play dress-up. I bet you have the best clothes. Maybe even atiara?”

She blinks real fast and nods like a bobblehead doll. “I do! My daddy got it for me. It’ssooopretty!”

“Coolness. Listen, I need to go in a few minutes, but maybe we could put your tiara on first?” She bobbleheads again, and I laugh. “Hurry and grabit.”

As soon as she darts out of the room, I realize there’s another woman here sitting next to Logan on the couch. She has short grayish-blonde hair and a friendlyface.

Standing, I wave. “Hi, I’m Tori, Kat’s sister.” I muster a smile, keenly aware that Ethan is watching my everymove.

The woman grins as she reaches over to pull a toddler onto her lap. That must be Cody.Would’ve been nice if my sister had mentioned that one of the kids is still indiapers.

The woman returns my wave. “I’m Beverly, thegrandma.”

“Oh, man. So these two guys are yours?” I motion between Logan and Ethan and blow out a breath. “I’m sosorry.”

She barks out a laugh. “I like thisone.”

Mila trots back in, this time wearing a fluffy, hot pink boa. She waves her tiara at me. “Here.”

“I love your boa. Every girl should have one of these.” A twinge of sadness settles over me at an old memory of Jamie and that time he made love to me one night while all I wore was my red boa and heels. Despite his promises, I’ve realized he only wanted me for sex. The thought hardens my heart, which I welcome. No sense in letting anyone do that to meagain.

Bending down, I fix Mila’s long blonde hair behind her ears before I slide on her tiara. “Voilà! What a perfect princess youare!”

She grins and gently pats her costumejewelry.

I whisper in her ear. “I bet your daddy would love to take a selfie with you while you’re dressedup.”

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