Page 46 of Reckless

“Calm your tits.” He waves his hand like he’s trying to figure out what to say. “Can you honestly say you would’ve married Allison if she hadn’t gottenpregnant?”

That gives me pause. I drag my palm across my chin. “It’s hard to say. After graduation, she wanted to return to Dallas to be near her family, and I always planned on coming home. We hadn’t discussed anything serious before Mila came along, but I always cared forher.”

“That’s my point. Had she not gotten pregnant, you guys would’ve gone your separateways.”

“Maybe.” All this talk about relationships is making me anxious. I finally flip on the TV, click the DVR, and immediately regret it when the Astros game from last night flashes on thescreen.

Logan clears his throat. “Sorry if I messed things up with Tori. I swear I didn’t know you really had a thing for her, beyond thinking she was hot.” If there’s any consolation, it’s that my brother is more clueless sometimes than I am. “You gonna callher?”

“Already tried. She’s not pickingup.”

He bumps my elbow. “Try again. You know youwanna.”

I do. Reaching for my back pocket, I slide out my phone and hit her name. It rings. Once.Twice.

Logan and I look at each other when we feel buzzing and then down at the couch. He reaches behind a cushion to pull out Tori’sphone.

That explains why she’s not pickingup.

He scrolls through the messages visible on the lock screen, the noseyjerk.

“Don’t snoop.” I snatch it out of his hand and toss it on the coffeetable.

“She’s popular, bro. All her friends want her to go out this weekend.” He tries to show me, but I wave him off. “I’m only saying you better get on this stat beforeshe…”

His voice fades, and I turn to him. “Before shewhat?”

“Before she hooks up with someoneelse.”

My fists ball up at my sides. “I already told you not to talk about her like that. Besides, what makes you think she’s gonna run out and hook up with someoneelse?”

“Doesn’t she think you’re taking out Sandra?” He lets the question hang in the air. “Gotta talk to her before Tori writes you off. That’s all I’msaying.”

Well, shit. Hadn’t thought about it likethat.

I reach for his beer, which he lets me have without complaint.“I thought you didn’t want me to dateTori.”

“No, I said I was worried about you gettingseriousabout Tori. I’m all for hookingup.”

Rolling my eyes, I punch him in the side. “You give the worst advice, but I still love you,numbnuts.”

He pretends to sniffle and wipes fake tears. “Love you, too, bro. Now how we gonna get your girlback?”

I shouldn’t like how that sounds—my girl—considering I haven’t even kissed her yet, but damn if I don’t want tosoon.

21

Tori

This bar islike so many I worked at throughout college. Dark and seedy. Smelling of spilled beer and cheapcologne.

But I likeit.

Because tonight I want to blend in, which isn’t hard since I don’t know half of the people Vivian invited. Laughter booms behind me, and I turn to see my best friend holding court at our table, which is filled with a bevy of beautifulpeople.

My eyes drop to the short, pleated skirt I’m wearing, and I tug the hem, which doesn’t budge. It matches the sparkly bustier-like tank top that makes guys takenotice.

I’m not in the mood to have my body on display, but I had to borrow clothes because I didn’t have anything nice to wear. Viv thought dressing up would cheer meup.

---