Page 56 of The Best Friend's Billionaire Brother
“What if she thinks I’m only saying it because—”
“She won’t.”
Wyatt shook his head. “No, I want to wait. There’s a rodeo event coming to Amarillo between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It’s just a small one, but I could tell her after my ride. My full ride.”
Carrie Anne jerked to a stop and put her hands on her hips. “Right before my wedding? No way.”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.”
Carrie Anne crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “If you get hurt…”
He gave her a crooked grin. “I’ve only been hurt once. I’ve got the best reason in the world to stay on this time. The whole family can be there. I can tell everyone that I choose her because I want her. I can tell her then, and she’ll know for sure it’s the absolute truth. That I love her—”
The words made him come to a full stop. He loved her. He’d always loved her. Now that it was out, he felt light and free. It was the truest thing he’d ever felt.
His sister grinned wide. “I knew you loved her.”
“I do. I do love her with all my heart.”
“Well, it only took a sledgehammer, but that thick head of yours finally got it.”
Laughing, Wyatt shook his head. “Okay, fine. I deserve that.”
Dropping her arms to her side, she said, “I still don’t like you riding right before my wedding.”
“If I get a weird feeling, I won’t. But I’ll still tell Gabby.”
Silence stretched as Carrie Anne seemed to consider what he’d said. “All right.” She hooked her arm through his again. “Let’s go. The fire’s calling my name.”
Wyatt nodded. He wasn’t cold. His insides were blazing. He was picturing himself riding a full eight seconds, dismounting, and then telling the world he loved Gabby Fredericks. He just knew that would be the best way: walking away from the rodeo when he’d conquered his fear and then facing his future with the one person he loved most in the world.
A smile stretched wide on his lips as he thought about the new future he was planning. The one where he and Gabby faced the world together.
Chapter 22
Normally, Christmas Eve was Gabby’s favorite part of the holidays. Bandit’s cinnamon rolls and time with family. Before the Wests won the lottery, everyone would be squished into her parents’ house or the Wests’s home. It was warm and cozy and familiar. All the things that made Christmas great.
This year was such a stark contrast. There were no elbows to the ribs or sitting on the floor. Noexcuse me, can I slide by you?Cups filled with drinks were safe from spills because there wasn’t a gauntlet of people to get around. All the annoying things that made it…Christmas with family.
Instead, there was a trimmed twelve-foot tree so perfect it looked fake and sofas in a half-moon around it. Everyone had a spot to sit. It was comfortable and spacious. Gabby almost missed the annual meeting of the sardines decking the halls.
Stephanie moaned as she picked up the last bite of her cinnamon roll and popped it in her mouth. She melted, and her eyes crossed. “Oh, hot and gooey and sweet. How I have missed you, cinna-friend.”
“I think this is the part I love most about Christmas Eve.” Chuckling, Gabby stabbed her fork into the cinnamon roll and pulled off a bite. “They get better every year.”
Finishing her bite, Stephanie took a sip of milk. “I know. I think it’s what gets me through the year.” She laughed. “That boyfriend of yours can sure cook.” It was a little louder than necessary, and a few people looked their way. One of them being Wyatt.
Gabby glared at her. “Bandit can definitely cook.”
“I haven’t had nearly the fun I thought I would by now,” Stephanie whispered.
“Stop that.”
“I don’t know why you don’t just tell him how you feel. You can tell he feels the same way about you.”
How Gabby wished that were true, but he’d made himself loud and clear that night of the bachelor party. Since then, she’d tried to stay out of his way. He had a right to hate her, and she wasn’t about to fault him for it.
A little more than twenty-four hours ago, she’d pulled herself together enough to stop crying. For too long, she’d held a roman candle for a man who wasn’t meant to be hers and never would be now. It had hurt worse than a scorpion sting, but once the initial burn had worn off, she was okay. Not great. Not fantastic, but okay.
