Page 66 of Reckless
I give a single, rigid shrug. “Good.”
“No, really, Theo. You can’t have wanted this. Obviously, Vivi is amazing, but this isn’t what you signed up for, and we both know it. I didn’t hurl myself in front of a bull for you to throw everything away.”
“Rhett, I’m going to stop you right there. You have been my friend for a long time. My mentor for even longer. My dad loved you, and I do too. But so help me, if you keep talking about this current situation like it’s a burden, it will become difficult to stay friends with you.”
He flinches, his eyes widening. “Wow. Alright. It’s just that Winter iskind of—”
“What?” I cut him off. “Strong? Intelligent? A fantastic fucking mom? Because if you were thinking words about her that are anything less than positive, then you’ve found the line.”
Rhett chuckles. “I’ve never seen this side of you.”
“What side?” I mumble, staring down at Vivi’s serene face, studying the way her dark fringe of lashes fans delicately over her full rosy cheeks.
“This...this...” He waves a hand up and down my frame when I peek up at him. “This papa bear side of you. But you know it doesn’t mean you have to like Winter. She’s a complicated woman. I mean, she’s family, but she’s not always easy to—”
“I’ve always liked Winter. I liked her when you told me stories about her before I met her. I liked her the first time I laid eyes on her at the shitty gas station on the corner of Rosewood and Main. I liked her when she yelled I must have a small dick.” Rhett’s face is a mix of confusion and disbelief. “And I especially like her now. I’m not sad about Vivi. The only thing I’m sad about is not being there for Winter earlier. But that’s my cross to bear. So, if you’re looking for a person to commiserate with about how awful she is, you need to find someone else.”
With that, I push off the counter, open the back door and wave a hand at the only woman who has ever captured my attention. My newbusiness partner.
I interrupt the quiet hum of conversation, done with being around everyone. “Tink, let’s go home.”
She blinks a couple of times, then says a few polite thank yous and excuses herself. When she gets to Vivienne and me, she grips my bicep and lets me lead her out of the house.
* * *
We drive home in strained silence. I tell myself it’s because Vivi is asleep in the back seat. But that’s a lie.
I know it. And I’m getting the sense Winter knows it too.
“That went better than I expected,” she says, her voice a little too bright for her personality.
“What were you expecting?” My hands clamp on the wheel, my voice low and quiet.
Darkness settles around us, and the dull hum of the tires on the back road fills the void of her not responding. I try to keep my eyes on the road, but she’s quiet for so long that I can’t help but glance over at her. Her posture is straight, but her hands are twisting in her lap, giving away her inner distress.
“I didn’t expect you to defend me.”
I shake my head, a bit irritated she thinks I wouldn’t.
“I’ll always defend you, Winter.”
My statement must shock her, judging by the way her head snaps in my direction. After a few beats, she clears her throat and relaxes back in her seat.
“I’m not surprised by Rhett’s take, because that’s mostly what I expected. I can’t blame him for painting me as the villain. I can understand why he would perceive me that way.”
“Why?”
“Because my relationship with Summer is new. And he holds a grudge better than she does, I guess.”
“He’s an idiot.”
“No.” She sighs heavily and her gaze drifts out the window. “I’ve been brutal to Summer almost my entire life.”
“Why? Did she do something to you?”
Winter snorts, like we both know it’s out of character for Summer to do something mean. “It sounds stupid when I say it out loud.”
“I say lots of stupid stuff.”
