Page 49 of On the Wild Side
“Hey, you gotengageda week ago, and I’m just now finding out about it.”
“Okay, that’s fair. Tell me about her. Send me pictures.”
I spend ten minutes filling Amy in, and when I’m done, she sighs, obviously envisioning a Hallmark romance in her head.
“And now, you’re snowed in at your tiny cabin, wasting time with an old friend when she’s in your bed, pining for you.”
“Uh, I don’t think that’s quite accurate, but okay. Anyway, I’m having a few bad moments of my own over here. I have no business starting something with her.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I’m not retired.” I blow out a breath. “Although, this will be my last season. But you know how I feel about starting a relationship with someone, Amy. I won’t do to Abbi what happened to you and Sierra.”
“Good. Don’t do that. Zero out of ten stars, do not recommend. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start a relationship with her. Weren’t you the one just lecturing me on not living in my grief?”
“Number one, it wasn’t alecture. Number two, it’s not the same thing at all, and you know it.”
“Nope, I don’t know it. I’m going to tell you right now that you’rewrong, Brady Wild. You and I know that life can change in the blink of an eye. You’re stupid to pass on happiness because ofwhat-ifs.Promise me you won’t do that. If she’s the one for you, and you’re crazy about her, you hang on to her. And you bring her here so I can meet her and her amazing daughter.Send me photos. Hell, I might get impatient and have to bring Sierra and Hugh out there to ride some horses.”
“You’re always welcome to come here,” I remind her. “I hope this is the best year of your life, Amy. You deserve it more than anyone I know.”
“Right back at you, Brady. We’ve both earned it. Now, I’m going to go out to breakfast with myfiancé, and I’ll have Sierra call you later.”
“Sounds good. Take care.”
“Bye.”
I hang up and let out a long breath before sipping my tepid coffee. I sit in the silence for a while before getting up to stoke the fire, and then I pad down the hallway, fresh cup of coffee in hand, and open the bedroom door to check on Abbi.
She turns over in the bed and smiles at me sleepily. “Hey.”
“Good morning. IthinkI got your coffee right. I’ll do better next time.”
She sits up and takes a sip, closing her eyes. “You did greatthistime. Thanks. I thought I heard you talking to someone out there.”
“Yeah, I call Amy every year on New Year’s morning. We talk sporadically during the year, but this has been a tradition since Dirks died.”
“Oh, I like that tradition.” She smiles and sips, and I reach out to tuck her hair behind her ear. “How is she?”
“She’s great, actually. She got engaged on Christmas.”
“Oh, wow, that’s awesome.” Abbi looks almost as excited as if she got engaged herself, and I can’t help but lean over to kiss her lips. “How didyoutake the news?”
“I was a little surprised, but I’m really happy for her. She deserves happiness. She asked me to walk her down the aisle.”
“Holy shit. I hope you said yes.”
“Of course, I did.” I take the coffee from her and take a sip of my own. “Now, what wouldyoulike to do today?”
“For starters, I need to call and check in with your mom and see how Daisy’s doing. I have no idea where my phone is.”
I laugh and stand, passing the coffee back to her. “I’ll go look for it.”
Her purse is on the floor just inside the doorway where she dropped it last night when I couldn’t take my lips off of her, so I pick it up and take it to her.
“Thanks. It also occurs to me that the only clothes I have is that dress, unless I want to wear this sheet like a toga.”
“Togas are coming back in.”