Reckless

“I think people mistake you being in a bad mood when you’re just overwhelmed. I think you needed to lie here for a few minutes with no one needing you. I think you’re overstimulated and even the best of us require some time to collect ourselves.”

“It strikes me that perhaps I’m not an easy woman to love, but Theo does it so effortlessly that I feel like I could be. Like I deserve to be.”

“I could fucking bury whoever made you believe you’re as unlovable as you seem to think.”

“It means . . . I live you. Like I see you everywhere, you are in everything. Our connection is more than physical.”

“I just remembered that he called me the morning after you two first got together. And do you know what he said to me?He said, ‘Mom, I met her.’ And I said, ‘Who?’ He said, ‘The woman I’m going to marry one day.”

“You have to freak out with me because I need you. And I love you. I love you so much it paralyzes me to think of carrying on without you. You’re not allowed to shut me out. Because you made me need you, and now you have to deal with the consequences.”

“Careful, that one’s got claws,” Cade offers right as Willa shoves a pointy elbow into his ribs. I grin. “That’s okay. I like having my back scratched.”

“Watch your fucking tone when you’re talking to the mother of my child.”

“I will go wherever you want. I will wear whatever you want. I will never turn my phone off again. I will always, always be there for you. For Vivi. You don’t need to beg, and you don’t need to say please. For as long as I live, for as long as you need me, you’ll have me. Okay? Never doubt that.”

“I’m trying to give you what you need. But if you think I don’t like what I see, then I’m not the one who needs his head checked. Because your wellbeing has quickly become my number one priority.”“Why?”“Because I fucking adore you. Haven’t you been paying attention?”

“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”

“You do know you’re in love with that girl, don’t you?”“Yeah, Mom. I know.”

“Because the very last thing I need in my life is someone who makes me feel like there’s not enough oxygen in my lungs when I’ve only just caught my breath.”

“That’s everyone, Tink. You’ve ruined me. Don’t you get it? I only see you. You’ve got all my attention. Every last bit of it.”

“That night we were reckless. But god, I’d be reckless with you over and over again if it means ending up here.”‘That sentiment. This man. It’s like there was something missing inside me. Like I wasn’t whole, until he came along.”

“What’s happening is Miss Independent met the treat-her-like-a-princess guy, and she’s freaking out.”

“We’re going to have to tell people soon.”“Yeah. I already told my mom. I hope that’s okay.”“What did she say?”“That I’ve got some catching up to do. And that she can’t wait to see you.”“Vivi, you mean? Yeah, that will be nice.”“No, Winter. You. She can’t wait to meet you.”“That should be interesting. Hope she’s not too disappointed.”“I could fucking bury whoever made you believe you’re as unlovable as you seem to think.”

“Yeah, don’t worry, Winter. We’re gonna free you from that husband and bury him in the back field. It’ll be like that Dixie Chicks song. Rob is the new Earl.”

“Sometimes things just happen, and you don’t realize how right they are until you’re in the thick of it.”

“That night we were reckless.” His voice cracks. “But god, I’d be reckless with you over and over again if it means ending up here.”

“Call your dog off, Eaton.” She keeps walking, only addressing Rhett, like I’m not even here.But goddamn, I love a challenge.I turn with a loud, “Woof!” as I watch her petite frame slip into the bright light of the warm, bustling house.”

“You are a national treasure, Harvey Eaton.”

“I should stop. I should walk away. I should channel my maturity and not flirt with her by infuriating her. But I’ve always been a little reckless.”

“I was in this exact spot when you gave me the best and hottest verbal lashing of my life. You were all wild eyes and fighting words. I thought I’d never seen a more heart-stopping fiery woman in my life. You were . . . well . . . you were mean. But I appreciated your spunk. That was the night I knew I wanted you.”

“You were what I’ve always needed and never had.”

“Te vivo?” Winter nods. “It’s Portuguese. My dad used to say it to my sister and me. Sadly, it’s some of the only Portuguese I know. It means ‘I live you’ or something along those lines.” “You mean I love you?” “No.” I scrub at my stubble and glance down at our daughter, who is now amusing herself by playing her favorite game of fetch with Peter and his miniature rubber chicken. “It means . . . I live you. Like I see you everywhere, you are in everything. Our connection is more than physical.”

“Our little secret. “Call your dog off, Eaton.” She keeps walking, only addressing Rhett, like I’m not even here. But goddamn, I love a challenge. I turn with a loud, “Woof!” as I watch her petite frame slip into the bright light of the warm, bustling house. Rhett is laughing. At me. Not with me. “You’re an idiot, Theo.”

“Winter, we are a thing. We are the thing. We are it.”

“I don’t want to be the one-night stand who’s used to scratch an itch. I want a woman like Winter Hamilton—beautiful, and smart, and sharp-tongued—to look at me and see a future.”

“I stare at her. She has no idea how to ask for help. And then it hits me. She’s had no one to ask.”