by Tessa Bailey
“Who? When?” Finally. My father asks good questions.
“His name is Riley Bishop,” I tell them, but saying his name aloud causes my stomach to flip. “We met in Vegas, and he’s who I went to visit in Texas these past few weeks.”
“Why would you marry a stranger?” my father asks, his face distorted. “What does he do?” Of course he’d ask about his career.
I shrug, not wanting to give him the details of our drunken dare to elope. “He’s a rancher. His family owns a huge cattle and horse ranch in Eldorado, Texas. They own a bed and breakfast on the land and a bar in town.”
“It’s Southern white trash,” Benjamin hisses. “The place is filthy.”
I snap my gaze to his. “You’re just pissed Riley kicked your ass,” I say without thinking.
“What?” my parents both say.
“I’m not marrying Benjamin.”
“Zoey…” Dad warns. “Whatever this is, whatever it is you’re going through, we’ll figure it out. File the annulment papers, and we can cover it up. No big deal.” He fans out his napkin, then places it gently on his lap. “Can you pass the salt, please?”
He ends the conversation as if my words meant nothing to him. I just said I’m not marrying Benjamin, and my father asks me to pass the fucking salt? What is wrong with my goddamn family?
“Did you hear what I said?” I ask him pointedly as he waits for the shaker.
“I did, but you don’t know what you’re talking about. Stop acting like a child. Salt, now.”
My blood boils as years of pent-up aggravation hit the surface at the realization that I’m nothing more than a political ploy to them. Marry off their daughter to a hotshot doctor and basically change everything about myself to make them happy.
It stops now.
My chair scrapes against the floor as I push away from the table, the three of them looking up at me wide-eyed as I stand. I toss my napkin down on my plate and scowl. “I’m done. Excuse me.”
“Zoey!” Benjamin shouts, standing as I move toward the door. “Do not walk away from me! You’re my fiancée. You’re mine.”
“No…” I say comically, turning around and facing him. “I was never yours. Proposing to me in front of a room filled with family and knowing I’d have no choice but to agree makes you a coward. We went on a handful of dates, and you never once asked me any important questions. You don’t even know who I really am. What I like. What makes me happy. You don’t give a fuck about me.” Then I face my parents, who look as if they’ve seen a ghost. “And shame on you, Mom and Dad. You’d rather marry me off to some man you approve of than ask me what I want. I’ve only ever wanted to make you proud, but I’ve finally realized it’s not worth my own happiness to live the life you want for me. So I hope it was worth it…risking never seeing me again because you’ve pushed me too far this time.”
I slide off the engagement ring and slam it down on the table. “Wedding is off. Goodbye, Benjamin. Forever. Eat shit.”
With my head held high and my heart racing, I stomp up the stairs and don’t breathe until I’m locked inside my bedroom. I’ve never stood up to my parents like that before, but it’s been a long time coming.
No one bothers me the rest of the night, and I manage to sneak out the next day without anyone noticing. I take an Uber and meet Summer for lunch at a nearby cafe. I know she’s dying to know all the details.
Nerves set in my stomach as I wait for her, not knowing if Mom mentioned my outburst last night or not. Though Summer and I are pretty close, she’s always kissed our parents’ asses. She’ll either tell me to apologize and make things right with them, or she’ll be on my side about this for once.
As soon as we spot each other, I stand, and she pulls me into her arms. “Zoey! I missed you.” She squeezes harder, and I choke out for air.
“You act like I went to the moon or something,” I tease as we sit.
“Three weeks is a long time for us not to hang out or at least chat,” she says before the waitress arrives and takes our drink order.
“Have you talked to Mom or Dad today?” I ask.
“No, why? Everything okay?”
I look down at the table, feeling like everything’s about to change. “I don’t think so. Benjamin came over for dinner last night, and I told him I wasn’t marrying him. Told Mom and Dad I was already married, and he’s who I went to visit in Texas.”
Her eyebrows fly to her hairline. “Oh.” Summer blinks a few times and clears her throat. “I imagine that didn’t go over very well. What did they say?”
“That I was a child…Benjamin said he’d pay to get it taken care of…basically to sit down and shut up.”
“Zoey…”
“I didn’t file the annulment papers,” I blurt out. “That’s why I left. I needed to see if Riley and I had a true connection or not. I knew marrying Benjamin would be a mistake either way, but I needed confirmation.”
“Was Riley surprised to see you?” she asks as our drinks are delivered. The waitress takes our order and then leaves us to continue our conversation.
“Yeah, at first. Then once I explained why I was there—minus the Benjamin part—it was like we just continued right where we left off in Vegas. I don’t know…it felt so right. So natural. I didn’t have to pretend to be anyone. He likes me just the way I am,” I say with a sad smile.
Summer nods, but I know her mind is racing at my confession. “So everyone lost their shit at dinner, I suspect?” She takes a sip from her drink as if we’re discussing the weather. Summer’s proper most of the time, especially in public, but I know the real her. The one she let loose in Vegas. “How’d the night end?”
“With me telling them all off and leaving the room. Haven’t talked to any of them since,” I reply, shrugging.
“So where does this leave you? What are you gonna do?” she asks, narrowing her eyes as if she’s trying to figure me out.
“I’m not sure, honestly. Benjamin came to the ranch, Riley punched him, then Benjamin hauled my ass back home. I didn’t want to leave Texas, but I knew I had to make things right here first. I had just told him the night before that I loved him and wanted to stay there. He said he loved me too.” I choke back tears and sigh. “Then I broke his heart.”
I close my eyes, not wanting to get emotional, but it’s no use. I miss him so much already.
“Wow…” Summer inhales a deep breath. “Did you talk to Riley and explain your situation?”
“Yes, I told him everything. He basically told me the ball was in my court, and that I knew where he lived. I explained I had to go and straighten things out with my parents, but you should’ve seen his face. I hurt him. Betrayed his trust. His family was so wonderful to me, Summer. Showed me what it was like to have people in your life who support and love you unconditionally.”
“I support you,” she counters. “You’re my sister, and I love you so much.”
“I know you do. But for the most part, I’ve done what’s been expected of me my whole life. I didn’t want to go to med school, and I don’t want to marry a doctor. I’m a huge failure in their eyes. But I can’t live my life for them anymore.”
“Exactly,” she states. “You cannot live your life for anyone except you. I’ve loved Owen since I was fifteen. The fact that he wanted to be a doctor had nothing to do with me wanting to marry him. Sure, it made our parents happier than a pig in mud, but if he had wanted to do something else, that wouldn’t have changed the way I feel about him. Mom and Dad would’ve had to get over it. I know you think you’re a disappointment, but I also know they care about your happiness. They push you because they think it’s what they’re supposed to do instead of just supporting you in whatever it is you want.”
“Well, they could’ve fooled me for the past twenty-one years.” I scoff. “They always made me feel like I embarrassed them for being a hairdresser and wanting to explore everything and anything. They wanted a cookie-cutter daughter, but they got me instead.”
/> Summer reaches across the table and places her hand on top of mine. “They’ll come around, Zoey. They won’t risk not having a relationship with you and know they can’t push you to do something you don’t want. If Riley’s the one, they’ll just have to accept it.”
“I’m not even sure if what Riley and I had can be fixed at this point. He said it was my decision, but I’m afraid I’m just going to hurt him more.”
“Follow your heart, Zoey. It’ll always lead you in the right direction.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Riley
It’s been a week since Zoey left and took my heart with her. She texted me once to say she made it back home, but we haven’t talked since. I’ve been tempted a dozen times to reach out because I miss her so much, but then I decide not to and delete my message.
The worst fucking week of my life.
I told her the ball was in her court, knowing she had a big decision to make. I don’t want to be anyone’s second choice, and I thought it was different with Zoey. The betrayal I feel for not knowing the whole truth of why she was here still weighs heavy on my heart. Even though I believed her when she told me she loved me, I couldn’t beg her to stay or force her to choose me. Part of me wanted to, but the other part knew letting her go was the right thing to do. Her life was never here.
“Turn that frown upside down, Birthday Boy!” Diesel singsongs as he pours shots of tequila. “The ladies are gonna be here any second to pregame, and then we’re hitting the bar!”
Groaning, I take the shot from him and swallow it down. This wasn’t my idea, but after telling Diesel I didn’t want to celebrate and wanted to just spend the night alone, he made plans for the both of us. I don’t have enough energy to argue anymore.
“Cheers to twenty-three, you old fart!” He hands me another, and again, I swallow it down. Maybe it’ll numb me long enough to stop thinking about Zoey for more than ten seconds.
The doorbell rings, and Diesel claps. “They’re here! Get ready! Your birthday gifts have arrived…”
Grunting, I shake my head. I have zero interest in any woman who isn’t my wife.
Diesel lets them in and blasts the music.
Just fucking shoot me already.
“Alright, quit being a miserable bastard.” Diesel grabs my arm and lifts me to my feet before setting me down on a barstool. It’s the one from the kitchen that Zoey and I fooled around on. Great.
“Ladies, ladies…” Diesel says. “Lookin’ fine as hell. Let’s make the man of the hour feel better, shall we?”
Diesel changes the music, and soon, the girls are dancing in front of me. I have no idea who they are, but knowing my best friend, they’ve been bought for the night. Asshole.
I drink a beer while they strut their stuff, trying to tempt me to dance with them, but I push them away. A thanks, but no thanks approach and directed them toward Diesel instead.
“I’m getting a refill,” I tell him and leave the room before he can stop me. He has one girl on his lap while the other dances around them.
As I grab another beer from the fridge, I hear the doorbell ring again and shake my head. Who knows who else he invited? Probably more women. I’m going to need to be way drunker if Diesel has more shenanigans up his sleeve. So I grab two beers before walking back into the living room. It’s then I hear her voice.
“Oh, hi. Um. I’m looking for Riley, but it looks like I came at a bad time. I’ll come back…”
“Zoey?” Diesel says, standing and going to the door. I stand frozen, watching it all unfold, too shocked to move my damn feet. “What’re you doing here?”
“I came to talk to Riley…” Her sweet voice rings out, but I hear the devastation in her tone. Fuck, this looks really bad. “But never mind. You’re busy. I’ll go.”
Setting the bottles down, I rush through the room and push through Diesel and the girl. Zoey is already rushing down the stairs and back to her car.
“Zoey, wait…” I call out, following behind her. “It’s not what it looks like.”
She spins around and faces me, her expression unreadable as I approach her. “You don’t owe me an explanation, Riley.”
“You came back?” I ask on a breath.
“I’m sorry I showed up uninvited, but I wanted to give you these…” She hands me a manila folder. I watch as she chews on her lip—her nervous tic—as I open it and see it’s the annulment papers I first signed. Son of a bitch. “Hurting you will always be my biggest regret, Riley. I’m sorry for not telling you the whole truth sooner, but—”
“Do you still love me?” I interrupt, my heart throbs in my chest at seeing her and these fucking documents.
She blinks up at me and nods. “Yes, it’s why I—”
My jaw tightens, and I step closer. “Then why are you doing this?” I ask, shaking the folder in my hand.
“Riley, I’m trying—”
“Why are you walking away?” I take another step closer. “Don’t you feel how right this is?” I grab her hand. “How perfect we could be together?” I place her palm over my pounding heart and close the gap between us until she’s against the car door.
Our closeness causes her breath to hitch. With my eyes locked on hers, she whispers, “Yes, I do.”
“Then why did you sign the fucking papers, Zoey? Please tell me why,” I ask, squeezing her hand tighter.
She swallows, then looks up at me. “I didn’t.”
I lean back as if she’d just slapped me. “What? But you brought them here and gave them to me.” I drop her hand. “Or you wanted me to witness you signing them instead?”
She winces, and I immediately regret the words. “Guess I deserved that.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.” I shake my head, setting the folder on top of the car. “Then, please explain what it is you’re doing here because my mind is going fucking crazy.”
Zoey inhales a deep breath and smiles at me. Fuck, I’ve missed her smile. “I came here to say that I want you. Only you. I brought the papers so we could burn them together. I don’t want an annulment. On the chance that you still want to me married to me, that is.”
“Are you serious?” How could she even second-guess that she’s all I want?
Well, the two half naked girls in my house probably don’t help.
She nods. “I never had feelings for Benjamin or anything my parents pictured for me, but I tried for so long to make them happy that the lines began to blur between living my life and living for them. I decided life wasn’t worth living if you weren’t in it.”
I can’t help the smile on my face as I take in her words. “Really? You want to stay married then?” Caging her against the car, I lean forward, waiting for her to say the words.
“Yes, dummy!” She swats at my chest, laughing. “Had you not interrupted me a dozen times, I could’ve said that sooner.”
Wrapping a hand around her neck, I pull her mouth to mine and press our bodies together. Zoey immediately relaxes against me, looping her arms around my waist and pulling me tighter. I can’t believe she’s really here.
“You’re staying…” I whisper against her lips.
“Yes,” she replies.
“You’re mine.”
“Yes.” She slides her tongue between my lips. “Only yours.”
“Always.”
Zoey grins against me. “Yes.”
Hesitantly, I pull back as we both catch our breaths. “Tell me what happened,” I say, and she immediately knows what I’m referring to.
“I told my parents the truth, and that I refused to marry someone just to appease them. They weren’t happy about it, but once the initial shock wore off, they accepted that my happiness was more important. They apologized for making me feel pressured, and as soon as I was able to get things in order at my job and pack up, I grabbed a flight out here. Summer said she’d ship me the rest of my things, assuming you didn’t kick me out on my ass.”
I smirk. “I’m crazy in love with you, Zoey. I’d never k
ick you anywhere, except maybe into my bed.”
She brings our lips back together before pulling apart and grinning. “So you want to explain the two strippers in your house, or are we just going to ignore that?”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “Fucking Diesel. It’s his birthday gift to me.” I roll my eyes with a sigh. “Told him I didn’t want him to do anything, but you know how well he listens.”
She furrows her brows at me, frowning. “I’m sorry I missed your birthday. I’m the worst wife ever.”
I look at my new watch—a gift from my parents and Rowan—and grin. “It’s not over yet. Plenty of time to make it up to me.” I waggle my brows.
“Well, in that case…let’s go inside.”
“I like that idea much better.” I wink.
After I grab the folder and her luggage, we walk back into the house and go straight into my bedroom. The moment the door is shut, I drop everything and wrap Zoey into my arms.
“I think it’s time we take a proper honeymoon, wife. What do you think?” I suck on her neck, brushing my facial hair against her skin because I know it drives her insane.
She arches, giving me better access. “Mmm…I like that idea very much.”
“Let’s start now.” My hands slide around her back and up her tank top. “We’ll call it a pre-honeymoon.”
She chuckles and raises her arms so I can take it off. “What about your company?”
“Meh. Let Diesel have fun with them. It’ll keep him away from my sister, at least.”
Zoey laughs, reaching for my shirt and lifting it over my head. “You won’t be able to forever, you know.”
“Yes, I will,” I state matter-of-factly, pulling her closer. “And that Trace douche? Pretty sure Diesel scared him away for good.”
“Poor Rowan,” she says.
Wrapping a hand around her, I unclasp her bra and toss it. “Can we not talk about my sister right now?”
“Would you rather talk about mine?” she counters, smirking.
“That’s…” I shake my head. “You’re weird. Clothes. Off. Now.”