Page 125 of Drive

“This isn’t life-threatening.” Okay, that was a small lie. “I have to try to stay cool, calm. It’s not a big deal. I just can’t do extreme weather, and I can’t go postal. I’ll live a long life.” That was the truth.

“Why wouldn’t you tell me?”

“Because that night was supposed to be goodbye,” I said. “Because I had Nate, Reid. IhaveNate, and he takes care of me.”

Reid swallowed hard as he looked at the mess of glass on the floor.

“How the hell did we get here?”

“I was just thinking that,” I said softly. “I was thinking, if I had never asked you to kiss me, would we both be better off? And then I remembered all the good that came from it.”

“Baby,” he croaked, shaking his head as if to ward it off, “you had astroke?” His eyes fogged, and then I saw more emotion run down his cheek. I felt it then, the ruin. The same pain I saw all those years ago when we parted.

“I did,” I said as my eyes filled. “But it’s not your fault, Reid. I don’t blame you, and if I weren’t so whacked out after, I never would have told Paige you were there the night before. She told my dad but my mother doesn’t know. That’s why you’re still alive. You should probably save yourself.”

“Damn it, Stella,” he said as he pulled me into him. I sighed, letting myself sink into his arms. We rested silently in each other, our hearts beating the same with too much between us. I had to snap myself out of it. Free us both.

“Fucking tequila,” I chuckled. “It’s just not a good look on us, Reid.”

“I ate the worm,” he murmured with his own chuckle.

“We’re like an atom bomb every time we get together,” I said as I noted the fresh weariness in his eyes that I put there.

“You finally went off, huh, Grenade? And I pulled the pin.” We both laughed inappropriately. Because that’s what we did.

“I should go,” he said, releasing me.

“Paige didn’t mean it.” I gripped his hand. “She loves you, Reid.”

“It’s so crazy,” he said. “I can sell out stadiums all over the planet, but I still can’t get your sister’s approval.” He shrugged. “Money used to be the whole fucking problem, and now it can’t solve any damn thing.”

“That was never a problem,” I said.

“God.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I just made a fucking fool out of myself.”

He sighed as he pulled some money out of his pocket and threw a wad of it on the bar to replace the glasses.

I shook my head. “You have to make a fool of yourself, Reid. In my experience, it’s the best way to show you care.”

“Didn’t make a damn bit of difference, did it?” he asked before he grabbed the bottle of tequila off the bar, not waiting for my answer. “I didn’t come here to hurt you,” he said softly. “I just thought—fuck, Stella, I just hoped—”

“Reid?” Paige said with tear-filled eyes from the doorway. “Can I please talk to you?”

I looked between them and sighed. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

“She’s Everything”

Brad Paisley

Dancing. That’s where the real relief came that night. The party was in full swing at the country club, and I could see the wait staff was terrified, and with good reason. Aside from hanging from the chandeliers, the party was out of control. Paige and I were partnered up, dancing our asses off while the accordions rang out through the speakers my cousin Junior rented just for the party, stating the sound system at the club “Didn’t have enough bass.”

“God, I feel awful,” Paige said.

“Hey, at least you caused the drama at yourownwedding,” I chided, twisting my hips.

She glanced Reid’s way. “He’s been quiet all night.”