Page 66 of Ride Me Reckless

I huffed out a breath, running a hand through my hair. “I was gonna wait until after we ate.”

She crossed her arms. “That bad, huh?”

“No,” I said softly. “Thatbig.”

Her eyes searched mine, and I watched the moment it clicked.

“No shit,” she whispered, eyes going wide.

“No shit,” I repeated, smiling despite the anxiety churning in my gut.

Callie leaned back in the booth like I’d hit her with a shockwave, then slapped a hand to her chest. “Colt?”

I nodded.

“Well damn,” she breathed. “Did you plan it?”

I laughed. “You know better than that. Do I look like I planned it?”

Callie gave a soft chuckle and shook her head. “No. You look like someone who’s about to throw up. But I know you well enough that you don’t hate the idea.”

“I don’t,” I said honestly. “I’m scared out of my mind, but I want this baby. I want something that’s mine. Something real.”

The waitress returned with our drinks, but instead of leaving, she smiled and nodded toward the bar. “By the way, your tab’s covered. That cowboy in the expensive boots said to put it on him.”

We both turned. At the far end of the bar, Easten Maddow leaned against the counter, all lazy charm and expensive denim, boots polished enough to blind someone. He tipped his Stetson in our direction, then went right back to flirting with the bartender like he had all night to kill.

“Great,” I muttered under my breath. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t come over here and start snooping around in my business.”

Callie smirked. “He always that subtle?”

“So, let’s get back to the important stuff,” she said, wrapping both hands around her beer like it was an anchor, “what now? You moving in with Colt? Gonna raise little cowboy junior together on that fancy-ass ranch of his?”

“Slow down,” I said, sipping my lemon water. “I haven’t agreed to anything. The case manager is pushing me to pick a memory care place for Mama. I’ve got… a week, maybe.”

“I thought she gave you options.”

I nodded. “She emailed me a list. Helen’s pushing the one out by the lake. Says the views are calming and the staff is stable.”

Callie scrunched her nose. “That place smells like old coffee and despair.”

“I know. That’s the problem.”

There was a beat of silence before Callie said, “What about Heartland Estates? It’s local. We used to visit your uncle there, remember? He loved the place.”

“I thought about it,” I admitted. “It’s just… hard to picture her anywhere that isn’t her house.”

“Then don’t think of it as forever. Just think of it as a breather. For both of you.”

I nodded, grateful for the practical wisdom beneath Callie’s sass.

“And besides,” she said, lips curling up, “I might not be your roommate much longer.”

I blinked. “What? Why?”

Her smile widened. “Matt. My boss. He’s hinting that he is about to ask me to move in with him.”

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. “Wait—didn’t you just meet him last week?”