“You can’t. It’s done, and we’re over.”
With our backs to each other, I tell her the truth because I may never get another chance to. “I made the bet because I had already won it.”
That sits in the air between us like a dark cloud keeping us apart. I look down at the wedding ring on my finger. Nothing ever felt right until I was wearing it.
The bed shifts from her side, causing me to look back over my shoulder. My eyes meet hers, and she asks, “How?”
None of this is going to help my case, but I can’t lie to her now that it’s out in the open. “Tagger was catching onto me being gone and coming home early. He was digging for information, figuring I was seeing someone.” I blow out a breath but keep going. “We had already had sex but agreed we weren’t ready to share our relationship. That’s when he bet me my mom’s car that someone as incredible as you would never give me the time of day. But Lauralee, we had already had sex. I knew I’d win, but the win wasn’t going to come out until we decided to go public.”
She studies my eyes before her gaze lowers to the bed.
So I hurry to finish. “Was it stupid to make the bet in the first place? Yes. Immature. Absolutely. I regret it so fucking much. I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve to be part of something that two fuckups didn’t think through.”
Reaching for a loose thread on the comforter, she looks back at me. “And you will win your mom’s car? That’s the prize?”
“You are the prize. That car isn’t mine unless you’re in my life, not because of a damn bet, but because if you never wanted us to go public, I’d gladly lose the car if I have you.”
With a sigh, anger escapes her. “I’m trying to piece this together to give you the benefit of the doubt. The car isn’t yours because Christine owns the majority share of the ranch, which also means Tagger does. This is because you and Griffin gave most of your shares to her for running it?”
“Yes.” It doesn’t surprise me that she knows the details. She’s my sister’s best friend. And it was abig deal, a gift we gave our sister since she had more than earned the ranch and farmland. “My ass of a best friend knew exactly what he was doing by including the car.”
“He dangled it in front of you, and you grabbed the chance you were given to own it.” Sliding her knee on the bed, she angles more of her body to face me. I hope that’s trust I spy reentering her eyes. It sure looks like it. “Does that sound right on target?”
“Bull’s-eye.” That she’s even granted me the benefit of the doubt has hope returning that we can work this out.
She leans back on the stack of pillows lining the padded headboard as if she’s not in such a rush and holds her hand with the rings up in front of her. “It’s really crappy to find out about this, especially through his text. I understand the reasoning. I know your mom’s car is important to you.” Sitting up again as if she can’t sit still, she twists the wedding band around her finger. “You could have just told me about it. I would have made sure you won without throwing our relationship under the bus.” She throws her hand out. “Marriage aside, we were dating, Baylor. We were in a relationship, even if we hadn’t defined it. I was supposed to be your partner, someone you can tell anything to and would be on your side, but this . . .”
Just when forgiveness is within reach, it slips through my fingers again. “Please give me a second chance. I love you.” The words cause my heart to ache and my throat to tighten. “We’re real, baby.”
She turns her back on me again when she drops her feet to the carpet. I can plead all night, but I can tell she’s decided. Pushing off the bed, she comes around and stands in front of me. I wedge my legs apart so she can get closer. “This marriage may have been created out of necessity,” she says, resting her hands on my shoulders, “but I still deserve respect.”
“You do. I’m so sorry for doing something so stupid. I’m even more sorry that you got hurt because of my choices.” Reaching forward, I hold her by the waist. “Will you forgive me?”
Her expression softens, her tears have dried, and a sympathetic smile creases the corners of her lips. She sits on my lap, wrapping her arm around my neck. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I believe you didn’t hurt me on purpose. I’ve been worked up all day thinking about that text, and then your boss said weird stuff to me, and I lost my appetite. I didn’t even get to eat my cookie. All day, I had to grin and pretend I’m a happy newlywed when I couldn’t stop thinking about the bet.”
My soul feels whole, holding her again, her laughter the balm it needed. I could lose her. The reality of that sinks in deep. “I’ll buy you however many you want. You want to own Levain Bakery, it’s yours.”
“I’d be happy with Peaches.” With the prettiest smile I thought I’d never get to see again, she looks up at me and asks, “Can we go back to the city?”
“We can leave right now if that’s what you want.”
“I don’t want to be here anymore. I’d rather spend my last night only with you.”
I lift her to her feet when I stand, but I don’t let go. I almost had this taken away from me, so I wrap her in my arms and kiss her head. “Thank you.”
When her arms come around me, she tucks her face against my chest while rubbing my back. “It’s going to be okay.”
Through her own pain and the embarrassment I caused,shecomforts me. “I don’t deserve you?—”
“No, you don’t.” She laughs as she leans back, trusting me to keep her from falling. “This wasn’t so bad that it couldn’t be fixed with honesty from the beginning.”Honesty.That’s all she wants.
I need to come clean about owning the building back home and soon. Why do I get the feeling that isn’t going to smooth over the way that this did? Especially since we’re now married.
“We all screw up,” she says. “It’s how we handle it after that matters.” With a look I’m not as familiar with coming over her face, she says, “You know what this means, right?”
“No. What does it mean?”
“We’re getting Tagger back.”
