Page 45 of Beating Heart
It was still hard to wrap my head around the fact that two of the most important people in my life were no longer in my life.
How could they be?
They’d betrayed me in the worst way.
And with my now-canceled wedding date looming above me like a dark cloud, it was hitting me all over again. One more week, and I’d be able to put the whole thing in my rearview.
I shook it off and turned my attention to Demi and Peyton, who were walking my way. I’d just arrived here, and the party was in full swing. I’d had second thoughts when I’d heard the music and the laughter, wondering if I should have just stayed home and felt sorry for myself, baked some cupcakes or cookies, and let myself get lost in sugary goodness.
But Nash had texted and told me to stop hiding and get my ass over there.
So here I was.
I’d gotten to know a lot of locals already, as everyone had come by the office to meet me over the last few weeks. They didn’t have kids, but that didn’t stop them from dropping by, and they’d all made me feel very welcome.
“Hey, girl, we’re so glad you’re here,” Peyton said.
Demi handed me a beer before clinking her bottle against mine. “I can’t wait for you to meet Romeo.”
“Well, my brothers will be very jealous. They’re super fans of his. They were obsessed with that fight,” I said.
“Says the girl who has a brother who happens to be one of the most famous hockey players in the league,” Peyton added, because once they’d found out that my brother was Clark Chadwick, they’d all freaked out. I was used to it. Clark was a professional hockey player, and he’d really made a name for himself the last two years.
I chuckled, just as Peyton waved at someone and told us she’d be right back.
We both glanced over to see where she was going.
“That’s my brother, Slade. I think she’s crushing on him, but it’s not something I want to talk about with her just yet.” She laughed.
I shook my head. “Trust me. No one gets that more than me. I’ve lived it my entire life with my family.”
A good-looking man walked over, and I assumed it was Romeo, as I remembered a photo my brothers had shown me.
“This is the infamous Dr. Chadwick, huh?” he asked, extending his hand as the other arm looped around Demi’s waist, and he pulled her close.
“Please, call me Emerson. You must be Romeo.”
“Apparently, you’ve got some fans in Rosewood River, Golden Boy. They were invested in the fight,” Demi said, glancing up at him, and my chest squeezed at the way they looked at one another.
Had Collin ever looked at me like that?
Like he couldn’t live in a world that I didn’t exist in?
Because that’s what I was witnessing right now.
“Yeah? That’s nice to hear. Thank you. And I’m a huge hockey fan, and Clark is a beast, so let him know he’s got a fan here in Magnolia Falls.” He wrapped both arms around his wife, her back to his chest. “My girl has been talking about you so much. We were hoping you’d show up today.”
“Thank you. She makes the best coffee I’ve ever had, so she’s stuck with me now. And she got me back on a horse after a few years of not riding much.” I smiled at Demi. “And I was happy to come. It seems like the place to be.”
“Just wait for the fireworks. King gets really into it, and it’ll be a great show,” Demi said.
Nash called Romeo over for something, and the next thing I knew, I was sitting in a chair with Demi, Peyton, and their best friends, Ruby and Saylor. I’d met Saylor when I’d popped into her bookstore a few times, and I’d met Ruby when I’d gone out riding with them on Demi’s ranch. But today, I was getting to know them all better. I was enjoying myself and laughing endlessly, and it felt good.
Betrayal has a way of making you feel this need to protect yourself. Keep your guard up. And I’d been doing that for the last few months.
But today, my guard was down.
It was the first time in a long while that I was genuinely having a good time.
