Page 114 of Homebound

He seems to sink in on himself. “I know, and I’m sorry. I really am. I think you can do anything you set your mind to, Kodie. You’ve got this.”

His nice words do nothing for me, even though they’re kind. For so long, I placed my self-worth on the validation of other people, like Boone. We were one in the same, and I wanted to impress him, but now I know that if I try to please everyone, I’ll never be good enough for anyone.

I blow out a heavy sigh, wanting to put all of this behind me. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just that we never would’ve worked. You asked me to give up my entire dream for you. To pick up my life and move to Vegas. What’d you expect?”

“I guess…” His throat bobs, and he stares at the animal trailers in the distance. “I guess I thought you loved me more than you loved bull riding. I thought you’d pick me.”

“If you really loved me, you wouldn’t have asked me to choose,” I say, softening my words. “You would’ve supported my dreams no matter what. Like Wyatt.”

Wyatt could come up with a million reasons for us not to be together, but instead, he’s looking at the one reason he wants to make this work.

Boone gives me a sad look, his eyes searching mine. “So, it’s him, then?”

I might be standing here with Boone, but my mind is back with Wyatt and Vi, snuggled on our leather couch with Luna-Tuna at my feet. With Wyatt, I can have everything: my dream, a family. Sure, there are things standing in our way, but I want to be the type of person who believes in the goodness of the world, just like him.

I always thought love meant finding someone who makes you stronger, but for me, I think love is finding someone who makes me softer, and that’s Wyatt. It took me too long to see it because no one gets that lucky. No one meets the love of their life at ten years old, but I did.

I met the love of my life so young that I didn’t realize he’d be the love of my life.

I nod, a smile cracking across my face like a sunrise. “Yeah, it is. He’s so good for me. Too good, really, but that’s how I know he’s the one.”

Life dealt me a royal flush with Wyatt Patterson. He’s soft where I’m hard. Calm where I’m intense. Caring where I’m focused. He was crafted so perfectly for me, slid so effortlessly into my life, that I never realized he was meant to be there all along.

“I think it’s always been him,” I murmur to cushion the blow. “I just didn’t see it before, but I do now.”

His fists ball up at his sides, and I can’t tell if he’s angry, hurt, determined, or all of the above.

“You know he’s going back to Nashville, and what about his kid?” Boone’s question is laced with concern, whether it’s fake or not, I can’t tell, and I don’t care—it doesn’t shake my resolve.

“We’ll figure it out. I’m not worried, and I love that little girl,” I reply, surprising myself with the ferocity in my tone.

I’m normally the overthinker, but all I feel right now is this resolute certainty, so maybe Wyatt’s chronic positivity is rubbing off on me.

“You?” He arches a brow, his expression settling into disbelief. “Not worried? That’s shocking.”

I lift a casual shoulder. “What can I say? He brings out the best in me.”

Boone meets my gaze, and then gives me this sad little smile that reminds me we did have some good things, but we didn’t have enough of them to last.

“You know,” he eventually says, his eyes locking onto mine before dropping to my lips. “I think you’ll always be the one who got away from me, Kodie Cutler.”

He’ll eventually realize we were all wrong for each other, so I shrug. “You’ll find someone else. You’re a looker, Bowman. I’m not worried.” And then, because I want to put this behind me once and for all, I add, “You’re not a bad man, Boone. You’re just not the man for me.”

That seems to ignite something within him, and his eyes spark with intensity.

I start to pull away, but in an instant, his hands meet my waist. He pulls me into his chest and goes in for a kiss like he’s landing a plane on my face. Shock surges through me, and without thinking, I lift my hand to slap his cheek.

He stumbles back.

“What the hell?” I say, wiping my mouth off with the back of my hand, even though he didn’t even kiss me. I don’t want any of his breath particles on my lips. “Why would you even kiss me? That’s disrespectful as hell, and I told you we’re done. It’s always going to be Wyatt for me.”

“I’m sorry, sorry,” he mumbles, rubbing his cheek. “Shit. I just thought I could change your mind and remind you what we had.”

Slow, heavy footsteps thump behind me.

“You should listen to her, Bowman,” a familiar voice grits out, and I feel the heat of his body at my back. “Every gentleman knows you never disrespect a lady unless she’s begging for it in the bedroom.”

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