Reckless (Chestnut Springs, #4)

by Elsie Silver

“You have to freak out with me because I need you. And I love you. I love you so much it paralyzes me to think of carrying on without you. You’re not allowed to shut me out. Because you made me need you, and now you have to deal with the consequences.”

“Okay, Theo.” Rhett snaps his fingers in front of my face while we sit atop the fence. I should be listening. I should be watching. I should have my head in the game. Except my girls are in the stands.

The woman everyone told me was cold, mean, and unavailable is so thoroughly mine.

“I’m not mad at you anymore. I’m just really, really horny after that ride.”

“Well, my time off went different than expected,” I start. “The rehab was fairly straightforward. I don’t think I’ll have any lasting effects to worry about, which is great. But the real highlight was getting to spend some quality time with my family.” I tip my chin toward the fence. “Got my baby girl and my future wife here with me tonight. They make this win extra special.”

“Anything you want to say to this future wife of yours tonight, Silva?” I don’t need to think twice. I hold the mic up to my lips and murmur, “Te vivo.” It’s better than “I love you”. It’s more accurate. It’s us.

Crying

“Yeah, Tink. When you know, you know.”

Sometimes I wonder if we’d have ended up where we are today if things hadn’t played out the way they did. If he’d known about her right away, would I have taken my fresh start? Would I have cut people out of my life who needed cutting? Would I have found the sense of freedom I did in those months I spent living on my own? Or would I have dragged Theo into the maelstrom of my family drama? Would I have felt I went from being under one man’s thumb to another? Would Summer and I be where we are now?

I come alive beneath his hands. I come apart beneath them too. And he puts me back together every damn time.

“You’re gawking, Tink!” he calls out and I flush. Of course, I’m gawking. Theo Silva was the hottest man I’d ever seen back then, and he still is now. He winks at me. I roll my eyes.

“Oof. Okay, well, no one would forgive me for killing you, so maybe I’ll just keep that one to myself. Though I’m really not sure how no one has noticed.” Harvey clears his throat and glances around at the group of family and friends. Music plays. Burgers get flipped. Everyone carries on in the most comfortable sort of rhythm. “Same way they never noticed Vivi is a tiny version of her dad. They weren’t looking.”

And when I look back at where Theo was standing—he’s now down on one knee. Holding a little blue velvet box with a stunning teardrop solitaire ring glinting off the rosy sky. And I freeze. Theo chuckles. “I know this might feel soon, but hear me out.” I nod woodenly. It doesn’t feel soon. It feels like a dream. “I was in this exact spot when you gave me the best and hottest verbal lashing of my life. You were all wild eyes and fighting words. I thought I’d never seen a more heart-stopping fiery woman in my life. You were . . . well . . . you were mean. But I appreciated your spunk. That was the night I knew I wanted you.” Fucking tears fill my eyes again. “That was the night I told my friend I thought I was in love with you. And I had no idea how right I was.” He shyly lowers his gaze for a moment. “I was being an obnoxious little shit disturber. I was egging you on because I liked the way you scratched back. I liked you.” A tearful giggle ripples out of me. Only Theo Silva could have liked me that night.

“That night, all the best things in this world came into existence. You. Vivi. Us.”

“That night I realized I’d never get over you. Time, distance, none of it mattered. That night, I knew there would be no one like you for me. I was so sure of it. I could feel it in my bones. I still do.” I can’t keep up with the tears anymore, so I just let them fall. Accepting this isn’t some disease I have. It’s happiness. I drop to my knees, wanting to look into this man’s face. The one who never treated me like I needed saving but saved me all the same. I cup his cheek and he presses a kiss into my palm before forging ahead. “That night we were reckless.” His voice cracks. “But god, I’d be reckless with you over and over again if it means ending up here.” That sentiment. This man. It’s like there was something missing inside me. Like I wasn’t whole, until he came along. “Yes.” I reach for the ring. “I haven’t even asked yet.” His corresponding laugh is thick. Tearful too. “You don’t need to. The answer is yes.”

“Winter Hamilton, will you marry me?” I smile through the tears. “Would hate to make a liar out of you after how long you’ve been telling people you’re going to marry me.” He winks at me. “When you know, you know.”

And this time I don’t roll my eyes. I kiss him. I kiss him until there’s nothing else but his lips on mine, his hands in my hair, and his ring on my finger.

“Hope you’re ready to do this dad thing again, because there’s another Theo doppelgänger on the way,” nothing is more important than us.