Lost and Lassoed (Rebel Blue Ranch, #3)

by Lyla Sage

“You know how I feel about the basement,” I whined. Emmy laughed and said, “I guess this is your chance to live out that demon romance you told me about last night.” I let out a huff. I couldn’t believe she was using my book recommendations against me.

And that’s how I locked myself in a closet with Gus Ryder. Well, shit.

The point is that I know Teddy is pretty. Beautiful, even. But beautiful like a lion or an elk or any other large and dangerous animal. Beautiful to look at, but you didn’t want to get too close because it’d rip your throat out or trample you or spear you to death with its giant horns.

It just feels like everyone is moving on…without me.

“Has anyone ever told you to shut up?” “You, usually,” she said with an eye roll. “Shut up.” “See?” Teddy grinned, and it didn’t seem malicious—more like amused. I didn’t like the way it made me feel, so I moved on.

But as I was walking out, I heard Teddy say, “So when’s the last time you were arrested?” “Never?” Riley said. “Well, tomorrow you’re going to say yesterday,” Teddy said. “Lucky you’re mom’s a lawyer.” Jesus Christ, what had I done?

“This is way better than porn,” Teddy said, holding up her book. “Plus, I haven’t gotten to the sex yet. The hero and heroine are too busy fumbling around each other to realize that the reason it feels like all the oxygen has been sucked out of the room every time they touch is because they’re in love.” She sighed. “Nothing says love like suffocation,” I grumbled.

I wondered whether I could taste the sun on her skin. Jesus, Gus. Do you think you’re a poet? Check yourself.

The longer Teddy was here, the less control I had over my thoughts about her. She was on my mind all the time now.

I wasn’t mad that she didn’t want me, because she gave me to someone who loved me more than anyone else in the world and showed me that every single day—plus she gave me my copper hair.

When I curled into his side, I felt his lips in my hair. “You can cry, Teddy,” he said. And so I cried. And cried. And August Ryder held me the whole time.

I don’t know how or when it happened, but Teddy Andersen made me want something for myself: her. I wanted her. And it terrified me.

Leaving this little house doesn’t mean you’re leaving me behind. It just means you’ve got something—or someone—worth chasing.”

“And second,” my dad continued. “I think it’s time you admitted to yourself and everyone else that you’re in love with Gus—the two of you making moony eyes at each other when he and Riley came over was enough to make me want to puke.”

“I think you are miraculous, Teddy. I think that your existence—the way you care and fight and love and live—is a miracle. There is no one else like you, and I am so sorry for making you feel like I didn’t know that—that I didn’t see that. I’m sorry for treating you like I didn’t know you the way that I do. I know that you feel things deeply, that you would do anything for the people you care about, and that you love hard.” Emmy hugged me again. “And I feel like the absolute worst best friend in the world for not seeing that you were hurting. Your feelings about the way our friendship has shifted—they all make sense. I just never noticed because I was still your number one, but I also got to be Luke’s. And when I thought about it that way, I realized that you should have that, too.

“Luke is my fiancé, my partner, my everything. But you’re my soulmate, Teddy Andersen, and I’m the luckiest girl in the world because of it.”

Plus, I already knew—why else would you be painting the view from his back porch on your garage?”

and I hoped I’d know soon if Teddy wanted it, too. This was the scary thing about want—the fact that it wasn’t a guarantee. It was a wish, and wishes were made of air—at best.

“Wanting used to scare me so much, because I didn’t think I had the space to want anything more than what I’ve got. But wanting a future with you is the easiest thing in the world. And I want it all, with you.” A kiss on the forehead.