Wild Girl (Wild Men Texas #3) - Melissa Belle Page 0,42

told him. And I meant it. It’s called self-preservation. He felt the same way. But if he’s changed his mind and wants to remarry, I want him to be happy.”

“I don’t get it,” he says.

“I’m never marrying. Again. Besides, you can’t marry your first crush. That ruins everything.”

“Like Mama,” Ben says slowly like he’s figuring it out. “But you’re not her.”

“Sometimes, you need to make sure of that. Genetics can be tricky.”

“I don’t know who’s more stubborn—him or you.”

“Probably a toss-up.”

We sit down with the others and order briskets and collards and black-eyed peas and more sweet tea. We’re the only table in the place with no alcohol, and when I look at my father’s clear eyes as he smiles at Mama, relief rushes through me. We eat until we’re so full we don’t even want to drink.

But I keep catching glimpses of Logan across the way. He’s at the end of his table, and he keeps tapping his cowboy boot on the sawdust-covered floor. Clearly, he’s tense about something.

I power on my phone and check my voicemail.

Six reporters called wanting interviews to corroborate Skip’s story. Five messages are from Logan, and four are from Ginny.

My phone buzzes with a new text.

What the fuck was that in the paper today? I’ve been calling you all freaking day.

I look up into the intense gaze of Logan Wild. Texting me from his seat.

I type back a quick response.

We’ll talk later. Enjoy your night.

I take a napkin off the table and wipe my eyes.

Mama looks at me.

“It’s all right if you want to leave, doll,” she says. “We’d all understand.”

I shrug. “I guess I like being a masochist.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Riley says. “Because your night’s about to get even worse.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Riley points to the stage where Gigi and her sisters are starting off the karaoke.

“Lord have mercy,” Daddy says.

When the song begins, I widen my eyes as soon as I hear the “leave your hat on” lyrics. That song will always remind me of Logan and me parked in his truck on an empty dirt road.

Last summer feels like a lifetime ago tonight. But in some ways, the song makes that night feel like it just happened. Over a hundred degrees out, the windows open all the way as we went all the way, and then drove off before the cops ever saw us.

I turn my head toward Logan. He shifts in my direction like he can feel me looking. And he blushes. I can see it from here.

He’s remembering the same night. For some reason, that’s enough to soothe me. I smile at Mama and lean back, relaxing for the first time all evening.

The karaoke has gotten way out of hand. Mama actually got up and sang a song by Johnny Cash. She was so off-key, and then Daddy went up and joined her in the chorus, which made the whole mess worse.

I’ve got my cheek in my palm and my elbow resting on the table, wondering if I can leave soon, when I sit up straight.

Mrs. Phillips is grabbing Daddy on his way off the stage.

I lean forward to get a better view as she whispers into his ear.

He turns red and says something as well, but then she glances back to the front door. I turn around to see Mr. Phillips walking in from the outside, and by the time I return my gaze to Gigi’s mother, she’s disappeared.

What the hell was that about?

I tell Ginny I’m going to get some air. I’m not outside five minutes when a warm hand touches my shoulder.

“Your mama’s still making the Henwood clan proud,” Logan says in his slow drawl.

“She sure is.” I laugh. “Why do you think I’m outside?”

He takes my arm. “Come with me to the pasture out back.”

We walk until we reach the chain link fence separating us from the horse farm next door. Then, we stop and take seats on the grass.

I pick up an errant stick and dig it into the earth until I hit the hard limestone.

I know Logan’s dying to learn the details behind Skip’s story, and I wonder how he’s going to ask me. Is he still frustrated that I turned off my phone, or is he upset I never told him about the curse? What I don’t expect is what comes out of his mouth…

“So what does he have on you?”

I jerk my head up and look at him. His piercing eyes are focused on me intently.

I try to sound casual. “Nothing.”

“I know