Page 33 of Wild Mistake
“What’s up his ass?” I say, confused by his outburst.
“He doesn’t like it when I use foul language in front of the babies.” She kisses the top of Collin’s mostly bald head.
“Didn’t he swear at the television when the Forty Niners lost last week?” Jackson says, his brow furrowed.
“Yeah.” Maeve chews at the inside of her cheek, something she used to do as a child whenever she was nervous. “It’s fine. He’ll get over it.”
“Another reason to stay single, brother.” Jackson slaps my shoulder. “Just sayin’.”
“I’ll take that under consideration.” I glance out the windows, but can’t see the driveway because it’s dark. Waiting for the conversation around me to pick back up, I discreetly slip outside and find a spot on the porch to keep an eye out for Sarah.
The lively conversation from inside is muted, allowing my brain to quiet and enjoy the peaceful night. I’ve always loved winters in Wilder Valley. Sure, it’s cold. But it’s mild. There are no bugs, thank fuck. The breeze rushing through the Ponderosa pines is a sound I only associated with home. If I close my eyes, I am ten years old again, a mug of hot chocolate in hand, my mother humming as she rocks Jackson to sleep on the porch swing.
The creak of a porch step rips me from the memory. I’m tucked back away from the light streaming out the windows, so Riley doesn’t notice me as she climbs the stairs.
She has a cell phone cradled against her ear. “Whatever, just come over a little while. I get your dad doesn’t want you to stay late. Mine’s not letting me leave the property. We’re all hanging out in the old barn, so you won’t even have to see him. But you could at least sneak away for an hour, right?” There’s a pause. “Fine. No, I understand. I’m just disappointed.” She sighs. “’Kay, bye.”
I didn’t mean to listen in on her conversation. But I’m not exactly hiding.
She lifts her gaze and freezes. “Oh, hey, Uncle Aiden.” Her eyes widen. “Sorry, I didn’t know anyone was out here.”
“Yeah, I’m waiting for . . . a friend.”
“Cool.” She nods, but instead of heading in the house or turning back to the old barn she meets my gaze with a determined stare. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Shoot.”
“Are you like, going to marry Gabe’s mom or something?”
Damn.I didn’t realize my niece was up on the town gossip. “When you say personal, you go for the jugular.”
“Sorry.” She drops her gaze.
“No, it’s fine.” I clear my throat. “We have a history, Sarah and I, but that doesn’t mean it’ll lead anywhere. I’m still trying to get to know the woman she is now. Maybe—and that’s abig maybe—depending on how she feels about me and how I feel about her, there still might be something there.” I don’t know why I explain my feelings to my seventeen-year-old niece. It’s the most I’ve shared with anyone since reconnecting with Sarah. Though I’m not completely truthful because I do already have feelings for Sarah. I don’t think they ever left.
“Oh.” Riley sighs, wrapping her arms around her chest. She almost appears disappointed.
“Is that not what you wanted to hear?” I walk to her side and bump her shoulder with mine.
She sighs again. “Do you think it’s possible to have feelings for more than one person?” She meets my stare. “Like, at the same time?”
I scrub a hand over the scruff of my jaw and consider her question. “I mean, sure, yeah. It’s possible. Why do you ask?”
“Does it make me a bad person? Or whatever.”
“I’m no morality expert, but I don’t think it makes you a terrible person. I think it makes you human. As long as you aren’t lying or being deceitful with those feelings, I don’t think it’s a problem. It’s important to be honest with the ones you love.”
“Yeah.” Another sigh.
“Do you have feelings for more than one person?”
“Promise you won’t tell Dad?” She shakes her head as if thinking better of it. “Actually, promise you won’t tell anyone.”
“I swear on my mother’s grave,” I say solemnly, hoping I won’t regret it.
“I’ve sorta been seeing Noah Jones. Like, not officially or anything, because, well, our parents hate each other.”
“His family owns the half of the ranch that used to be ours?”
