Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)

When Matt stepped away Evan took his place. Slinging his arms under me, he lifted me up off the bed and twirled me around. Jenny giggled from behind him. Stopping us when we were facing Jenny, he bent down a little so she could hug me too; her cheeks were just as tear-stained as mine. “I love you, Kiera,” she gushed out.

I wanted to tell her I loved her too, but the boisterous pair were squishing me between them. When Evan set me down, finally letting me breathe, I gave each of them a kiss on the cheek. “I love you guys too.”

When they left me to go say their congratulations to Kellan, Denny stepped up to me. I inhaled a deep breath as I stared at him. He seemed so much older, wiser. Our separation had somehow matured him from a boy to a man. I could only imagine the internal struggles he’d gone through while he’d being healing from our breakup. He’d been put through the fire, but it hadn’t turned him brittle, it hadn’t turned him hard. He was just . . . stronger. Looking at the man in front of me now, he seemed so different from the boy who’d driven me across country to start our new life together. I’d never imagined then that our relationship would crumble so fast. I’d thought we’d be together forever. But I supposed we still would be, in a way.

The smile on his face was peaceful as he stared at me. When he opened his arms, I wrapped him in a hug. He would always be my friend. We would always care about each other. Folding his arms around me, he whispered, “I really am happy for you, Kiera.”

I nodded into his shoulder as tears streamed down my face. “Thank you. And thank you for being here. You don’t know how much it meant to me, to us.”

He rubbed my back. “I wouldn’t miss my best friend getting married.”

I wasn’t sure if he meant me or Kellan in that sentence, and it made me really happy that I didn’t know for sure. Pulling back, I smiled up at him. “Well, don’t think I’m missing your wedding. When is it, anyway?”

His smile grew absolutely radiant as he looked across the bed at his fiancée giving Kellan a hug. “Abby picked Valentine’s Day.” He laughed. “She’s really got a thing for holidays. She even made us go out to a nice French restaurant to celebrate Bastille Day . . . and neither one of us has even been to France.”

I laughed at Abby’s adorable quirk. Releasing him, I said, “Well, you know I’ll be there for your wedding. Kellan and I both.” I gave him a crooked smile. “And if you need a band, I think I know a couple of guys who would play for you.”

Denny looked around the room, amusement in his eyes. “I might take you up on that.” His expression more serious, he turned to me. “Before we leave, Abby and I want to talk to you and Kellan about something. Okay?”

Confused, I nodded. “What about?”

Denny glanced at the line of well-wishers behind him. “Later.” He started to turn away, then looked back at me. Voice low, he told me, “For the record, I always thought you were gorgeous. I’m sorry if I didn’t make you feel that way.”

His frown broke my heart a little, and I gave him another quick hug. “It wasn’t you. It was my hang up. It was always my hang up. A by-product of having a perfect ten sister.” I shrugged.

Denny gave me his world-famous grin. “I always thought you were better looking than Anna.” His eyes flashed to Kellan. “And I’m not the only one.” Heat flooded my face as Denny laughed and walked away.

Justin congratulated me next, then Kate. Incredibly flirtatious glances were being passed back and forth between the pair, and I was pretty sure they’d be an official couple by the time Kate flew back home. After them, Rachel, Abby, Cheyenne, Hailey, and Riley gave me big hugs, and Hailey made Kellan promise to visit Pennsylvania soon. Deacon, along with the rest of Holeshot and Avoiding Redemption, gave us well-wishes next, and I thanked Deacon for playing so beautifully.

After he stepped away from our bed, Kellan and I were approached by Gavin. Kellan’s father was clearly touched by the level of emotion in the air. His deep eyes, so similar to Kellan’s, were brightly shining. As I watched Gavin struggle to keep it together, I wondered if Kellan’s emotional, passionate nature was hereditary.

“I’m so happy for the both of you. Savor this moment. Remember this feeling, because it won’t always be like this. You’ll have ups, you’ll have downs.” He laughed. “You’ll drive each other crazy. But it’s worth it if you stick through it. I had so many good years with my wife before she died.”

His amused smile settled into a peaceful one; it was also eerily similar to Kellan’s. I didn’t condone what Kellan’s mother had done to him, but I could understand how being around Kellan had been difficult for her—he looked so much like his natural father.

Kellan grasped Gavin’s hand with both of his. “Thank you, Dad.”

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