Half Empty (First Wives, #2)(95)

“You have a whole lifetime to figure it out.”

“First thing I need to do is sell a few houses.”

“New York?”

“That’s the first to go. Avery wants to fly back next month and continue where she stopped.”

“You’re kidding.”

Trina didn’t like the feeling in her gut about the whole situation. “She’s battling some personal demons. I’m going to go with her.”

“You sure about that?”

“It doesn’t have the hold on me that it once did. But if you wanted to come along . . .”

“Is there a question?”

“Of course there’s a question. I’m not assuming anything. Well, other than spending all my time here at your place. Stella and the Folsoms think I’ve abandoned my place.”

“You should sell.”

She tilted her head to the side. “I’m not selling.”

“Fine, keep it. But we won’t be there very often.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah, if we have a fight, I’ll sleep on the couch like any normal man, not let you leave to your own house three hours away.”

“You and I don’t fight.”

“I’m sure we will. Every couple argues.”

“We’re not like every other couple.”

He leaned back, tilted his hat until it shaded his eyes. “Are we going to fight over not arguing?”

“That’s an oxymoron.”

“You can disagree with yourself. I’m thinkin’ of takin’ a nap. You’re wearing me out all night long with your overactive sex drive,” he said as he smiled under the brim of his hat.

“I’m wearing you out?” She kicked his boots off the railing, and he jumped up and pulled her out of her chair.

“Someone is feeling much better these days.”

“Someone is. Now grab your purse, we need to go shoppin’.”

“Shopping?” She glanced at the bed in the room just beyond the porch, hoping to exercise her sex drive.

“Yup. We need some boots, and a hat. Two hats, one for here and another one all blinged out so I can take you dancin’ tonight.”

“You’re finally gonna dress me for the part?”

He lifted her hands and kissed the backs of both of them. He paused over her ring finger and gave it a hard stare. “Darlin’, when I get done dressing you, there won’t be a soul on this earth that doesn’t know you belong to me.”





Epilogue

Three Months Later

“You know, as First Wives Club meetings go, this one has to be the best.” Avery lifted her glass of champagne for a toast. “To Lori, with her newly engaged badass self.”

Lori beamed while looking at the ring Reed had finally put on her finger a month before. Wedding plans were in the works, which gave the four of them plenty of time together while they hammered out all the details.

Trina sipped the sparkling wine in celebration before scooting out of the way of one of the stagehands.

The four of them sat in the wings of the concert hall, waiting until the very last second to walk down to their front row center seats.

Since she’d met Wade, this was the first concert she’d attended. Everything inside of her buzzed with excitement. The guys in the band had welcomed her into their fold with warm hearts and big hugs. They liked how she made Wade smile, and the music he was working on was a windfall for all of them. At least that’s what the band had told her.

The roadies were finishing changing the set from the warm-up band as Wade and his guys walked through the backstage crowd.

Wade let out a whistling catcall and snagged Trina around the waist. “I’m taking this one, boys,” he teased his guys.

“It’s the hat, isn’t it?” Pure cowgirl and picked out by her own country stylist. Even Wade’s mother liked it, and that woman never approved of anything dealing with Trina.

“You can have her. I personally prefer blondes.” Luke winked at Avery.

Avery waved him off with a turn of her head. “Oh, hell no. I’m out. See ya down there,” she called as she walked away.

“Dude, she just dissed you hard,” Sebastian teased Luke.

“Don’t take it personally, Avery doesn’t like musicians.”

“Except me, she loves me.” Wade patted his own chest.

“Don’t flatter yourself. She tolerates you.”

Wade swept Trina up for a kiss. “What about you?”

“Oh, I love you, but I only tolerate so much.” She slapped his butt.

“Break a leg . . . or whatever one says before a concert,” Shannon said before following Avery’s lead.

Wade winked.

Lori patted Wade’s shoulder. “Reed said he’d see you from the floor and after the show.”

Wade kissed her cheek. “Enjoy.”

Lori walked off.

He ducked his head close to Trina’s. “I’m a little nervous,” he admitted.

“Because of me?”

“What if you don’t like it?”

Trina busted out laughing. “Not possible. Besides, I’ve been listening to you sing to me for months.”