Free Daring the Wild Sparks by Ren Alexander Page A

don’t have a marriage license beforehand, but she also mentioned fudging the date, which irked Finn.”
    “What? I don’t...”
    “Yeah. And then Finn said if we ever got married, he wants to get married in his church. We’d have to go through a long process before being allowed to get married Catholic.”
    “How does he know all of that? Did he actually look into it?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe he’s just aware of it because that’s part of his religion. I didn’t ask.” My eyes animate as I remember something else. “ And , I forgot to mention that Finn got a new tattoo. His nickname for me, Becks, on his chest.”
    “He did? That’s so romantic, Hadley!” she squeals.
    “He did it for his Wild Side segment, so everyone in Richmond’s viewing area will see it.”
    She stutters, “That is… He… Wow! Did you jump his bones after that?”
    “I tried, but that’s when I had a lapse in my good decision-making skills. Before my faux pas, I did tell him that I’ll move in with him.”
    “You are? You said you didn’t want to.”
    “I didn’t, but I really miss him, Beth. I don’t see him that much at all. Maybe he’ll eventually change his mind about us getting married. However, I doubt that, but I can’t tell him that I won’t move in with him now, especially after he got my name permanently etched into his skin. He’d be so hurt and pissed off if I changed my mind.”
    Bethany sighs and shakes her head with a light laugh. “You’ve had a rough day!”
    I warily laugh. “I have. I just want to relax before I have to see Finn again. He’s going to be so upset and…not fun. I don’t even know about him coming here tomorrow night. I don’t think he’ll be in the mood to socialize with anyone.”
    “That’s okay. You don’t even have to come to the bonfire if Finn needs you. I’ll understand. You’re here now, so we can hang out. We’ll make some snacks for the fire tonight. Or, we can go for a walk on the beach or go shopping. Whatever you want to do.”
    “Right now, I’d really love to get a shower. I just feel…stressed.”
    “Go ahead. I’m going to start on some snacks for later. Come join me when you’re done. We can have margaritas out on the deck before we do anything else.”
    “That sounds awesome, Beth.”
    She heads off for the kitchen. I pick up my bags and walk out into the hall, heading to the bathroom. After I turn on the water, I feel everything I’ve gone through today pushing down on me. I sink to the floor as the sorrow engulfs me once more.
     

     
    Lounging on the patio with our feet propped on opposing chairs, we stare alternately at the ocean and into our drinks. “So, what has been going on with you?” I ask Bethany as I swirl my frozen strawberry margarita around like a mini, slushy cyclone in my glass.
    “With opening a shop in Richmond, Cody will stay here while I get it running, and then I’ll come back here on the weekends. Cooper will be in preschool. After Cody’s dad died, his mom was alone, so we suggested she move in with us. She didn’t want to, but she did move to Virginia and found a place near us. She’ll move in here temporarily while I’m gone during the week.”
    “How’s work for Cody?”
    “Good. He wants to bring home animals, but we already have two cats and a dog. No more!”
    I laugh. “You have it all, Beth. You really do. A career you love, a sexy husband, a gorgeous little boy, a beautiful house—on the beach, no less—and you’re immensely happy.”
    She smiles back at me. “I also have the bestest friend in the whole world. The material things don’t matter as much as friends and family do.” She looks thoughtfully at me. “You’ll get yours, too, Hadley. Finn will always be with you. The rest will fall into place.”
    “You think so?”
    “I know so.”
    I dubiously scoff, “How do you know?”
    Bethany looks out at the water and then up to the sky, the sun shining on her pretty face, making her hair