“Look,” Huck said. “I know you have your own shit to work out. I know you control your world with an iron fist, and I know why you think the way you do. We’ve been friends a long time, man. I get it. But you’re messing up right now. Really messing up. You’ve never been one to ignore the facts.”
“I’m acknowledging the facts!” Bass said. “I’m not for Penny. It wouldn’t work.”
“Why? Because she’s Ryder’s sister? He’ll get over it, especially if you love her. But if you really want her, you have to man up and give up one thing to have her.”
He didn’t have to ask to know what Huck was referring to. But he told him anyway.
“Control,” Huck said. “You have to let her choose. Lay it all out there and let her hold your world in her hands for once.”
Bass shook his head. If h
e laid himself out there, she could deny him, rip him to shreds. After everything he’d done to her, he deserved it.
But for her to walk away, it would leave him…
Empty.
Like he was right now.
He’d done this to himself. She hadn’t done this to him. This whole time, he’d been fighting against himself, and he might have just fucked up his one chance with the only woman he’d be willing to give up everything for.
“You’re a good guy.” Huck patted his shoulder and stood. “But either figure your shit out and make this right, or you’re going to need a lot more of these.” He gently tapped the glass he held. “It’s up to you to recover from this.”
It hit him like a ton of bricks. Though his mind was drowning in Southern Comfort, he was miserable and lashing out, hating himself. Hating life.
Just like my father…
He closed his eyes for a moment, the irony of how he’d gotten to this place despite his best efforts sinking in. He’d turned into the one man he never wanted to become.
Only Penny hadn’t left.
I pushed her away.
Chapter Fifteen
Penny had tried taking a cold shower before going to the rehearsal, but her anger had come back to the surface as soon as she arrived at the rehearsal dinner and saw Bass. She refused to let him know she’d seen him.
She’d been nothing more than an arrangement to him. He’d warned her that he liked control, exercised it in all things. She should have known he’d call it off as soon as she threatened that control.
So now she stood at the rehearsal, smiling and nodding while Finn dished her a few compliments.
They’d made it through the second run through of the rehearsal, and just as everyone was talking about loading up and going back to the BBQ for dinner—which she would have to put on another sunny smile for—Colt stood at the alter and asked for everyone’s attention.
“I just wanted to thank everyone for coming tonight. I know that tomorrow is the big day.” Colt looked at Jenna, “And I…I just wanted to tell you all that I’ve been miserable.”
Penny’s eyes shot wide, but Colt smiled, and his stare locked on Jenna.
“I’ve never been good with patience,” he said. “And every day since the day you said you’d marry me has been a special kind of misery, sugar. Only because I have to wait.” He winked at his bride to be, and water danced along her lashes. But what got Penny was the big, bad rodeo rider getting misty. “Tomorrow, you’re finally mine. In every way.”
Woots, whistles, and applause rang out.
“Bass, come up here,” Colt said. Penny’s eyes shot to Sebastian as he walked to the platform. “This guy is my best man. He’s the one who talked sense into me when I needed to hear it. Now, Bass has asked for a minute to say a special toast. For the man who helped me make the best decision of my life, I’d give him all day.”
Colt stepped down, leaving Bass on display and everyone quiet, waiting.
She held her breath as Bass looked straight at her.
“I’m not even a good man, much less the best.” He laughed, but there was nothing humorous about it. “I could tell from the beginning that Colt and Jenna were meant for each other. That kind of trust and commitment is rare, and up until a couple of weeks ago, I thought almost no one would be lucky enough to have it, especially me.”