Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
I am hers. Wholeheartedly.
I still don’t know if she feels the same, but there is no stopping my feelings for her. When she told me not to fall for her, I ignored her, laughed it off, and continued to feel so deeply for her. Even after I walked into her family’s restaurant and found her with another guy, I still love her. We got into a huge screaming match, and that’s when I dumbly told her I loved her. Man, she was so pissed, and I was too. I think we both said things we regretted, but then I admitted that I loved her.
And she ghosted me.
Completely.
This is the first time I’ve seen her since that stupid moment in Brooks House. I didn’t expect what happened in her room to happen, but now that it has, I feel like there is a chance. Surely she loves me. I swear she has to, because of the way she touched me, kissed me, held me, and how her eyes locked with mine. Or am I a love-sick fool?
When everyone starts for the happy couple, Emery quickly moves away from me, and I watch as she walks away without even looking back at me. Fuck me. I know I should congratulate my brother, but instead, I head inside. I kick off my boots and take off my winter gear before heading to the kitchen where my aunt Grace is sitting. She looks at me, and I look at her, both of us confused.
“You didn’t go watch?”
She shakes her head. “Nope, watching the baby,” she says, hooking her finger behind her. I look to where Alexis is fast asleep in her car seat. “Why aren’t you out there?”
I shrug, walking over to the island counter and reaching for the bottle of Jack that’s sitting in front of her. She doesn’t stop me, nor does she question me as I pour a shot and down it quickly. I make a face at the fiery liquid before shaking my head. I’m not a drinker, but since I’ve seen other people do it and it seems to help, figured I’d try the same. When the liquid hits my gut, I find it doesn’t help at all. I’m still thinking of Emery.
“Stupid Christmas.”
Grace snorts. “Same, nephew. Same,” she says, holding her glass up to me. She takes a long sip and shakes her head. “I hate the holidays. They make me miss James so much.”
Well, don’t I feel like an asshole. I’m standing here love-sick over a girl, and my aunt is still in love with her husband who passed. How unfair is that? “I’m sorry, Auntie.”
She waves me off. “He’d be so excited that Ryan is having a baby and that Amelia’s family keeps growing. I’m excited, but I’m sad he’s not here with me to experience it and feel the joy together.”
I nod. “He is, Auntie. He’s always with you.”
She smiles, tapping the back of my hand. “I know, sweetheart. Thank you.” She takes in a deep breath and then sighs. “Do you think I should start dating?”
I grin. “Only if you want to,” I say softly. “Though, FYI, the dating world is trash.”
She laughs, and I smile back at her. “Ain’t that the damn truth,” she agrees, shaking her head. “Is that why you’re in here drinking?”
“Yeah,” I admit. “Pretty sure I fell in love with the wrong girl.”
“How so?”
“I don’t think she wants a relationship with me.”
“Oh, Quinny. You’re so young. You can wait.”
“I don’t want to. I love her.”
Her brow perks. “Emery?”
“That’s her.”
“Good girl, genius, beautiful,” she says, and then she smiles. “Reminds me a lot of me.”
“No way. You two are nothing alike. She’s crazy.”
“She’s driven, smart, and knows what she wants. I am, same as when I was younger. That’s why James loved me so. But I wouldn’t settle. I wanted to see the world, have fun, not be tied down. But James was relentless. He wanted me and didn’t stop until he had me.” I can see the pain on my aunt’s face, and I can feel it too. James was an incredible uncle and an even better father and husband. He loved with his whole being. “Have you told her how you feel?”
“Yeah, but it was shitty and in the middle of an argument. Though, I did tell her I loved her again this afternoon, and she said, ‘I know.’” Grace grimaces, and I laugh. “Yeah. So there’s that.”
She leans in, and our eyes lock. “Can I give you some advice?”
I think that’s my favorite thing about Grace. Unlike everyone else, she always asks if we want her advice. She doesn’t give it unsolicited; she offers it. “Sure.”
“One more time. Tell her how you feel, and tell her what you want. If she doesn’t want to give it to you, then walk away. Sometimes you have to let go of someone, even when it feels like you’re losing a limb. It may feel like she’s the one for you, but you can’t put your heart into someone who doesn’t want you.”