Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
My eyes drift around the backyard until I spot Juniper sitting at a patio set with a few of the Titans women. We’re at Brienne’s house for Coen’s official going-away party. He didn’t want a big fuss and prohibited Brienne from doing anything fancy. His exact words were “Beer and brats will be fine.”
So that’s exactly what Brienne arranged. Of course, she hired a professional grill master who has not only brats going over the coals but also gourmet bison burgers. A table of sides is laden with everything from salads and vegetables to crispy french fries and greasy bowls of potato chips. Huge buckets of beer—varying craft varieties—as well as chilled wines are available. A large tent with tables provides a respite from the sun that glistens off the swimming pool and people hang out in pockets of outdoor furniture, laughing and talking.
It’s definitely my type of party and I need to shake off the sour mood Joshua has caused.
“Why don’t you go sit with your girl and just have some fun?” Brienne suggests with a tiny push on my shoulder.
A horrified look crosses my face. “But… but… she’s sitting with a bunch of girls. Ewww.”
Brienne rolls her eyes and turns away from me. “You’re such a child.”
Chuckling, I pivot and head toward the table where Juniper sits with Danica, Jenna and Simone. Can’t say it feels bad that Juni’s gaze locks on mine before I get close, meaning she knew where I was this entire time.
Just as I was aware of exactly where she’s been since we arrived at this party. Not because I’m proprietary—although I can be—and not because I think she needs protecting—because here at Brienne’s, she doesn’t—but because it pleases me to look at her whenever I can, so I always know where she’s at.
Because Juniper stares at me as I approach, the other women eventually turn their heads to see what she’s looking at. A glance reveals the smirks on their faces.
When I reach their table, I use my foot to hook the leg on a patio chair to pull it from the table and sit without invitation. Before anyone can say a word, I reach out to Juniper and draw her toward me with a hand to the back of her neck. Just a light kiss on her lips before releasing her and it’s the pink blush that makes my heart trip.
That I can do that after all these years.
“What are you lovely ladies talking about?” I ask as I settle back in my chair, clasping my hands over my stomach, beer clutched between. Contrary to acting like I was bothered about sitting down and talking to the women, these Titan Queens are always fun to hang out with.
“Mucous plugs,” Juniper says.
Okay… can’t stop the grimace. “Excuse me?”
She snorts, leaning over to pat me on the shoulder. “Pregnancy stuff.” She nods at Simone whose hands rest on her pregnant belly. She’s about six months along, if I remember correctly.
“Okay, I absolutely don’t want to know about mucous plugs. Can we talk about something else?”
The women laugh but it’s Simone who says, “We were only talking about my pregnancy, which means I’m going to be a designated driver for Jenna’s bachelorette party next weekend, along with Harlow. I’ll swing by and pick up your girl so she can let her hair down. I promise to have her home before dawn.”
The ladies laugh again and Jenna teases, “We thoroughly intend to corrupt her too.”
“Can you believe Juni’s never been to a bachelorette party before?” Danica chimes in. “We told her to stock up on five-dollar bills to stuff in the half-naked male dancer’s G-string.”
Every one of the playful jibes bounces off me, none of them bothering me in the least. What does bother me is the entire notion of the party.
I turn to Juniper. “I don’t think that’s a good idea for you to go.”
It’s like a bucket of ice water is dumped on the mood and all laughter stops.
Juniper’s expression is somewhere between confused and combative. “Why would you even say something like that?”
“Because it’s not safe,” I reply. My gut overwhelmingly tells me that.
She rolls her eyes, but her dismissiveness doesn’t irritate me. I get why she’s not all that worried anymore, and part of me is happy she doesn’t have that stress and worry on her shoulders.
But I’m fucking carrying it and it’s still my job to make sure she’s unequivocally safe. I glance around the table, knowing this isn’t the place for a personal discussion, but I’m also not willing to put this off.
I rise from the table. “Ladies… if you’ll excuse us for a minute. I want a few moments alone with Juniper.”
I hold my hand out to help her from her chair and she thankfully doesn’t fight me on the matter. But she draws her line in the sand as she stands up. “I’ll be right back and we can continue planning all the shenanigans for next weekend.”