Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 70368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“She can be quite persuasive.” I chuckled. Gabe was married to my cousin Paige, and the three of us had all been friends in high school. Gabe and Paige had had an epic will-they-or-won’t-they romance going that had lasted close to a decade.
“Gotta love Paige,” Zeb agreed. “And yes, the wedding wasn’t that long after the accident. Gabe leaned on her a lot the first few years as they both figured out how to run this place.”
“I’m glad they have each other.” When people pressed, which was more every year, I usually said my work kept me far too busy for relationships. And I was okay with that, mostly. But there were moments like at Paige and Gabe’s wedding when I wondered if I simply hadn’t met the right one yet. I’d dated a few women, but nothing seemed to stick, and I had far less experience than any other straight guy I knew. None of my SEAL team buddies seemed to have my issue of being hopeless at dating, so my single status was one more thing I tried not to dwell on. “I can’t wait to see Paige. She’s coming by later, right?”
“That’s the plan. And wait till you see her.” Zeb grinned, eyes crinkling. He had a way more approachable smile than his brother, wide and impish. “She’s been tired but otherwise doing great. Gabe’s had his work cut out for him, making her rest.”
Ordinarily, Paige would be in the thick of Thanksgiving meal prep, but after years of trying, she and Gabe were expecting miracle twins, and she was under doctor’s orders to cut back on work until after the delivery, which would likely be sometime before New Year’s.
“Twins. Man, I can’t believe it.” I shook my head. “Hope they get here before I have to report back.”
I had a shit ton of leave banked, and the higher-ups had finally convinced me to take six weeks. I’d missed so much in Paige and Gabe’s life that agreeing to spend my leave helping Gabe through the holiday rush had been a no-brainer. I’d finished my duties with one crew, and when I returned, I’d be in a new role with a fast track to senior chief status. Much as I was happy to be here, I couldn’t wait.
“I’m excited to meet the babies too. Paige says you’re going to be Uncle Atlas whether you like it or not.” Zeb’s smile took on a more mischievous edge as if daring me to object.
“Guess that makes you Uncle Zeb.” I offered him a fist bump, which he awkwardly returned before glancing at the door. Heck. I’d lost track of time. We were getting closer to the first seating. “We’d better get out there.”
“Wait.” He held up a hand. “First, I want to apologize.”
Ah. I’d known Zeb had a motive for sticking around. I figured his objective involved the cranberry sauce incident.
“No need.” I gentled my voice the way I would with a green recruit who’d screwed up. Zeb was already beating himself up plenty. He didn’t need my piling on. “Accidents happen. I know it wasn’t on purpose.”
“Of course, it was an accident.” Mouth twisting, Zeb bristled. “I meant more what I said when I was ranting about you no-showing. That was rude.”
“It’s okay. You had a point.” I shrugged. I’d learned the hard way that there was little reward in arguing with the truth. I’d been back for the wedding, my uncle’s funeral, and a few other sporadic visits, yet I’d also canceled far more often than I’d shown up due to emergency deployments and such. Uncertainty over how to deal with grief for those I missed, like my uncle, Zeb’s parents, and others, played a role, but the reality of working a demanding military job was the main factor. “I’ve missed a lot over the years.”
“Yeah, but you’ve had good reasons.” Zeb nodded firmly as if trying to convince himself as much as me. “And you’re here now.”
“Yep.” Our eyes met, and I was unprepared for both the intensity of Zeb’s gaze and his empathy. The green of his irises reminded me of a turtle I’d tried to make a pet of once, a friendly collection of mottled shades, but the unexpected depth there had me peering closer. Warmth gathered in my belly as Zeb held my gaze. No trace of the scattered kid he’d once been. He nodded subtly like he knew a thing or two about letting people down.
I should have said something, acknowledged the connection, but before I could figure out what, Zeb gestured at the door. “Gabe’s probably looking for us both.”
And sure enough, as soon as we left the changing room and made our way back toward the main event space, Gabe cornered us near the kitchen. The meaty scent of roasted turkey wafted out of the kitchen.