Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I hang my head, feeling Kyla's confession like a knife to my heart. No wonder Dawn acts the way she does. No wonder she's here in Australia, living with nine men and looking to run away before anything gets serious. She's frightened and in denial. I know both those emotions only too well. I place my hand over my abdomen where my scar marks a past I'm glad is firmly behind me.
"She can't keep running," I say eventually. "All of this...everything she's doing right now is just a mask for her fear. She needs to find out those results and take action, whatever it is, to deal with what comes next. Facing up to it is the only way she's ever going to find peace."
"Her head is so deep in the sand, she's up to her toes." Kyla touches my arm again and I place my hand over hers, feeling so affectionate toward her. She’s traveled around the world to support the woman I love. That’s the kind of friendship I appreciate. The kind of friendship Dawn needs in her life.
"I'm going to get her to tell me what's going on. Don't worry. I'll find a way without letting her know you ever said a word."
"And what if she tells you, but still doesn't want to find out the results?"
"We have to think positively. She'll tell me, I'll encourage her to call the doctor, and they'll tell her everything is fine. If we hope for it enough, maybe it'll become true."
"You're a good man, Logan. I'm sorry you've been through so much, but I guess your experiences are the reason you've been able to identify so much with my best friend. All our trials and tribulations can be used for good. At least, that's the way I like to see it."
"And what trials and tribulations are you using for the benefit of humanity?" I ask.
"Well, living with eight men is definitely trying," she smiles. "They're the most awesome thing that's ever happened to me, but if I have to pair another black sock, I may just obliterate half of the US with my frustration."
I'm laughing so hard that when Dawn returns with Jared, they both stare at me, surprised. Standing, I press another soft kiss to Dawn's forehead. "Forget Lachlan making your drinks. Tonight, you get to taste Logan's Seventh Heaven."
"You realize that sounded really dirty!" Dawn's grin is lit up with pure filth.
"Only to you, my smutty girl." I round the bar and begin to search for the ingredients for the cocktail.
As I mix the sweet concoction, I try to imagine doing this same thing three years from now, with Dawn happily laughing across the bar. I have to find a way to make it a reality, for all our sakes, but mostly for Dawn’s.
My little hummingbird needs to rest and I’m going to do whatever is in my power to help her see that this is a safe place for her to rest her wings.
32
DAWN
"You want to go shopping now?" I glance at my watch as Kyla nods.
"I still have gifts to buy. There isn’t just one man waiting for me at home. There are eight! That’s eight times the shopping!"
"Can't you just buy them all the same thing?" I ask, the logistics of birthdays and Christmas in a reverse harem relationship boggling my mind.
Kyla slides her feet into her white Converse sneakers. "Gifts are about showing someone you know them, aren’t they?"
"I guess, but they all like the same stuff. Band shirts and tattoo stuff."
My friend grins and shakes her head. "Wait until I come back, and you see all the different things I’ve found for them."
I glance again at my watch, wishing I could rewind the stupid hour hand that’s telling me I have to start my shift in an hour. I’m on early set-up duty today. "I can’t come with you. I don’t have time."
"That’s okay." Kyla’s already hooking the strap of her purse over her shoulder. "I’m fine to go by myself. I know my way around now, and I have Google maps to rescue me if I get lost."
"It would have been fun, though." The thought of having to find easy conversation with the nine men who are looking at me like sand that’s slipping through their fingers makes me want to scream. How did I let things get so complicated?
"We can shop together all the time when you come home." Kyla’s raised eyebrows say it all. Do you even want to go home? That’s the question beneath that statement. Her knowing eyes scan mine for a reaction, but I try to keep my face impassive. I don’t want to go home, but I also can’t stay here. I can’t string these amazing men along any more than I already have. It’s not fair to them or to my heart.