Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
They knew there was nothing worse than the sting of losing someone you cared about. That shit comes with a sting you won’t forget. We all had blood on our hands and had to live with the guilt of that, but this was different for me.
My guilt ran deeper. It ate at me like rust on a nail. Hell, even after all this time, I was still trying to make peace with what happened. I couldn’t get over the fact that I’d failed. I’d failed my club and my president.
But most of all, I’d failed myself.
I could spend the entire day drinking, but I would never forget that.
It haunted me, and it always would.
I was about to grab another beer from the cooler when I spotted Jenna and Luna walking towards me. The second Luna saw a clear path, she darted towards me and lunged into my lap. She slipped her arms around my neck as she announced, “Momma said it’s time to go.”
“She did, did she?”
“Um-hmm.” Luna nodded. “She said we need to go get on the plane.”
“We got a little time before we do that.”
“Actually...” Jenna held out her watch so I could see. “We should leave in about fifteen if we wanna make our flight back home.”
“I don’t see why we gotta rush.”
“You promised Luna that we would be home for Christmas.” She cocked her brow. “Question is, are you going to keep that promise?”
I looked at Luna, and when I saw the hopeful look in her eyes, I smiled and said, “A promise made is a promise kept. I just need to go pack up my things.”
“It’s already done and in the car.”
“Oh, you weren’t messing around.”
“I’m just ready to get home.”
“Okay. Just give me a minute to tell the guys I’m leaving.”
“We’ll wait for you in the car.”
Luna got up and went over to Jenna, and together, they started making their way through the crowd. Several people stopped them and said their farewells, but eventually, they made their escape. Once they were gone, I collected my empty bottles and tossed them in the trash. I made my way over to Maverick and said, “I appreciate the hospitality, but we’re gonna head out.”
“You get your head right?”
“I’m gettin’ there.”
“These things take time.” Maverick extended his hand and shook mine as he told me, “You guys are welcome here any time.”
“I appreciate that, brother. You’re a good man. Keep things hunkered down around here, and I’ll see ya when I see ya.”
“Look forward to it.”
I left Maverick and made my way over to Rooster and Torch. I took a moment to thank them and tell them goodbye, and then I was out. I got in the passenger side, and I didn’t say a word as Jenna started the engine and drove us out the gate. I don’t know how long we’d been riding when she stated, “You know I’m here for you. For anything.”
“I know.”
“I hope so, 'cause I really am.” She reached over and placed her hand on my thigh. “I know you have to deal with your anger and your pain in your own way and in your own time, but babe… if Beckett cared about you half as much as I think he did, he wouldn’t want this for you. Deep down, you know that.”
“You’re right.”
“I know I am.” She gave me one of her smiles. “You’re a good man with a big heart, and I love you more than you’ll ever know.”
“Love you, too, babe.”
It took about an hour for us to get to Seattle, and once we did, it was a rush to get to the right gate. We returned the rental, then rushed to check in. A few minutes later, we were on the plane and on our way back home. We were about an hour out when Jenna pulled out a little box and said, “I have a little surprise gift for you.”
“I thought we were opening our gifts when we got back.”
“We are.” She shrugged. “I was just a little excited about this one.”
“So, you want me to open it now?”
“Well, yeah, but if you don’t want to...”
She started to put it away, but I quickly grabbed it from her hand. “No, I want to.”
“Okay, but I want you to know that this wasn’t planned.”
“What?”
“It wasn’t planned, and I just don’t know how you’re gonna feel about it.”
“I’m not following.”
“Just open it.”
I didn’t have a good feeling as I pulled the paper back and removed the top of the box. As soon as I saw the blue and white testing strip, I knew she was pregnant. I put the top back on and leaned back in my seat. “How did this happen?”
It was a dick question. I knew how it happened, but we’d talked about it. She knew my worries about the age difference, so my reaction shouldn’t have come as a complete surprise. “Well, I was sick last month. I guess the antibiotics made my birth control less effective or something.”