Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Hudson: Thank you for going. You’re doing the right thing. Love you, little sister.
The door opens and I’m forced to put my phone away. Dr. Livingston can’t hide his surprise when he sees me.
“Wow,” he says, grinning. “Eighteen looks good on you. Smiles look good on you. I take it the medication is working?”
Fucking my brother is helping.
“Yep, I think so.”
He sits down in his chair and positions his clipboard on his knee. “I spoke with your aunt. How are things at home?”
I bristle at his words. “Fine. Everything’s fine.”
Dr. Livingston lifts a brow. “Last time we spoke, you were upset. You were counting down the days until you could move out. What changed?”
Hudson.
“Nothing.”
He scribbles something down, his eyes never leaving mine. “Your aunt had some concerns about how much time you’ve been spending with your brother. She fears you’re using him as a crutch. This is a safe place in here. I’m bound to keep what you tell me confidential. You can tell me…anything.”
That I’m sleeping with my brother? That’s what Aunt Becky has most likely expressed to him as a worry.
He may be bound to secrecy, but I think the area becomes gray when what I say is illegal. I’m not sure he’d keep information like that to himself. It’s not his business.
No one will ever know.
“Hudson is my brother and he reminds me I’m not alone in this world. We went to Mom and Dad’s graves. Said a few words. It was nice. For the first time, I didn’t feel like the world was crushing in around me.”
“I see.” He waits for me to continue, but I don’t. “Besides the medicine, are there certain things or people who make you happy? There’s a definite difference in you, Rylie.”
He’s fishing. He wants me to say Hudson so he can probe more.
“I have a boyfriend,” I blurt out. “A guy I met at school. He’s in a class of mine.” I close my eyes. “We kissed and…” Fucked over and over again. And, oh, he’s my brother, not some kid from school. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together.”
“Oh?”
I reopen my eyes and smile. “I love him.”
“Love seems like a strong word, especially if this is a new relationship.”
Nah, I’ve known him since birth.
“It’s the only word to describe it,” I say with a sigh.
“What does Hudson think about this guy?” he asks.
I snort. “He wants to kill him. Hudson doesn’t like him, but all big brothers are protective like that.”
He chuckles. “I hated all my younger sister’s boyfriends. I even hated her husband before she married him. It wasn’t until he and I both realized we loved fishing that we became friends. It’s natural for your family to feel protective over you. That’s how your aunt and uncle feel too. They want to protect you from hurting whether that is self-inflicted or by the influence of others.”
“For the first time in ages, I feel truly happy,” I tell him honestly. “I’m thankful for my family for worrying over me, but I’ll be okay.”
“Well, I don’t doubt that, Rylie. You’ve grown up since the last time we spoke. The grief of losing your parents isn’t dictating your every thought either. As long as you make good decisions and are being safe, I think you’re learning ways to cope and that’s never a bad thing. Trial and error is what you have to do. Keep doing what works and eliminate what doesn’t work. I’m proud of you.”
He continues chatting with me, mainly asking about side effects of my medication and such, but I’m distracted by thoughts of Hudson. He’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve barely been away from him and I’m already aching to see him again.
Two more weeks, Huds.
“How was your appointment?” he asks, his voice deeper sounding on the phone than in real life.
“Fine. He says I’m doing better. I didn’t tell him why.”
He chuckles. “I don’t think he would have taken that news very well.”
“How did class go? Did you even study for your finals?” I question, knowing damn well he didn’t crack open a book while visiting me.
“I don’t have to study,” he gloats. “Besides, they’re not until next week anyway.”
“Smug ass.”
“What are you wearing?” he teases.
I giggle. “Your hoodie and shorts.”
“Where’s Aunt Becky?”
“Still at work. It’s Monday. She always stays late on Mondays. What are you doing?”
“I was tired as fuck after class because someone kept me awake all weekend, so I came back to my dorm to nap before practice,” he says. “But it’s raining, so they called practice off. Now, I’m just lying here in my boxers all alone.”
I groan as I slide under my covers. “I wish I were there. I’d keep you company.”
“That sweet voice of yours makes me hard as fuck,” he hisses. “My dick still smells like you. It sucks I have to jack myself off when all I can think about is being deep inside of you.”