Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Me.
And I’m going to float off to sleep on a pink cloud of love.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jesse
Brianna and I sit at a round table in the dining room at the hotel with Maddie, who seems to be in a bit of a better mood after a good night’s sleep. We’re waiting for Brock and Rory to tell them about Brianna and me.
“You look good, sis,” I say to Maddie.
“So you think I’m feeling better about all of this,” she says.
“Hey, I just said you look good. Don’t read anything into it.”
“I’ll deal,” she says, waving me away with her fingers. “I’ve been dealing with being the odd one out for so long, it’s second nature to me.”
A little part of my heart breaks for my youngest sister. I know she’s always felt left out among Brianna and her cousins.
“Maddie,” Bree begins.
“Just stop it, both of you.” Maddie sighs. “Neither of you will ever understand how I truly feel.”
Bree opens her mouth but then closes it.
Good call.
I don’t really think there’s anything Brianna can say to make Maddie feel better. Brianna was raised in privilege, and Maddie was not. Hell, I was not.
So this is my load to haul.
“That’s not exactly fair, Maddie,” I say. “But I understand. You feel left out because you’re the youngest. I’ve always felt left out too, not just because I’m the oldest, but because I’m the only guy in our family.”
Maddie rolls her eyes. Yeah, I wasn’t sure she would buy that. Being the only guy out of four children hasn’t exactly been a hardship, especially since I’m the oldest.
“All right,” I say. “So your two sisters are engaged. They’re a lot older than you are. But Brianna and I are hardly engaged. Our relationship is just beginning. We don’t know if it will be forever.”
Brianna gnaws on her lower lip.
She’s already decided this is forever.
I hope she’s right. If it ends, it won’t be because of me. I’m old enough to know that what I’m feeling for her is special, unique—something I never felt before even though I thought I was in love.
But she’s young. Still so impressionable. And unfortunately, I may not be able to live up to the godlike image of me that she’s created in her head.
If anyone ends up getting hurt in this relationship… I have a sinking feeling it won’t be her.
Brock and Rory arrive, so I’m spared further rumination on the ultimate fate of Brianna’s and my relationship.
Rory sits down, a smile on her face, until she looks at Maddie. “Mads, are you all right?”
Maddie simply shakes her head.
“What’s wrong?” Rory asks.
“Ask your brother,” Maddie says.
Rory scowls at me, and once Brock is sitting down next to Rory, I clear my throat. “We have some news for you guys.”
Brock raises his eyebrows. “It’s good news, I hope.”
“I certainly think so,” Brianna offers, her lips in a smile yet still trembling a bit.
I take Brianna’s hand.
And Rory’s jaw drops.
“What exactly is this?” Brock demands.
“Brianna and I… We’ve fallen in love.”
Rory jumps out of her seat and comes around to the table, pulls me into a standing position, and gives me a big bear hug. “Jesse, this is amazing! How did I not see this coming?”
I pull back a bit, my eyebrows raised. “You’re okay with it?”
“Of course. I just want you to be happy.”
At least Rory is taking it well. “I didn’t see it coming either, sis. But it hit me like a freight train.”
Rory pulls Brianna up from her chair and hugs her too. She whispers something in Brianna’s ear, but of course I can’t hear it.
Then I move my gaze to Brock. His expression is different from his fiancée’s.
The Steels… They don’t like anyone touching their women. Well, too bad, how sad. Yes, Brianna’s young, but the Steels took two of my sisters.
Once Rory is done effusing over Brianna and me, she glances toward Maddie again.
Our youngest sister isn’t as thrilled about this match as Rory is, and Rory’s noticing. She glances to me and then back to Maddie. For a minute I think Rory’s going to say something, but she doesn’t.
“When are you going to tell Donny?” Brock asks.
“Donny has nothing to say,” I say. “He started things off with my sister.”
Brock says nothing.
I know he’s seething inside, despite the fact that he’s with my sister and Donny’s with another.
He knows there’s nothing he can say.
“My brother will be just fine,” Brianna says.
“And I think Callie will be thrilled,” Rory offers.
Our server comes by and takes our breakfast orders, and once tea is poured for everyone, silence ensues.
“This is a happy occasion,” Brianna finally says. “Everything is going to work out just fine.”
Brock will come around. So will Donny. It’s not like either of them have anything they can really say to me, considering they’re both fucking my sisters.