Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 145606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
I opened my mouth then closed it again, unable to think of a response to this. Cade turned back to our food. A phone ringing made me jump and Cade heard it too.
“That’s yours babe. Ignore it. I only just got you without interruptions, I don’t need drama from your crazy best friend.” He turned back, expecting me to obey.
But I didn’t, of course. After scowling at his back for the comment about Amy, I leapt off the counter and ran in the direction of the ringing. I wouldn’t normally, but that was Ian’s tone! I hadn’t heard from him in months, due to him being in fuck knows where doing fuck knows what. I worried about him all the time and wasn’t going to miss a chance to talk to him. I skidded into the foyer where I found my bag and searched through it as my phone kept ringing.
“I’m coming I’m coming,” I chanted hoping it wouldn’t ring off. I grabbed it then put it to my ear. “Hello!” I shouted breathless.
“Ace!” I heard Ian yell. It was slightly fuzzy but man it was good to hear his voice.
“Ian! Thank god, I was getting worried! Hold on one second.”
I quickly put the phone down and grabbed Cade’s tee which was thankfully at the front door. I felt weird talking to my brother while I was standing there naked.
“I’m back. Ian, I’ve missed you so much. Where are you? When are you coming home? Are you okay?” I shot at him, thinking I might have inherited my mother’s trait when it came to phone conversations.
Ian read my mind. “Jesus Ace, you’re as bad as Mum.” I heard the laugh in my brother’s voice and smiled.
“Can’t tell you the answer to the first two, but yes, I’m fine,” he reassured me, sounding healthy enough.
I breathed into the phone, letting out the worry I didn’t even know I was carrying. “I’m so glad to hear that Ian, it’s so hard not hearing from you for months at a time, I get so worried!” My voice raised a bit at the end. “I think you should retire, get an office job, something where you don’t have the possibility of getting riddled with bullets,” I ordered voice shaking, I guess I was a bit raw from the day’s events.
“Bloody hell Gwen, cool it, I’m as tough as an ox, you know that.”
I sniffled, letting out a little laugh.
“Anyway, how are you is the more important question?” he asked with concern. “You settling into your new town all right? Managing everything okay?”
“Yeah Ian, everything’s fine. Great actually,” I told him with a smile in my voice. “This town is perfect. I wish you could see it. Kind of reminds me of home. I just know you’d love it.”
“Well baby sis, was going to surprise you but fuck it. I’ve got leave coming up, just for a few days, and we’re currently closer to the U S of A than NZ, so I’ll be coming to stay with you for a couple of nights.”
I squealed, yes a full on girl squeal. Loud. I jumped to my feet and bounced up and down like a little kid.
“Ohmigod!” I shouted, smiling wide at Cade who appeared in the doorway, arms crossed.
“Jesus babe, lucky I don’t have neighbors,” he grumbled, scowling at my phone, no doubt pissed off I didn’t obey his orders. I scowled back, shushing him with my finger.
Ian who was laughing at my reaction, stopped abruptly,
“Who’s that Ace?” he asked, voice hard.
He’s very protective of me, with good reason, and I blanched a bit thinking of how the hell I was going to handle his reaction to Cade. And there was definitely going to be a reaction. After seeing his sister almost die at the hands of one biker, I didn’t think he’d be too impressed I was with another one.
“Who?” I asked innocently.
“The fuckin’ man in the background,” my brother’s voice had turned hard.
“There’s no one, just the TV.” I hated lying to my brother, hated the scorching look Cade was directing at me.
“You’re lying sis, but I got to go,” he said, sounding pissed. “I’ll be there in a couple of weeks, call you when I get to the States. Take care of yourself, love you.”
“See you then, Ian. Love you.” I rang off and was immediately confronted by one unhappy biker.
“What the fuck was that babe? Who is Ian? And why in fuck’s name did you lie?” he asked, voice menacing.
I stared at him, and couldn’t help but smile, rushing into his arms. He caught me, not expecting it, he went back on one foot.
“Ian’s coming for a visit in two weeks!” I sang, ignoring the grumpy look on his face, I kissed him.
“Want to tell me who Ian is babe?” he clipped, still unhappy.
I stared at him confused and realized I hadn’t told him about Ian. I forgot that we hardly knew each other because it felt so right between us. I hopped down, but Cade kept his hands firmly around my waist, face close to mine. I smiled up at him, giddy with excitement, even in the face of his mood.
“Ian’s my big brother!” I watched as his face changed, but he still seemed pissed, so I elaborated.
“Ian’s in the army, not like run of the mill, but Navy Seal type shit. Or the NZ equivalent.” I waved my hand. “Anyway, I don’t know exactly what he does, I know it’s dangerous, I know I never hear from him, hardly ever see him and I miss him like crazy! Worry about him every day.”
Cade’s face softened a bit.
“Can’t tell you how good it was to hear his voice, I haven’t seen him in a year. He managed to get to New York while I was in hospital.” Tears welled in my eyes, I shook my head, forcing myself to think happy thoughts. “Anyway that doesn’t matter cos I get to see him next week!” I chanted, whipping out of Cade’s arms and darting into the kitchen.