Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Seven and a couple of the guys were playing a game of horseshoes with some girls I’d never met, while Creed and Rusty were playing a round of corn hole with Shep and Gash. As far as I could tell, it seemed like your typical Southern barbeque, and I couldn’t wait to join in on the fun.
Wes grabbed us a couple of drinks from the cooler before leading me over to the picnic tables where Goose and Ghost were sitting. As soon as we walked up, Ghost gave me one of his smirks and said, “Hey there, ‘lil sis’. How’s it going?”
“Don’t start with that shit,” Wes warned.
“Oh, come on. I was just fucking around.” Ghost leaned over to me as he whispered, “Do I really gotta stop?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “You really gotta stop.”
“Damn. Okay. I guess I’ll have to come up with another nickname.” He let out a pouting sigh. “How about Lil Sue? You know, because you’re a lawyer and shit and can sue the shit out of folks.”
“Hmmm, I don’t think so.”
“Shark tail?”
“Not crazy about that one either.”
Ghost was starting to get carried away when he suddenly stopped and nudged Goose with his elbow. “Hey, check it out.”
“What?” Goose took a quick glance around, and when he spotted Jess walking up with some guy, he groaned, “Ah, man. What the fuck?”
“I didn’t know she was bringing a date.” Wes grimaced as he told them, “I swear. I wouldn’t have invited her if I’d known...”
Wes stopped talking when Jess walked up and said, “Hey, guys. How’s it going?”
“It’s going,” Goose muttered like a wounded dog. “How ‘bout you?”
“It’s going pretty well. Just busy.” Jess kept her eyes trained on Goose as she told us, “I’ve actually got a wedding I have to go to, so I can’t stay. I just wanted to stop by and say hi.”
“So, who’s your friend?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Her cheek flushed red with embarrassment. “This is Roy. He’s my cousin.”
“You’re on a date with your cousin?”
“No!” she gasped. “We’re just going to the wedding together.”
I was really enjoying the show and hated to miss a second of it, but I noticed Kay sitting at a picnic table alone and felt compelled to check on her. I leaned over to Wes and whispered, “Your mom is here.”
“Yeah, I talked to her earlier when I grabbed our drinks. I think she’s having a hard time settling in.”
“I’m going to go over and say hi.”
“Okay. I’ll be over in a bit.”
I grabbed my beer and quietly stood, trying my best not to interrupt as I stepped away from the group. I started over to Kay, and her eyes lit up when she spotted me. “Antonia! It’s so good to see you!”
“It’s good to see you, too.” I walked over to her and gave her a quick hug. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been better. How about you?”
“I had a rough couple of days, but things are finally starting to settle down.” I sat down next to her and said, “I’m really sorry about what happened with you and Dad.”
“I am, too. I really am, but I’ve cried all I want to cry. Let’s not talk about him.” Her lips curled into a smile. “How are things with you and Wes?”
“About that... I’ve been meaning to talk to you. We both have, but with everything that’s been going on with the accident and then Dad, we really haven’t had a chance. We just wanted to find the right time to bring it up, and there’s never really a right time for...”
“I know about you and Wes, dear. I’ve known all along.”
“But how?”
“You would have to be a fool to miss it,” Kay teased. “You both lit up whenever the other walked into the room and the way you two carried on, always sniping at one another. It was cute and a dead giveaway.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, and there was always the chance that I was wrong about the whole thing. But when you went to stay with him after the accident, there was zero doubt in my mind.” She reached over and placed her hand on mine. “I will always be grateful for what you did for him. He was lucky to have you.”
“I was lucky to have him, too.”
“You love him, don’t you?”
“I do. I really do.”
“Oh, to be young and in love.” Kay glanced over at Preacher as she muttered, “I remember a time when I felt the same way. It seems like a lifetime ago.”
“It must be hard to be around him after everything.”
“Oh, it is, and it doesn’t help matters that he’s still so damn good-looking.” Kay groaned. “I mean, seriously. Just look at him. The man is like a walking Greek statue.”