Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“That is not going to happen.”
“You might love being a dad,” Nate said. “And what then? You’re going to fight that urge?”
“You know, I don’t like you at the moment.”
“I think I can live with that.”
Reese no longer looked ready to run and hide, and he considered that a job well done.
Pulling out the list, he handed it to Reese, who took it back with a glare. “So, if you’re so clever and you have the answers to everything, why is it you’re not with Carly right now?”
“That is none of your business.”
Reese snorted. “Come on, do you think you and Carly are fooling anyone? A couple of weeks back, we all knew what you had snuck off to the bathroom to do.” He shook his head. “You’ve been happier than you have in a long time, and you’ve not had one of your crazy outbursts, where we have to call Carly to calm you down.”
Over the years Nate’s anger had gotten the better of him, especially when he was dealing with someone who reminded him of their past. He knew firsthand there were monsters out there, true evil, and when he encountered it as the man he was now, he had to annihilate it. Sometimes it ignited a bloodlust that was hard to shut down, and the guys had no choice but to get Carly.
She was the only one he listened to. Her soft voice pulled him back from the point of no return. She was the light in his world.
“This is our business,” Nate said.
Reese snorted. “Oh, please, we’re all friends here and we know how important it is for the two of you to get together. Sarah has been plotting it for years. She just hasn’t been successful. I hope no one ever employs her at a matchmaking service. They would be destroyed within a week for her influence.”
Nate couldn’t help but laugh, but it was true. So true.
“Are you good?” he asked, more concerned about his friend.
“Yeah, I’m good. I don’t even know what my problem is. I’m going to get married to an amazing woman. Probably have a horrible brat that I spoil rotten, and of course, like you said, want lots more brats.” Reese shook his head. “You’re a good friend.”
Much to Nate’s surprise, Reese pulled him in for a hug, and he didn’t try to fight it.
****
“Why are we back here and there’s no food?” Dalton asked.
Sarah was appalled at Dalton. “Has anyone ever told you, you moan a lot?”
Dalton stuck his tongue out of her and then flipped her the bird.
“Real mature.” She shook her head. Dalton would forever be the childish one of the group.
She looked toward Reese and Mitch. “You do realize why you’re here, don’t you?”
They shrugged and Sarah sighed.
“Thank you, you see, it’s not just me. I’m not the only one confused by all your little secret meetings, and all the crap you want us to do,” Dalton said.
“Can I throttle him?” Sarah asked, looking toward Mitch.
“By all means, do so, but I’m not the one who is going to deal with your guilt when you’re finished.”
She closed her eyes and counted to ten. “I told you we needed to help Nate and Carly see that they’re meant to be together. This is our meeting to see how we’re doing.”
“And we agreed to this?” Reese asked.
She stamped her foot. She’d made them a hot chocolate, and even went the extra mile in making some whipped cream, and now they were annoying her.
“I am going to beat the shit out of all of you,” Sarah said, and then rubbed at her temples. “Give me strength.” She then shook her head and blew out a breath. “We all agreed this was in Nate’s and Carly’s best interest if they were to stay together. Did we not?”
All three men looked at each other, clueless.
She growled. “Seriously, am I the only person who cares about our friends?”
“You’re not the only person who cares, but you seem to be the only person who is slightly obsessed at trying to bring them together,” Reese said.
“I agree with what that man said,” Dalton said, pointing a finger at Reese.
She couldn’t believe she had even considered needing or wanting their help, and instead she turned toward Mitch. “Do you have an update?”
“I don’t have anything to report, because there’s nothing to report. What you need to do is stop meddling, and you know, allow them to find their own path.”
“Okay, they’re both nearly in their thirties. We’re also assuming Carly nearly is, but that doesn’t matter, Nate certainly is. They have wasted enough time. They need to get together,” Sarah said.
“Why?” Dalton asked. “Why does anything need to change? They are clearly happy together, and you’re doing everything in your power to spoil it.”
“I’m not trying to spoil anything. I just want my friends together and happy. They deserve it, and for the longest time, they have been taking care of us and our shit. Don’t you see that? I do. Yeah, it took me a long time to see they were taking care of us. But they’re like our parents, and because of it, they haven’t thought to come together, and I’m trying to fix it.”