Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
When we left to head back to my house, he was silent the whole way. After we walked inside, he still didn’t say a word. When I returned downstairs after my shower and found him on the back porch drinking a beer, he still remained silent.
“Are you ever going to talk to me again?” I asked.
He slowly shook his head. “You flat-out lied to our parents, Sutton. It’s bad enough we’re going to have to put on a show for the whole town, but now we have to do it with our parents as well.”
I sat down and reached for his beer. I took a long drink and handed it back to him. “I panicked, Brody.”
“No shit.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t tell my parents the truth.”
He turned and looked at me. “Sutton, your dad is not going to have another heart attack.”
I shook my head. “It wasn’t just that,” I said quietly. “I failed so badly with my first marriage, and if they knew the whole truth, and that my second marriage was a sham…I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t stand the idea of seeing the pity or embarrassment on their faces.”
Brody stared at me for a good minute before he closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath, and then focused back on me. “Sutton, they wouldn’t have felt either of those things.”
“Are you terribly angry with me?”
He turned away and stared out into the dark night. “No. But I wish you’d given me a heads up.”
“It just kind of…” I shrugged. “Happened. I’m so sorry.”
“Did you see the way your father looked at me when your mom said you were pregnant? I never saw anyone grab a knife so quickly in my life. And I’ve been stabbed and shot at!”
I brought my hand up to my mouth at the thought of Brody being stabbed and shot. He smiled and winked, and I couldn’t help but return the gesture. “What about your dad? He was so preoccupied with the lasagna and not hurting his golf arm, I’m not sure he even realized his oldest son was about to be murdered.”
Brody laughed, and it was one of the sweetest sounds I’d ever heard. I loved his laugh. And his smile. The left side of his mouth hitched up more than the right, and it was one of the sexiest things about him.
“Oh man, what an evening,” he said with a shake of his head.
“Are you, um, going to go back to the beach house or…” I let my words dangle in the air.
With another panty-melting smile, he said, “I’ve got an overnight bag in my truck. Sometimes I get called out on jobs where I have to stay the night, so I keep a bag ready to go. I brought it in and put in the guest bedroom while you were showering. I’ll go home tomorrow and pack up some stuff.”
“Bring whatever you what. It’s actually your house, too, now.”
He looked at me and winked. “That’s right. We didn’t sign a prenup.”
I dropped my head back; it was my turn to laugh. “I’ve got nothing, so…”
He put his beer to his lips and took a long drink. “Well, I’ve got about four-hundred-thousand dollars in my main savings, and more sprinkled in stocks and other investments. And you’re now the proud owner of a beach house and a couple of jet skis.”
I opened my mouth to say something snarky, then snapped it shut. Did he say main savings? “Main savings?”
He nodded. “I’ve got three savings accounts. Each for something different.”
“Oh.” We sat in silence for a few moments. “Brody, I don’t think for one minute that anything of yours is mine. I hope you know that.”
“Why? As far as I’m concerned, what’s mine is yours. We’re legally married, Sutton.”
“I would never…”
He reached for my hand. “I know you wouldn’t. But what I need you to understand is that you don’t have to struggle. I want to help you and ease some of your burden.”
My brows pulled down in confusion. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I… Because I can, and I want to.”
Before I could argue, he stood and handed me the nearly finished beer. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to go ahead and shower, then hit the hay.”
I forced myself to smile at him even though I wanted to ask him more. Not about how much he had or owned, but why he would so easily share it with me. Instead, I gave him a soft smile. “Okay. Sleep well.”
He smiled down at me, then leaned over and kissed my forehead. “You, too, Sutton. Sweet dreams.”
Sutton
* * *
THE SEASIDE CHRONICLE
September 29, 2022
WAVES SPLASH!
Seasiders,
Breaking news coming right from the docks! There’s been a marriage. Can anyone guess who tied the knot?
This writer knows…
Fair winds and following seas!
* * *
“Welp, I can safely say they’ve moved on from me and Gannon now!” Addie exclaimed. She was a little too excited for my taste.