Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“Same here, beautiful.”
Away and fully out from under Marcel’s shadow? The idea feels like a tangled knot of betrayal and excitement inside my chest.
“Why did they wait so long to tell us? That’s what hurts the most,” Heidi whispers. “He said it was because of school, then our wedding, you being in the hospital…”
“Your brother’s a master at coming up with excuses.” More anger than I’d intended vibrates through my words.
“Wait, what did he tell you about Charlotte?”
Shit, here I am whining about people lying, and I never told Heidi this. But it was Charlotte’s pain to share—not mine. “He told me Charlotte had a miscarriage shortly before Grace was born.”
She sucks in a deep breath, and tears fill her eyes. “Oh, no,” she breathes out. “Oh my God, and I keep bugging them about having a baby.” She slaps her hand over her mouth. “Why didn’t she say anything?”
“I guess she didn’t want to talk about it or want Hope to know.” I shrug. “I didn’t probe too much. Your brother was kind of torn up about it himself but wanted to respect her wishes. You know, until he blabbed it to me to cover up his own secret,” I finish with a bitter laugh.
“Ugh. He really never said anything to you about Rock?” Heidi squints at me.
“Nothing.”
“You two are so close. I thought you talked about everything?”
“So did I.”
“I just don’t understand.”
“This is going to sound pathetic.” I pause and think of how to put my feelings into the right words. “Even though he’s a piece of shit who abandoned you guys, Teller had a dad for ten years.” My voice falters, but I push out a rough rasp to finish the thought before I lose the nerve. “I never knew mine. And—”
“Rock’s been like a father to you in a lot of ways,” Heidi finishes for me in a quiet voice.
I knew she’d understand. “I guess.”
She bites her bottom lip and squeezes her eyes shut. “Do you think that’s one of the reasons my brother didn’t want to tell us? I know he said he was worried about my reaction. But do you think he was worried you’d feel left out or something?”
The question hits me like a hot poker to the chest. Is Marcel sensitive enough to think of that?
Fuck. Yeah, he probably is. As pissed as I am, I know it’s true.
“Shit.” I tip my head back and stare at the ceiling.
“No wonder Hope’s been so awkward.” Heidi’s eyes widen. “They’ve been making her keep this secret too.”
Knowing Hope and how much she cares for Heidi, that probably killed her.
The whole story starts to take a different shape in my mind. “Now I’m pissed with your brother for forcing Hope and Charlotte to lie about this for so long.”
Her jaw sets in a firm line, and she crosses her arms over her chest. “Me too.”
Our eyes meet and after a few seconds, we burst out laughing.
“You want to go home, beautiful?” I ask.
She glances around the room. “Not yet.” Her warm fingers curl around my hand. “I like being away from everyone…alone time for us. For our family.” She drops her gaze. “We might not have had the best beginnings or good parents, but we won’t repeat any of those mistakes with our kids.”
My throat tightens. “No, we won’t.” I rest one hand over her stomach and the other on Alexa’s back. Our daughter sighs and wiggles in her sleep. “I’ll always be here to take care of my girls. Always.”
Heidi curls into my body, a soft, gentle weight against my chest. “And I’ll always support you no matter what. If you think Tennessee’s the best place for our family, I’m calling shotgun.”
I swallow hard. Talking this out with Heidi moved me closer to forgiving Marcel. But the idea I’d tossed out in anger—moving a few states away—still holds a forbidden appeal.
Could Heidi and I leave everything we’ve ever known behind?
A few days ago, I would’ve said no.
Now, it’s a possibility.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Teller
By Monday morning, I’m out of my mind with worry.
No one, except Trinity, has heard from Heidi or Blake.
Blake’s even dodging Wrath—his business partner—something I thought he’d never do. I managed to fuck up every aspect of my best friend’s life.
“Now you know why I didn’t want to do this.” I stab an accusatory stare at Rock, who showed up on my doorstep right after sunrise.
He glares right back. “Waiting so damn long sure as fuck didn’t help.” He pushes away from the kitchen door where he’s either been staring out the window or lecturing me since he got here.
Charlotte eyes both of us carefully from her spot by the coffee maker. “Do you want me to stay home?”
“No.” She might be worried we’ll kill each other if she leaves us alone. “We’ll be fine,” I assure her.