Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 32934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
“You did it, baby girl.” I quickly mounted Rubix. “Grab Sunflower’s reins,” I instructed. “I’m going to teach you how to ride a horse.”
She beamed at me, her eyes so bright with life and happiness that it momentarily stole my breath away.
This girl had no idea how bad I had it for her.
“This is her?” Dad asked as he stepped into the dining room. His hair was wet from his shower, and he was wearing a pair of flannel pajama pants and a black pocket tee.
I smiled at Elizabeth. She looked extremely nervous, her eyes flitting around the room, not focusing on any particular thing. It was one of her first tells that she was uncomfortable.
“This is her, Dad.” I grabbed Elizabeth’s hand in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Elizabeth, meet my Dad, Henry. Dad, this is my girlfriend, Elizabeth.”
Dad smiled at her. “I’d give you a hug, but you’re already sitting, and my back is killing me,” he confessed. I frowned at him, but he waved me off. “Your mother will rub muscle rub on my back later,” he assured me.
I sighed. I knew he’d done extra work because I’d been with Elizabeth, though I’d told them I was with Kaleb. But Dad never let me feel bad about being a regular teenager. He encouraged it—within bounds. But I still couldn’t help feeling guilty when he ended up with a sore back because of it.
Dad took his seat beside Mom, and we began to dig in. Dad told us about his day, the deer he’d seen while he was working, and he warned me about a possible coyote, which was the last thing we needed. I told them about Elizabeth riding a horse for the first time and how much she enjoyed it.
“So, you’re a natural, huh?” Dad asked her, taking a sip from his glass of sweet tea.
Elizabeth blushed. “I wouldn’t say that,” she said, reaching up to shyly tuck her hair behind her ear.
I pressed a kiss to her temple, unable to keep my hands or lips off of her for long. She blushed red to the roots of her hair. “I’ve never seen a newbie rider ride as well as she did. She’s definitely a natural, Dad.”
He grinned at her. “Good. You’ll fit right into the family.”
I was pretty sure if she’d been chewing, she would’ve choked. She looked over at me with wide, nervous eyes, but I just smiled at her.
I wanted her forever, and my parents knew if I brought her home to meet them, I was very serious about her.
If I had anything to do with it, Elizabeth would be part of this family forever. And her love for the land already and her adoration of the horses just proved that here—right here with me—was where she belonged.
Now, I just needed to prove it to her.
Mom poked her head into my room, smiling softly when she noticed Elizabeth was passed out on my chest. We’d been watching a movie, but after all the excitement today, it hadn’t taken her long to curl up against me, put her head on my chest, and pass out. Thankfully, she’d already had a shower and was in one of my t-shirts and a pair of my boxers, so I didn’t need to wake her.
“I want to tell you that you can’t sleep in the same bed together.” I sighed and stared up at my ceiling. This was the only downfall to her staying here at my house. But if Mom forced us to sleep in separate rooms, at least she would still be safe. “But I’m going to allow it as long as this door stays open.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing again and tightening my hold on my girl. “Thanks, Mom,” I whispered.
She walked over and lightly ran her hand over Elizabeth’s blonde hair. “Girl’s been through a lot, Drake. Are you sure you’re ready for the healing she’s got to go through?”
I nodded, tightening my arm around her. “I’ll go through Hell for her,” I told her, meaning it.
Mom arched a brow at me. “You sure you’re ready for that kind of commitment?” She didn’t say it in a condescending way. More in a way of making sure I knew how big that kind of statement was.
I nodded. “She’s everything to me, Mom. I can’t picture life without her.”
Mom smiled softly at me. “You’re just like your father.” She leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “He claims he was madly in love with me the moment I moved here during our junior year of high school.”
I quietly laughed. “Had to be if you two are still married,” I teased her.
She shrugged. “Your father was ready for that kind of commitment to me, Drake. I just want to make sure you’re ready as well. So many people will tell you that you’re too young to know what you want, but sometimes, you just click.”