Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Daddy, I gots to go. It’s girls’ weekend. Love you lots.” She hands the phone to Palmer, and then she’s gone.
“Well, all right then.” Palmer smiles at the screen.
“Thanks for letting her call me,” Declan says.
“She’s such a great kid, Declan.”
He nods. “She loves hanging out with all of you. I appreciate it.” There is so much he’s not saying. So many emotions in that statement. Declan worries about his daughter not having a mother, but we’ve got her. Mom, Ramsey, and now Jade, and even Piper and Palmer. She’s a happy, well-adjusted little girl.
“It’s our pleasure. I can confidently speak for all of us. She’s a joy.”
“She can call anytime,” Declan tells her.
“She’s going to be fine, Declan,” she assures him. “But if she asks to call, we’ll be sure to let her. You guys have fun.”
My heart races. I’m not ready for her to hang up yet. I haven’t told her how beautiful she looks or that I miss her like a fucking limb. I open my mouth to say something, anything, but quickly close it, remembering where I am.
“Have fun, guys.” She waves with a wide smile, and then the screen goes black.
Declan shoves his phone back into his pocket and takes a pull off his beer. I force my feet to move as they carry me back to my chair. I drop into it, staring into the fire. My hands itch to call her, to text her, to tell her this hiding is bullshit. I want her to be mine. I want to call her and tell her goodnight and not give a flying fuck who hears me.
I never intended to fall for her.
Yet here we are.
“Are we playing flashligh tag or what?” Maverick asks.
“Tomorrow night,” Sterling suggests. “I’m exhausted.”
“Pussy,” Archer coughs into his hand.
“Who’s up for some night swimming?” Merrick asks, tearing his shirt over his head and dropping into his chair.
“I’m in.” Maverick stands and does the same. Ryder, Archer, and Rushton all agree as well.
“Y’all too old to have fun anymore or what?” Ryder teases.
“Something like that.” Orrin smirks, raising his beer, and then they’re off.
“I need another shower,” Sterling says. “It was hot as balls today.”
“That”— Declan points at him— “is a fine plan.”
“Hell yes. I’m in,” Deacon announces. They gather their supplies and head to the bathhouse.
“I think I’m going to call it a night,” Orrin says as he stands and stretches his arms over his head. “Pops, what are we having for breakfast in the morning?”
“Bacon and eggs on the griddle.”
“We’ve come a long way,” I comment. “I remember scrambled eggs and sausage links over a campfire.”
“That we have, son. That we have.”
“Night.” Orrin waves and disappears into his tent.
Dad and I sit in comfortable silence for several minutes when he finally speaks. “What’s eating at you, Brooks?”
“Nothing, Pop. I’m good.” We both know I’m lying, and I know he’s going to call me out on it. I should have just come out with it.
“Bullshit.” That’s something I love about my parents. They’ve never let us get away with hiding our emotions, and they’re always willing to have the hard conversations.
“I met someone.” The confession is not the complete truth, but it feels good to say the words.
He nods. “All those hours you’ve been working?” he asks.
“I’m sorry. We’re keeping it quiet. I have picked up some shifts, but yeah, that’s been my reasoning.”
“Why are you hiding?”
“We started out as just benefits.” I cringe a little admitting that to my dad. If Palmer ever finds out, she’ll be pissed.
He nods again, taking a drink of his beer. “And now?”
“Now, the lines are blurred, and hiding doesn’t seem like such a strong plan anymore.”
“You like her.”
This time it’s my turn to nod. “It might be more than that.”
“Ah.” He grins. “Another one of my boys has fallen.”
“I’m not sure. I mean, how do you know when it’s real?” This is something that’s been bouncing around in my head for a few days now. Is it the sex? I mean, it’s the best sex of my life. Is that what I’m feeling? Is it more? I know I miss her all the time. Anytime that she’s near, I just want my hands on her. I don’t care if it’s just to hold her hand. I want to touch her. That’s more than the sex, right?
“Let me ask you this. The women before her?”
“They don’t matter. Hell, I can barely remember a time before her.”
“And when those women left your life?”
“It was over. It's never been anything more than a night here or there.”
“That’s how you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know it’s real when you don’t want to stay over. You know it’s real when you want to stay. When you want her to stay, so, tell me, Brooks. Do you want her to stay?”