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)
“Always.” I think back to all the nights I’ve asked her to stay over, and she always declines. I’ve never really given it much thought, but I do want her to stay. Not just so I can wake up with her in my arms the next day. Not just so I can reach for her in the middle of the night and make love to her, although all those things I want. But I want her to stay because I don’t want us to be over.
“There you go.” He drains the rest of his beer. “You know, we might need to start a new Kincaid family tradition.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“One where we take another trip, but the women who own our hearts get to come too.”
“You missing Mom already?” I tease.
“Probably as much as you’re missing your girl.”
My girl.
“You think Mom would be up for that?” I ask him.
“As long as we kept this tradition, the guys’ trip, I’d say yes. She’d love to be a part of it.”
“You know Blakely’s all in.” I laugh.
“Don’t I know it. I’d say Jade and Ramsey would be too. And what do you think? You think your girl would like it?”
“Yeah, I think she would.”
“I’m going to call it a night. I’m too old to stay up this late,” he jokes. “You staying up?”
“Yeah. I’ll make sure they all make it back.”
“Night, son.”
“Night, Pop.” He tosses his bottle into the tote we bring for recycling and disappears into his tent. I pull my phone out of my pocket and stare at the screen. Finally, I crack and send her a text.
Me: Having fun?
Palmer: I am. Are you?
I miss you.
Me: Yeah. The twins, Archer, Ryder, and Rushton, went swimming. I’m staying up to make sure they make it back.
Palmer: Such a good big brother.
She sends me a selfie, and she has bright blue eyeshadow all over her face.
Palmer: Blakely’s handiwork.
Me: You’re beautiful.
Palmer: There is zero chance of getting lucky tonight, big guy. You can save the pretty words.
Me: Palmer?
Palmer: Brooks.
Me: You’re beautiful.
Those three dots appear and disappear five times. Yes, I counted all five times, waiting with bated breath for her reply. When it finally comes through, I smile. I know my words got to her.
Palmer: Night, Brooks.
Me: Night, baby.
Tossing my now-empty bottle into the tote, I grab another and twist off the cap. Sitting back in my chair, I tilt my head toward the sky and look at the stars above. Palmer would love this. Maybe Dad’s right. Maybe we add another tradition where we take another trip and get to bring the women in our lives. There would have to be rules. Like you have to be in love with her before she can come. We don’t want just anyone breaking into our circle. Kincaid family traditions are sacred.
I’d bring Palmer.
The realization of what I just admitted to myself makes me smile.
“Bro, how many of those have you had?” Sterling asks. “You’re smiling up at the sky like it’s a naked woman.”
“Just enjoying nature.”
“Did you smoke something?” Declan asks.
“Fuck you.” I chuckle. “You know I don’t touch that kind of shit.”
“I know, but you’re acting all weird.”
“Can’t a guy just be happy?”
Declan’s eyes flash to Deacon. “Yeah, man,” he says, “you can be happy. Now you can stay out here and smile at the stars. I’m going to bed.”
“Me too,” Deacon says. “I told Ramsey I’d call her before bed, so I’m calling it a night.”
“Pussy!” Sterling calls out.
“I’ll own that.” Deacon nods. “I don’t care what you call me. Your cousin is about to be my wife. That trumps everything.”
“Didn’t you just talk to her?” Maverick asks.
“Yep.” He waves and climbs into his tent.
I wonder how Deacon would feel if he knew I just realized I’m in love with his sister. I’d like to think that since he’s marrying my baby cousin, who might as well be a sister to me, that he’d be okay with it.
I’m in love with Palmer.
That’s so easy for me to now admit in my head.
My smile is back. “Brooks, bro, that’s creepy as fuck. Put that smile away,” Sterling jokes just as the rest of my brothers come back from their swim. They gather their things to take to the bathhouse, and those of us remaining disappear into our tents.
I pull up a picture of Palmer on my phone. It’s one of the many we took the day at the aquarium. Her emerald eyes are bright and smiling, and it’s so clear to me now what she means to me. I don’t know how I didn’t see it sooner. Then again, I was trying to keep this in the friends-with-benefits category. I’ve hated that from the start.
It’s all making sense.
Now, how do I tell her? How do I tell her that she’s embedded herself so far into my heart there’s not a chance in hell she’s ever finding her way out? I’ve never told a woman who I’m not already related to that I love them. I saved that for her, and damn, am I glad I did.