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)
My cell rings, so I stop pacing and pull it from my back pocket. “Hey,” I greet my oldest brother.
“What are you getting into tonight?” he asks.
“Oh, uh, nothing much. What’s up?” I hate all this fucking lying. Palmer and I need to clear the air, so I can tell my family that she’s the one for me.
“Nothing. I just haven’t talked to you in a while. You’ve been pretty busy lately.” Guilt floods me. I hate lying to my brothers and my parents. Hell, I hate lying, but for her, I would. I did. I agreed to this mess, and it’s time I make it right.
“Work’s been kicking my ass.” It’s not a complete lie, work has been hectic, and I have picked up a few shifts for various coworkers for vacations and sick kids.
“I hear that.”
“How are things at the shop?” I ask.
“Good. Business is good. Too good.” He chuckles. “I don’t have time for the passion project I started because we’ve been so busy.”
“That’s a good problem to have, brother.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself.”
“What are you getting into tonight?” I ask.
“Nothing that I know of. Jade spent the day with Piper. They went shopping, so she’s coming over, and we’re probably just going to hang out here.”
“You not taking your girl out to dinner?”
“I do, but we’re just not going to do that tonight. She’s had a crazy week, and I’ve missed her, so I kind of want her all to myself,” he admits. “I know that I sound crazy, but I’m telling you, brother, when you meet the right one, you’ll understand. I’d take staying in with her any night over going out without her.”
“I might know a little something about that,” I confess.
“Yeah? Palmer?” he asks.
“Palmer,” I confirm.
“Are you finally going to man up and take your shot?” he asks.
I chuckle. If he only knew. “Something like that.”
“Good for you, Brooks,” he says, his voice serious. “I hope it all works out for you. Everyone should feel this.”
“Feel what?” Part of me is goading him to get him to say it. The other part just wants the validation that what I’m feeling is right.
“The love of a good woman.”
“Who said anything about love?” I ask.
“Come on, man,” he chides. “I know you. This has been eating at you for weeks. You’re not one to play games, so if you’re going all in with Deacon’s little sister, there has to be love, or at least something close to it.”
“Why’d you say it like that? Deacon’s little sister. He’s marrying our little cousin.”
“He is,” Orrin agrees. “He was also open and honest with us about it.”
“Fuck. I just… I’m going to talk to her tonight. If all goes well, I’ll call Deacon.”
“I think that’s a good idea. He needs to hear it from you.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
“Let me know how it goes. If you need me, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks, O.”
“Love you, brother.” The line goes dead before I can tell him that I love him too.
I think about our conversation, and he’s right. Deacon never hid his intentions or his affection for Ramsey. I can’t say the same, but it was something we agreed to, Palmer and me, and after tonight, I hope she agrees that I can call her brother and tell him before I shout it to the world.
I don’t expect her to tell me that she loves me too. I am hopeful she will, but at the very least, I want her to agree that this is real. That we are real, and we no longer have to hide that we’re together. At least, I hope not.
Glancing at the clock, I see that it’s five minutes before six. Close enough. Grabbing my keys, making sure that I have my wallet and my phone, I head out to pick up my girl.
“Hey, beautiful.” I lean over and kiss her lips before she can even get her seat belt buckled.
She smiles. “Hey, big guy.”
“How was the shoot?”
“A lot of fun actually. It was a family of six. They have three boys and a girl, and the kids were a blast. They ranged from twelve to three, and it’s easy to see that they keep their parents on their toes.”
“I know how that is,” I tell her. “You did the shoot at their place?”
“I did. They wanted the kids to feel comfortable to capture their personalities. We did a few formal shots where the kids were dressed up. Then they changed into whatever they wanted. The little girl, she’s six, she wore a princess dress, while the brothers wore T-shirts and shorts, even though it was a little chilly out today. They were all goofing off and riding bikes in the driveway. I got some great candid shots with all of them. I can’t wait to start editing.”