Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“That changes here and now,” Palmer tells me. “You have all of us. You plan to stay in Willow River?”
“I love what I’ve seen of the town so far. I signed a one-year contract with the school. So, I don’t know that it matters if I want to stay. It will depend on if my contract gets renewed. Since this is my first full-time teaching position, they didn’t want to risk more than a year until they saw me in action, I guess.”
“My daughter is an excellent judge of character,” Kennedy says. “Welcome to Willow River.”
I nod and smile. Feeling tears prick my eyes, I remain silent, willing them not to fall. The other ladies give me similar words of welcome, and Jade once again comes to my rescue.
“Orrin and I can’t decide on a name.” And just like that, we spend the rest of the night talking about babies and bouncing around name ideas. For the first time in I don’t know how long, I feel included. I feel seen, and most of all, I don’t feel like an outsider.
I barely know these women, and I feel like I belong.
The night goes on, and it’s Heath and Piper who end up giving me a ride home. Rushton didn’t look impressed, but conceded that at least I was getting home safe. When they drop me off, Heath says something about the twins, but I’m too busy thinking about Rushton to comprehend what he says. I wave and thank them both, and let myself inside. I dream about a tall dark-haired blue-eyed man who saves me from the loneliness that sometimes threatens to swallow me whole.
CHAPTER
FIVE
Rushton
Guys’ night with my brothers hits a little differently these days. It used to be the twins would stay sober so that we all had rides home, or we would all just crash at the same place and let the twins drink. It’s our right as their older brothers to get them drunk. However, these days, there’s less drinking.
Take tonight, for example. The ladies are all gathered at Declan’s house for book club. That leaves my married and engaged brothers and Deacon with nothing to do until their other half lets them know it’s time to go home. So, here we are sitting at Sterling’s home that he shares with Alyssa, sitting out back around the firepit. I know what you’re thinking. Doesn’t sound like a bad time. And it’s not. Except for the bottles of beer we used to nurse are now bottles of water or glasses of sweet tea. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just different.
I can’t even be mad about it. If I were them, and my wife or fiancée was out, I’d be sober too. I’d be the only man to bring her home. Add to it that Kennedy, Jade, and Piper are all pregnant, which heightens their need to stay sober. Hell, Heath didn’t even come this time. Instead, he’s at home with his brother, Hank, putting together a baby bed. We offered to help, but he insisted they had it under control.
We’re pros at this by now. First Blakely, then Remi. We helped Declan a few weeks ago with his son and Orrin too. We’re no strangers to putting together baby furniture. The thought brings a smile to my face. Our family is growing, and my brothers are happier than I’ve ever seen them. Well, the married or soon-to-be-married ones. We, single men, are still just taking life day by day. Maverick and Merrick are the babies of the family. Ryder, well, he’s still hooked on his ex-girlfriend Jordyn. That leaves Archer and me, and while I’m not in a rush to settle, it’s damn hard not to be jealous of our four older brothers. On the flip side of that jealousy is the knowledge that, like them, I’m not willing to settle.
When I find her, I want it to be all-consuming.
“Do you need us tonight?” Merrick asks as he shoves his phone back into his pocket.
“Hot date?” Ryder asks him. “Wait, don’t tell me you finally asked your hot neighbor out?”
“Nah, but there is a group getting together at Old Man Gentry’s field for a party,” he answers. “As for the neighbor, she’s like a ghost in the night. I’ve seen her getting into her car, and entering her house. I don’t even really know what she looks like.”
“She’s hot,” Maverick chimes in. “I mean from what we’ve seen of her, she’s hot as hell. We’re both trying to catch her to ask her for drinks.”
“Both of you?” I ask.
They shrug. “One of us is bound to finally meet her. It’s not like we’re going to pull the old bait and switch.”
“You better not,” Brooks warns. “You little shits are going to end up pissing off the wrong girl.”