Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 80261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“Your brothers on the other hand, you know how protective they are of you. They mean well, Haven. Don’t hold it against them.”
“They’re never going to let me grow up. They still treat me like I’m five.”
“They still see you like you’re five.”
“When is that going to change?’
“Honey, we brought you home. We thought it was going to be hard on your brothers since they’ve never been around a baby girl. We were shocked it was the opposite. They loved you instantly.”
“I know.”
“You’re lucky to have each other. It’s rare to find the sibling love you all share.”
It was true. I’d seen it firsthand with my friends. Their brothers were always mean to them. Never wanted them around. It was like night and day compared to how I grew up with mine.
“They’re just having a hard time with so many changes when it comes to you.”
“They have a shitty way of showing it.”
“They’ll come around, Haven.”
“I hope so. It’s hard to feel like I have six fathers instead of just one.”
“Your mom used to worry about that. How much they would affect you as you got older. You’re the one who had the least time with her. I think that’s why you and Troy have always been close. Out of all the boys, he’s the one who had the least time with her too.”
“Yeah…” was the only response I found.
“You’re family. You’re going to fight and bicker, but at the end of the day, you’ll always have each other.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t get to experience a home with another woman for as long as they did. I know it’s affected you in much different ways than them.”
“Daddy, you’ve done an amazing job at filling both roles for me.”
“From the day we got married, we promised that if anything ever happened to one of us, we’d be there for our kids. No matter what.”
“You’ve made her really proud.”
“I’ve tried.”
“Is that why you never remarried?”
“Baby girl, when you share the kind of love your mother and I did. There’s no coming back from that. I’ve been happy with the life I’ve lived. You and your brothers have been enough for me.”
Hearing him say that was so reassuring. I worried about him a lot. Especially after I’d leave for college, he’d be alone in this huge house.
“I want to meet him, Haven.”
“You will.”
“How about sooner rather than later?”
“Okay.”
“Just remember that whatever happens between you two.” The next statement he said couldn’t be more accurate. “It was already written in the stars.”
I drove back to Hayes’s house the next day feeling as if…
My father’s blessing was with me.
Twenty-Seven
Hayes
To say I hated the fact Haven was walking into my office at the bar would be an understatement.
“Don’t look at me like that, Hayes. I told you I was coming back to work today.”
“It doesn’t make it any easier to see you here, Peach.”
“I know.” She flirted. “But look how cute I look.”
I leaned forward on my desk, setting my elbows on it.
She twirled around, wearing her cheerleading uniform. The pleated shirt left very little to the imagine with her ass cheeks sticking out of the bottom of her bloomers.
“What?” She played coy. “I drove here from a game and didn’t have time to change. Or maybe, I should just host my tables wearing this tonight? I bet I’d make killer tips.”
“Haven, are you trying to piss me off more than I already am?”
“Of course not. I just thought…” She paraded over to the front of my desk. “Maybe we could break it in before my shift?”
“As tempting as that sounds.” I fell back into my chair. “I have a call in a few minutes.”
“But you’re not even smiling and I’m trying to tempt the enemy.”
I scoffed out a chuckle.
“Yay! I got a little laugh. You know what else I have for you?”
“My sanity?”
She clapped her hands together, chanting, “Bang, bang, choo, choo train!” While jumping in the air to do a straddle. Once she landed, she cheered, “Come on, Hayes! Do your thing!” She ended her performance with shaking her ass in my face.
Although I was upset with her, my cock didn’t give a shit. The sad thing was…
I was hard as fuck from her little dance.
“Still mad at me?”
“Furious.”
“Oh, come on! What’s it going to take? We basically have my dad’s blessing, remember?”
“Your father is just one of our problems. Our biggest one is the fact you don’t listen to me.”
“Yes, I do.”
“If you did, you wouldn’t be standing in front of me wearing your fuck me uniform.”
“Ugh! We’re back to this again?”
“We never left.”
“I’m not scared of Billy.”
“You should be.”
“Then why do you own forty-nine of the bar?” She lifted her arms to her sides. “That’s right. You don’t answer any of my questions, but you expect me to respect your every demand.”