Series: Silver Spoon MC Series by Nichole Rose
Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
"Normal people?" I laugh quietly, leading her up the stairs to the second floor of the stadium.
"You know what I mean." She rolls her eyes at me.
"We're all normal, little one," I murmur. "We've just been fortunate in life."
"So that's a no then," she says, making me smile again. She's cute when she gets all snarky and sassy. "You're all ridiculously hot and crazy successful, aren't you?"
"First of all, I'm the only one you're allowed to look at," I say, hitting her with a hard look. "Everyone else in the MC looks like Peewee fucking Herman as far as you're concerned. Second, we're all successful, yes. But success looks different to each of us, rabbit. If Hands was asked to give up his practice to save even a single patient, he wouldn't hesitate. Hacker's family is probably worth more than mine. He could dominate the tech industry if he wanted to do it, but he's happiest here."
"I didn't mean it like that," she says softly.
"I know," I promise. "But my point is, each of us defines what success looks like to us and it's different for each of us. To me, success isn't money or power, little one. It's repairing the damage my father did to our company and our family. It's having a family of my own. It's love."
It's growing old with her. It's spending the rest of my life loving her.
Her expression softens, anxiety and consternation melting away.
"I don't want you worrying yourself, thinking you won't fit in because you aren't a millionaire or didn't come from money or don't own a company or haven't figured out exactly what your life is going to look like fifteen years from now," I murmur, gently tugging a loose curl as we reach the top of the stairs. "We're all still figuring shit out. We all want different things and we're all on our own paths to reach them. My brothers and I are just lucky enough to travel alongside one another along the way."
She stops walking and tips her head to the side, looking at me with wide eyes. "You're pretty smart, Andreas Romano."
"Yeah?" I grin at her.
"I mean, I'm pretty sure you're full of it, but you sure look pretty saying it," she says, and then squeals with laughter and dodges away from me when I try to get my hands on her. "I was just kidding!"
"You were not, you little liar."
"You're right. I wasn't. You did look pretty saying it," she says, laughing up at me with greenest eyes and the brightest smile I've ever seen.
I stop chasing after her. I stop moving altogether and just fucking…stare, completely transfixed by her. My heart rolls over, tumbling out of my chest directly into her delicate little hands. When it does, I realize something so blatantly obvious I don't know how I missed it at all.
The last week of my life has been the best week of my life, hands down.
"And I'm caught up in an avalanche but I'm still going nowhere fast, trying to get to you," Catriona belts out, her beautiful voice ringing through the Lexus Lounge.
"Holy shit," Bender says, staring in shock at her from across the table. "Your girl has pipes, brother."
Fuck yeah, she does. Jesus. Her voice is incredible.
"I didn't know she could sing like that," I murmur, watching her as she fumbles the lyrics and laughs it off with his drummer before launching into the chorus. Everyone at the table is watching her and smiling. She's so fucking happy, so beautiful. She lights up the entire room.
"Let me bring her on stage," Bender says.
I quickly shake my head, earning a scowl from him.
"Don't be a jealous asshole," he says, his voice soft so it doesn't carry. "With a voice like that, she could go far, man. Don't be the dick who holds her back because you don't want to share her."
I don't want to share her, this is true. But I'd rent out entire stadiums and pack them with people if she wanted to sing in front of crowds. I'll support her no matter what path she chooses in life. I don't think that is what she wants for her life though. More than anything, Catriona craves affection and stability and the freedom to make her choices.
"You know me better than that," I mutter and then quickly fill him in on the situation. Since he's been on tour, he's only gotten bits and pieces of what's been going on at home. Aside from sneaking home for Cash's wedding, this is his first time back in the state in a while. He probably won't make it back home until Thanksgiving next month. He's out of the loop. Especially on more recent developments.
"Damn," he breathes once I've given him the highlights. He shakes his head, glancing at Catriona. "Her brother sounds like a fucking asshole."