Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“This is bad, this is very bad.”
“It will all work out, darlin’. It will be fine. Congratulations, baby girl. Let me call down for that ice cream,” he says soothingly.
CHAPTER 24
Sorry, Babycakes
Lynn
I wake to the same guilt I fell asleep with. The one thing to comfort me is Trev’s strong arms wrapped around me as he sleeps. I look up into his face and I can’t help but wish it could always be this way.
My heart pangs as my father’s words come back to me. Pook was going to be engaged. Cliff was going to propose.
She would have made such a gorgeous bride. I know how much she loved Cliff. I wonder if she was ready to get married? She would have been such a good mother.
I’m surprised Daddy gave his blessing. Brooke spent nearly a year working on my daddy just to date Cliff. I believe he only gave in at first because she was away at school at the time.
Being that Cliff works the Monroe ranch, he couldn’t really run to see Brooke all the time. They spent most of their time together during breaks. Daddy means well, but he can be smothering at times.
Especially when it comes to me. I might be better off in New York. Now that Pook is gone, I know things are going to get more intense.
Then there’s my blunder from last night. Ugh, why is this my life? My sister and best friend is gone and she’s the only one who knew how to deal with my daddy, other than my mama—who still hasn’t mastered the task the way Pook had.
Trevor takes a sharp intake of air, breaking into my thoughts. He opens his eyes and reaches to run his fingertips over my cheek. I give him a weak smile.
“How are you feeling?” he murmurs, his deep voice sleep heavy.
I shrug my shoulders, not sure how I feel. The pain in my daddy’s voice was enough to cut. He sounds like a shell of his former self these days.
“I shouldn’t have lied. It was a knee-jerk reaction.”
“Give him some time to cool off. I’m sure you can smooth it out.”
“I hope you’re right. I feel terrible. Did you know Cliff was planning on proposing to Brooke?”
“Yeah, I did. He was going to fly in a week after us all. He planned to surprise her and propose here. He was off buying her ring that day.”
“She was on her way to meet up with him that night, right?”
“That’s what he says. He was going to pick her up, but you know how she was about that truck.”
“She wouldn’t let anyone else drive it. Even if I didn’t hate the thing, she wouldn’t have allowed me to take it home for her,” I sigh.
“And she called us stubborn,” he chuckles wistfully.
“We get it from our daddy.”
Trev runs a hand over my hair and kisses my forehead. “He’ll come around. I get it. I’ll be just as protective of our little girls.”
“But I’m not a little girl anymore and neither was Brooke.”
“In your daddy’s head, you’ll always be his little girl. He wants what’s best for you. Someone to treat you right and protect you. Cliff showed him he would do just that for your sister. I’ll do the same.
“Trust me, Lynn. We’ve both made mistakes already, but it will work out. It has to. I’m madly in love with you.”
“I love you too,” I sing.
“Come shower with me.”
Just as the words come out of his mouth, my phone rings. I sigh, knowing it’s a call from back home. I look into Trev’s eyes and bite my lip.
“This is your chance, darlin’. You handle that. Remember, I’ll talk to him man to man when we get home and get permission to do this right.
“All you have to do is smooth things over between you two for now. When you’re done, I’ll be in the shower waiting,” he says and pecks my lips then my nose.
I give him a weak smile before rolling over toward my phone. Just as I thought, it’s from my home. It’s either my mama or my daddy on the other end.
I take a deep inhale before I pick up. I’m either about to be yelled at or interrogated about last night all over again. Either way, it’s too early for this, but I’d rather deal with it now than have it on my mind all day.
“Hello,” I breathe into the phone.
“Hey, Babycakes,” my daddy returns.
I close my eyes and sigh. I had been hoping it was my mama. She’s always been easier to talk to.
“Hey, Daddy.”
“Lynn, I’m sorry about last night. I… I just— Your mama and I happened to try to clean Pook’s room yesterday. I found one of her diaries and she may have mentioned something about you crushing on Trev.”