Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 116708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
I would not punch my brother.
I would not punch my brother.
“Damn, it’s good to see you again, Gwennie.”
Gwennie?
Fucking Gwennie?
Okay, maybe just one punch.
I propped my shoulder against the door frame, trying to play the role of cool and casual. Then on every half spin, when I was positive Gwen couldn’t see me, I leveled my brother with a glower that I hoped scalded his skin.
He eventually got the message—or, knowing that pansy, he just got dizzy—and set her on her feet.
“Wow,” she breathed. “Look at you, all grown up. A doctor too?”
He flexed a puny bicep. “Yeah. I had to make a plan B when the whole professional wrestling thing didn’t pan out.”
I couldn’t have rolled my eyes harder without causing permanent injury.
“You really tried to do that?” she asked.
“I’m a buck fifty soaking wet with the athletic ability of a sloth. Teenage dreams die hard in reality.” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder—and oh look, I existed again. “He got the brute and I got the brains. Fair split, I guess.”
I shoved his shoulder harder than necessary. “Perfect. Then maybe you should use your brains to figure out how to get the hell out of here.”
Teetering off-balance on the edge of the top step, he flashed Gwen a teasing grin. “I guess I’m leaving now. I hear you bought The Grille? Maybe when you reopen, I can stop by so we can catch up.”
“I would love that.”
“All right, then. It’s a date.”
Oh, yeah, I was going to punch the shit out of him later and I didn’t give one fuck that Amber would probably light my house on fire for maiming his pretty little face.
“See ya, Truett,” he called over his shoulder.
As little brothers do, he drove me up a wall most of the time, but life was too fragile to ever allow him to leave like that.
“Hey!” I jogged down the steps after him. “‘See ya, Truett’? That’s it?”
He slanted his head, his lips twitching. “You looked like you were about to take a baseball bat to my knees. I figured I should run while I still can.”
I dragged him into a hard hug. “Don’t be ridiculous. You know I’d aim higher than your knees.”
He barked a laugh and patted me on the back. “Love you, brother.”
“Love you too. Thanks for coming down.”
Holding my shoulders, he leaned away and caught my eye. “Any time and every time. Promise me you know that.”
I lifted my middle finger and shot him the bird. “Scout’s honor.”
“Good. Now, try to act normal. There’s a woman who is actually willing to talk to you on the porch. Don’t screw this up.”
I slapped him on the back of the head. “You know, it’s funny. I suddenly don’t feel guilty for costing you that blowjob last night.”
He laughed all the way to his black Cadillac parked on the street. I didn’t watch him leave as I was already heading back to Gwen.
She was holding my jacket again. “Wow. That was a blast from the past.”
“Mmm,” I hummed. “Seems to be a lot of that going around recently.”
Her gaze came back to mine, the joy vanishing from her face the instant our eyes met.
Awesome. That didn’t slay me at all.
“Here,” she said, extending the jacket in my direction. “You left that last night.”
“Yeah, I realized that about two blocks too late.” I draped it over the shoe rack just inside the door. “Thanks.”
“You mind if I come in?” she asked.
My back snapped straight, my entire body becoming rigid.
Shiiiiiiit.
Gwen
Nostalgia had assaulted me the minute I saw that small brick house with the white railing. Memories flooded my system—good, bad, incredible, horrendous, euphoric, soul shattering, and everything in between. Seeing Danny again had been a nice reprieve from the pressure mounting in my chest. But as much as I would have liked to have forgotten, I wasn’t there for a reunion.
“We need to talk,” I said to Truett. “Inside would probably be best.”
Indecision stormed in his eyes. “Things are kind of a…mess right now.”
“I’m not worried about the cleanliness of your home. I promise I didn’t bring my white gloves to check for dust.” I started inside, but he sidestepped, blocking my path. I barely managed to keep from running into his barrel chest.
“You can’t go in there,” he snapped.
I wanted to ask why. I quite literally had to purse my lips to keep the words from flying out. But it wasn’t my place to question him. When I’d seen him alone at the diner, I’d assumed he didn’t have a family. But maybe I’d been wrong. He didn’t wear a ring, but he could have had girlfriend or something. It was early, but for all I knew, he could have been having a party or…an orgy. With his brother? Yuck. Never mind. None of my business.
I swallowed hard and tried not to think about the latter. “Am I interrupting something?”