Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
I beam up at her and launch myself off Slade’s lap and over the back of the couch, barreling into Shaylee’s arms. “Thank you,” I tell her. “I really needed to hear that.”
“I know, sweetheart, and don’t you worry, I’ll say it over and over again until the words finally begin to sink in.” I laugh into her and she pulls back with a smug grin. “I can only imagine what Blake is going to say about all of this. He’s going to have you on a pedestal.”
“As he should,” I tease. “That’s exactly where I belong.”
Slade rolls his eyes and curls his arm around my waist before hauling me back over the couch and into his lap.
“Alright,” Shaylee says, walking around the couch and dropping down beside us. She looks up at me, meeting my eyes. “While we’re all talking and being honest, there’s something I wanted to bring up with you.”
My brows furrow at the hesitation in her tone. “What is it?”
She lets out a shaky breath. “I’ve been doing some thinking…soul searching if you may, and with both you and Blake out of the house, I’ve realized how damn lonely it is.” She reaches out and takes my hands, giving them a gentle squeeze. “Honey, sixteen years ago, I stood in a church in front of my friends and family, in front of your parents and before God and I made vows to my husband. I know this might be hard for you, but I miss him. He’s the love of my life and my heart hurts every day without him.”
Tears fall from her eyes and I see just how torn she is about this decision.
“This is your home too,” she continues. “So, I would never do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable here, but I’d like to invite Ben back into my life. I’m still so mad and hurt by what he did, but apart from those things, he’s always been an incredible husband and soulmate. We could start off slow, maybe dating like we did back in high school to see if I can somehow move on from what he did…”
“Shay,” I say, cutting her off. “It’s okay. You don’t need my permission to see your husband. This is your home and I’ve been so blessed that you were willing to take us in. Seriously, I don’t know where Blake and I would be if we never found you. Ben is a part of who you are, and yeah, I’m probably going to be really pissed and hurt by what he did for a long time to come, but he’s your other half and if you want to try again with him then I think you should go for it.”
I glance at Slade, feeling his gaze already on me, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to live without him. Letting out a heavy sigh, I look back to Shay. “I don’t know how I would cope had that been me and Slade, but I think when it’s the man you love, you have to fight for all it’s worth because, at the end of the day, he’s your everything and the man who’ll stand by your side through thick and thin.”
Shaylee nods. “He is.”
I give her a warm smile. “Then if that’s what he means to you, I’ll find it in myself to try.”
Shay pulls me in and wraps me in her warm arms. “That’s so much more than I could ever ask for. Thank you, my sweet girl. I know we’re going to be okay.”
Chapter 22
My bedroom door swings open and I find Nessa staring at me from the open doorway, her mouth dropped open and her pretty head shaking. “Ummm…no,” she says, taking one look at me still curled up in bed. “I don’t think so.”
I reach over to my phone and light up the screen. 10 am. Ugh. It’s way too early for a Nessa invasion. I grab the TV remote and launch it across the room, missing her by miles. “Get lost,” I grumble, dropping my head back to my pillow and pulling the blanket high over my face.
“Do you realize what time it is? Are you seriously planning on wasting the day in bed?” she asks, walking deeper into my room. “I get that you weren’t going to go to school today, but I figured you’d at least…I don’t know, do something.”
“I am doing something.”
“Lying in bed till midday and then binging on Netflix until you pass out doesn’t count.”
“Bullshit, of course it counts.”
Nessa squeezes herself into my bed and wraps me in her arms. “It doesn’t and you know it,” she murmurs, putting her cold legs against mine. “I missed you.”
“I know you did,” I grin, hoping she’s getting a face full of morning breath. “What’s not to miss? I’m pretty fucking awesome.”