Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“This is the first time I’ve seen any birds since Mom died,” I choke out, sounding much like a sad little boy and not the grown-ass man I am. “I thought maybe they hated me.”
His lips curl into a sweet smile and he kisses my lips. “Birds can’t hate, silly man.”
I guess it is kind of silly to think the birds were holding some sort of grudge against me.
“Maybe they’ve been here all along, but you’re just now seeing them.” He rests his forehead on mine. “You’re finally seeing past that cloying cloud of smoke your heart was suffocating in. There’s love and beauty all around you.”
He’s got that right.
Tate is both of those things.
We return to lazily eating pie and watching the hummingbird. I feel like I’ve missed so much of my life for nearly twenty years. I’m finally awake and experiencing the world for the first time in forever.
It’s nice.
It’s really fucking nice.
Dad’s house is the usual chaos, except I have a squirming baby in my arms. I stare at Rex and he stares right back at me. Whose harebrained idea was it to hand me the baby?
“Don’t look so freaked out,” Tate says from beside me. “He doesn’t bite.”
“Yet,” Spencer chimes in from my other side. “Only because he doesn’t have teeth yet.”
My nephew makes a playful chomping sound with his teeth that makes me shudder. His baby continues to stare at me, drooling a little while kicking his little legs.
I’m hit with a sudden longing deep inside my chest. I felt like after Mom died, my life was gone. I never allowed myself to dream of things like a family or children one day. But now I wonder. Is that possible for me?
Visions of Tate cuddling a little one while he reads him a bedtime story floods my mind. Then I see small children helping me knead dough in the kitchen, making one hell of a mess. Fuck, why does that make my chest want to explode?
“You’re smiling,” Tate teases, nudging my knee with his under the table. “What are you thinking about?”
You. Us. A future together. A family.
“Stuff,” I say with a smirk. “I’ll tell you another day. Maybe in a year from now.”
Tate narrows his eyes at me. “Tell me now.”
“Nah. I like watching you get all flustered.”
“That’s just mean.”
I lean in and peck him on the cheek. “I’ll make it up to you later.”
Gemma shrieks from across the table. “Oh my God. Could you two be any cuter?”
Glancing up at her, I arch an eyebrow. “We’re not doing anything.”
“Except being adorable,” Willa adds from next to Gemma. “I’m with your sister on this one. You guys are precious.”
Rex starts to fuss, so I hand him back to his dad. Spencer, with a bottle ready, starts feeding him. Sure, he’s a young father, but he’s definitely a natural at it. With Aubrey pregnant now, I know the new baby will fit right in with their strange family dynamics.
I used to take these family dinners for granted. Sitting around, counting the seconds until I could bolt and get back to my own house, away from everyone. I’m done hiding, though.
Callum is in an intense conversation with Hugo and Dad. Jamie is laughing as she and Aubrey chatter nearby. Everyone around me is happy.
Well, aside from Dempsey.
Ever since all the drama with Sean unfolded, he’s been different. Distant and more broody than usual. The shadows under his eyes seem darker too. He absently spins his skull ring around and around on his finger, lost in deep thought.
What’s going on with my baby brother?
Tate squeezes my thigh and shoots me an understanding smile before leaning in. “I’m going to grab him after dinner and see if he wants to talk.”
“Good idea. Thank you, sweet boy.”
Tate loves helping people because he’s a good, kind, compassionate soul, not because of a paycheck. Knowing he cares so deeply for me and my family is a priceless thing I certainly don’t take for granted. Sure, in the beginning, I was skeptical about him, but now I know it’s just the way he is.
Mom would have adored him.
Hell, everyone else does, especially me.
“I don’t deserve you,” I blurt out, eyes locking onto his perfect, pouty lips. “But I’m not letting you go anytime soon.”
Even though I don’t deserve someone so pure and sweet like Tate, I can certainly appreciate him for all he is and all he does. He’s the gift I’ve been given and I won’t ever stop cherishing him.
“Not letting me go anytime soon?” he scoffs. “How about never?”
I smile at him, heart filling with so many emotions, I doubt I’ll ever get a hold of them. “Never sounds really, really good.”