Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 104288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“But you will tell me if you’re not feeling up to it?”
I take a sip from the can, hoping it eases the thickness in my throat. “I will. But I think it’ll help both of us to keep a sense of normalcy. My head is . . . yeah, spinning right now.”
Tuck flexes his jaw. “I’m around if you need me. Day or night.”
If only I could have you at night.
“Thanks,” I say.
There’s an awkward moment of silence as I fold up the bag he gave me and hand it back to him. I’m dying for him to stay, even though I know he needs to do bedtime with Katie.
I don’t want to be alone right now. I want Tuck to hold me. I want to curl up in the bulk of his body and fall asleep in his arms.
I want him to fucking stay.
But he’s not my boyfriend. Not even someone I’m talking to, or hooking up with. We had a one-night stand, and since then, we’ve settled into a strictly professional relationship. He’s the boss, I’m his employee. We don’t talk like friends. We don’t touch like lovers. I do my job and he pays me, and that’s it.
But now it hits me just how badly I want more than that. I want his dark looks, his hot, filthy mouth. His time, and our late-night talks.
I know better. He offered me one night and I took it, knowing full well I’d be alone again in the morning.
I just didn’t realize how much I wanted Tuck—how much I liked him—until that night was over.
“Get some rest,” Tuck says.
“I will.”
He pulls me in for one more quick hug. My body pulses when he gives me a quick, hard squeeze. “We’ll figure this out. I’m here, okay?”
“Okay.”
But then he leaves, and it’s just me in the apartment.
fourteen
. . .
Tuck
Unsolicited Advice
“How long have y’all been sleeping together?”
I’m not even on the top step, heading upstairs after putting my daughter to bed, when Jen throws me a knowing look over her shoulder from where she’s standing at the sink.
I tear a hand through my hair, the burn of exhaustion in my eyes making me blink. “Jen, it’s been a long day.”
She turns off the faucet. Turns around and leans a hip into the sink apron, wiping her hands on a towel. “She’s pregnant, isn’t she? Maren?”
I meet my sister’s gaze. Don’t know why I’m surprised she picked up on that fact right away. Nothing gets past Jen. She’s too damn smart.
“I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on,” she continues. “You ran over there like a bat out of hell.”
Sighing, I cross my arms. “We slept together once. It was a mistake. Yes, we used protection, but it obviously didn’t work.”
“Obviously.” Jen gives me a skeptical look. “Wow, Tuck.”
I hold up a hand. “Spare me the lecture. I was a reckless idiot, and I take full responsibility. I’ll handle it.”
“Maren is great. Like, really great. She lights up a room. More than that, she lights up Katie.”
A hand grips my heart and squeezes. I grab onto the counter, feeling dizzy. “I know how bad this is.”
But then Jen surprises me by saying, “Is it?”
“Seriously?” I scoff. “The timing couldn’t be worse. How it looks—”
“Screw how it looks. As Dad is so fond of saying, opinions are like assholes. Let the tongues wag. Besides, everyone’s too busy talking about Riley and Lu Wade to pay y’all any mind.”
“Fair point.”
Jen steps closer. Her voice is soft when she says, “Maybe this is a sign from the universe, Tuck. Maybe it’s time to put yourself out there again. I know Becca hurt you—”
“Jen, she broke up my family.” And broke my heart into a thousand fucking pieces.
“She did.” My sister puts a hand on my arm. “But don’t let her keep you from making a new family. You have to let your guard down at some point, Tuck, or—”
“Or what?” I snap. She’s hitting a tender spot, and after the evening I’ve had, I am not here for it.
Jen searches my eyes. “Or you’re going to end up alone. I know you’re trying to protect Katie. But think about the lesson you’re teaching her by being all”—she gestures to me—“broody and broken. If she got hurt, you wouldn’t want that to stop her from taking chances, would you? You wouldn’t want that to keep her on the sidelines forever, watching life pass her by.”
“I’m not on the sidelines. I’m in it, Jen. I’m so in it that most days I can’t fucking breathe.”
“You’re cute, trying to get growly with me. You know what I mean, Tuck. Of course you’re in it. You’re a great dad. A hard worker. But deep down, you’re terrified of getting hurt again, so you never let anyone in. You never let anyone see the real you. Don’t you want to be seen?”