Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Here you go,” I say five minutes later.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t feel well.”
“What can I do?”
“I think I just need to go home and lie down.”
“Let me take you to my place so I can take care of you.”
Her eyes soften, and she reaches over and places her hand on my cheek. “That’s sweet of you, but really, I think something I ate didn’t sit well. I just need to lie down for a while.”
“I’ll stay with you.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine. I’m just going to be sleeping.”
“This is the first time I’ve laid eyes on you in two weeks. I’m not ready to let you go just yet,” I confess. I’m trying really hard not to let my disappointment show. Tonight was supposed to be the night. I get that she’s not feeling well, but I want to take care of her. Doesn’t she see that? I don’t care if I hold her the entire time she sleeps or I just sit and stare at her. I’ll be with her. That’s all that matters.
“I really do think it’s best if I just go home. Alone,” she adds.
I sigh, defeated. “Okay. If that’s what you want.” I wait for her to buckle up before pulling out of the lot and heading back to Willow River. My hand is on her thigh the entire drive, and her eyes are closed. I can see she’s not feeling well, and I hate that I’m irritated that my plans are shot to hell. That’s selfish, and I know it.
When I pull into her apartment complex, I put the truck in Park and gently rub her arm to wake her up. “Hey, sleepyhead. We’re here.”
She sits up and looks around. “Thank you for tonight. I’m sorry I’m bailing on you.”
“It’s not too late to change your mind. I can come up for a little while, or we can go back to my place.”
“Thank you, Brooks, but I’m just going to go upstairs and go to sleep.”
I nod, accepting that my night is not turning out as I had hoped. “Call me if you need anything. I don’t care what time it is. If you need me, or anything at all, you call me. Understand?”
That gets me a soft smile. “Thank you.” She reaches for her handle and starts to get out.
“Wait, don’t forget this.” I hand her the to-go container that holds her funnel cake.
“You’re too good to me, Brooks Kincaid. Goodnight.”
“I’ll walk you to your door,” I tell her, but she raises her hand to stop me from getting out of the truck.
“That’s risky. Thank you for the offer, but I’m okay. Night, big guy.”
“Night, beautiful.” She closes the door, and I watch her until I can no longer see her. I sit here in the parking lot a hell of a lot longer than I should, but leaving her when she’s not feeling well seems wrong. My phone pings with a text.
Palmer: Thank you for the funnel cake. I’m settled. You can go home now.
I smile. She knows me too well.
Me: Anything for you. Feel better.
She doesn’t reply, and I don’t really expect her to. Knowing that I can’t sit out here all night like a creeper, I put my truck in Drive and head home. Instead of holding the woman I love and telling her so, I’m going to be sitting on my back porch nursing a beer all on my own. I’m disappointed, but I also want her better. Besides, we have forever.
At least I hope we do.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Palmer
“Sorry I’m late.” Piper comes rushing into the small area of the boutique that’s reserved for us today. She plops down on the couch next to me and exhales. “There was an accident that blocked the road. Heath said that everyone was okay.”
“Is he allowed to give you that information?” I ask her.
“He didn’t give me names or anything. Just said that everyone was okay.”
I nod. “He has a tough job.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing yet,” Carol Kincaid tells her. “She’s in trying on her first dress.”
Is it awkward to be sitting with Brooks’s mom while hiding the fact that I’ve been sleeping with her son for months and, oh yeah, that I’m in love with him? You bet your ass it is. I’m glad my sister finally showed up to be a buffer between us.
“Did she tell you that they finally picked a date?” Piper asks.
“She did. She insisted on picking me up. She told me all about it on our way to collect Carol.”
“So romantic,” Carol says.
“I’m still calling dibs on naming their firstborn after me.”
“What if it’s a boy?” Piper laughs.
“Palmer is a universal name. I can see it going either way,” I tell them, making them laugh.
“Are you ready?” Ramsey calls out.
“We’re ready,” the three of us call back.