Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“Hey, Wren,” I answered softly. “You doing okay?”
“Yes and no.” She shrugged. “You’d think that after all these years, I’d be used to lockdowns and what have you, but they still make me so nervous.”
“They make me nervous, too. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t been able to sleep.”
“I’m glad to know it’s not just me.” She patted her hand on the table. “Come over and sit with me a bit. Tell me how things are going with you.”
I walked over and sat down next to her, and I immediately felt self-conscious. Even without makeup, Wren was absolutely stunning. She had flawless skin and dark hair and eyes that made her look like she’d just stepped out of some beauty magazine, while I, on the other hand, looked like I’d just rolled out of bed. I tried in vain to brush the many loose strands of hair from my face as I told her, “Things are going okay, I guess.”
“And school?” She gave me a warm smile as she asked, “Are things still going well?”
“They are. I’m ready to be done, but it’s going great.”
“What are your plans after graduation?”
“Well, I’ve gotta find a job, maybe something in the city, and then, I’ll finally start looking for a place of my own. I’m sure the brothers think I’ve overstayed my welcome.”
“You know better than that. They like having you around, especially Wyatt.”
“Well, I’ve really liked being here and having them around, but I can’t stay here forever. We both know that.”
“And what about you and Wyatt?” Her question caught me off guard. I knew the guys gave him a hard time about me, but I thought it ended there. I had no idea that his mother knew how I felt about him. She must’ve noticed my surprise, because she quickly added, “Oh, honey. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be intrusive. I just know he thinks a lot of you, and I was hoping that you felt the same about him.”
“I do. I always have.” I knew she and Wyatt were very close, and there was a good chance that he’d already told her, but that didn’t stop me from saying, “We went out this past weekend, and I think it’s safe to say that things went pretty well.”
“Really?” Her smile grew wider. “That’s great. I had no idea.”
“I wouldn’t think too much of it. It’s just a couple of dates.”
“It’s more than that. You two have always had a special connection.”
“You think?”
“Oh, yes. He’s never looked at anyone the way he looks at you, and rightly so. You’re a wonderful young woman, Elsie.”
“That’s really sweet of you to say.”
“It’s true... You’ve been through so much.” Anguish filled her eyes as she said, “More than any child should ever have to go through, but you didn’t let it break you. You fought, and you’ve kept fighting. That’s more than most would do.”
“I had some help along the way.”
“Yes, and you’ve helped in return.” She placed her hand on mine as she said, “You give Wyatt a calm that he’s never had before.”
“How?”
“Just by being you.” She gave my hand a squeeze. “I see a bright future for you two, and that couldn’t please me more.”
“It would please me, too, but on nights like these, when I have no idea what’s going on, I worry that the future may never come.”
“Oh, it will. Stitch and the brothers will make sure of that.” She gave me a wink and a smile. “They always do.”
“Yeah, I know, but it’s hard not to worry.”
“Hey.” We both turn to find Stitch standing in the doorway, wearing nothing but his wifebeater and boxers. “There a reason why I just woke up in bed alone?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“So you just up and left without saying something?”
“I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Wake me, baby,” he replied, sounding surprisingly sweet. “Always wake me.”
“Okay.” Wren stood, then reached over and gave my shoulder a quick squeeze. “Thanks for the chat. It meant a lot.”
“It meant a lot to me, too.”
I watched as Wren walked over to Stitch and gave him a kiss on the lips. He took her by the hand and led her out of the kitchen and down the hall. Even though they were as different as night and day, they worked. They took care of each other in a way that no one else could. As I sat there eating my yogurt, I wondered if there would ever come a time when Wyatt and I would be like them. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized we already were, and that made me smile.
“That must be some really good yogurt,” Savage snickered as he walked into the kitchen in his tighty-whities. “What are you doing up so late?”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“That seems to be going around.” He opened the fridge and pulled out the pitcher of tea. “Something on your mind?”