Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64765 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64765 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“Careful.” Wyatt tensed and took a step toward him, his hands clenching at his sides. “Just because I know it doesn’t mean I want to talk about it.”
To his credit, the man didn’t flinch. “Which is why I haven’t brought it up until now. But at this point, you need to get over it, unless you want Fiona rabbiting again.”
Wyatt pushed a hand through his wet hair in frustration. “So what? You’re saying she’ll leave unless I can be comfortable standing around naked with another guy?”
“We’re both wearing boxers. See, that’s what I’m talking about.” Thoreau looked around the room as if searching for an answer. “The truth is, I don’t know, Wyatt. Do you think she’ll stay? Especially if you don’t try to understand what I know for a fact she’s told you she needs.”
She had. She’d told Wyatt she needed freedom to make her own decisions. To not be tied down to a promise she wasn’t sure either one of them could keep. But like an idiot, he’d been sure she’d come around. She was too much of a romantic not to.
And he loved her.
That solves everything, does it?
Every time she teared up at a Finn wedding or reunion, every time she held one of the new babies, he’d been more certain she was just sowing her wild oats and that she’d eventually settle down with him.
He used to think it was impossible to be with, or be in love with, more than one person at a time. All he’d ever wanted, if he let himself imagine wanting, was what Uncle Shawn and Aunt Ellen had. Making a home and raising a family together. Still holding hands at your youngest kid’s wedding. That was love.
He could have gone the rest of his life without knowing that the perfect twosome had temporarily been three—with his father, no less. Kids should never know shit like that about their parents.
Noah said having the details made it easier to understand Elder’s personality, but Wyatt didn’t care about the whys. As far as he was concerned, their father had made the choice to be a dick. He’d chosen to be alone instead of sharing Ellen with his twin brother Shawn, and he’d regretted it.
He’d chosen to marry three times, but never found what he was looking for with any of them, because he was looking for a replacement instead of someone to love. He’d had sons with each of those wives and, through death or the court system, he’d chosen to retain sole custody of them all. But his reasons were based on pride and vanity. He’d never been happy about it. Wyatt’s mother had been Elder’s third strike. After that he’d chosen to stay single and put all his energy into raising his sons in his image.
He’d chosen wrong, and in the end, he’d failed. None of them was anything like that narrow-minded bigot, and that was a choice, too. Rory had found love with his two guys. His brother Brady had Ken, and Solomon had Hugo. Noah was still single, but a short, passionate fling had resulted in his son, Zachary, and he was already ten times the father Elder had ever been.
James was, well, still James as far as he knew. Wyatt had gotten a postcard from Florida a few months ago that just said, “I’m fine.” But James had resigned from the force and actually left the state, so at least he was trying something new.
Wyatt was the only one who hadn’t changed at all. He was still the bachelor who lived with his brother. He still hung out with his family and the friends he’d made at the firehouse. He still mostly enjoyed what Rory called his three favorite things; beer, porn and fighting fires. He’d chosen to avoid change at all costs.
Until he’d accepted Thoreau’s invitation and come here.
When he was alone in that hospital room after Noah had turned him away, hadn’t he determined to try something new? To live a bigger life? Because the one he’d seen flashing before his eyes in that fire wasn’t one he could keep living without regrets. Regrets that might turn him into the one man he never wanted to be compared to.
“I also happen to think there’s strength in numbers,” Thoreau added into the silence, as if he could feel Wyatt considering what he’d said. “Whether you acknowledge it or not, you and I are on the same team. The one that wants Fiona to be happy, surrounded by friends and family. The one that wants her to stick around for good.”
Was he really thinking what he thought he was thinking? Wyatt stepped away from Thoreau and sat down heavily on the couch. He rubbed a hand over his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose before looking up again. “A team, huh?”