Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
“I’m just lookin’ out.”
“Well, you don’t need to,” I snapped. “I have and will always consider my kids when it comes to anything involving me. I always put them first. And you know what? Even though you don’t seem to care enough to ask, let me fill you in on something—Nathan is great with them. Amazing, actually. Oliver and Olivia are so happy when they get to spend time with him. You should see them together…” I paused to clear my throat when my voice began to quiver.
Shit. Why am I getting so worked up right now? Keep it together, Jenna.
“And me, Brian. I’m so happy when I’m with him.”
I could feel tears threatening to build. Syd was already wiping underneath her eyes as Brian pushed from the table, apparently finished with this conversation.
Good, I thought. Jamie mimicked him and stood too.
“I’m not tryin’ to upset you, Jen. I’m just makin’ sure you’re bein’ smart.”
I looked up at my brother. There was nothing left to say to him. I’d spoken my piece, so after holding his gaze for a solid second, I let mine drift, peering into the other room, where Oliver and Olivia chased Sir around the furniture.
Brian sighed while Jamie mumbled something I couldn’t hear and gave fuck-all about anyway. He’d side with his best friend on this one. On anything. The two of them left the room.
“I’m sorry. I love him, but this is a total pot/kettle situation.”
I turned back to Syd after she spoke. “A what?”
“He’s pot, you’re kettle, or reverse that. Whatever.” She swiped her hand through the air. “He’s being a hypocrite. Brian wants you to take it slow and be careful, but we basically fell in love over the phone before we even met each other, and when we did meet, he bought me a house practically the next day.”
I laughed against my lips.
“I get him looking out for you, Jenna, but he needs to relax. Everyone takes a risk when they enter a relationship. Your heart is on the line. Or in your case, three hearts. What’s that saying, you gotta play to win?”
“I think that refers to the lottery though.”
“It refers to anything I want it to refer to,” she countered. “And I’m full of wisdom, unlike your brother today. Don’t listen to him.”
I shook my head. “I’m not. He’s talking like I’m already moving forward with Nathan. Did I blink and miss the rest of summer? Is it September already?”
God, I wish.
Sydney sat back in her chair. “He needs to let you do you and keep his mind on other things, like our wedding. Did you know my divorce is final in three weeks?”
I smiled. “I can’t wait until you’re a Savage.”
The grin that took up Sydney’s face…It didn’t matter how pissed off I’d been at my brother. He had to see this.
“Brian!” I hollered.
“What?”
“Come here and look at your girl!”
Brian moved back into the kitchen, his gaze sliding from me to Syd. I watched a smile light him up.
“What’s on your mind, Wild?”
Brian called Sydney Wild, giving her that nickname before they’d even met face-to-face.
“Just thinking about marrying you,” she responded with a cute little head tilt. “Wanna think about it with me?”
My brother answered by moving at Syd and wasting zero time doing it. I swore he crossed the room before she even got out her question.
Brian bent down and held Sydney’s face as he kissed her, and as I watched Syd get lifted into the air, her legs being guided around Brian’s waist and her arms sliding around his neck, both of them smiling at each other between kisses, I thought about how amazing it would be to one day have someone do the same to me at family dinner.
I wanted someone to watch me, to watch us—me and one person in particular. I wanted someone to think, “I want that too,” just like I was doing now.
* * *
By the time we got home that night, it was already after nine.
I got the kids put to bed after showers and a bedtime snack. When I turned off the lights and headed to my room, my phone began to ring. I stepped up to my nightstand and looked down at the device. Brian was calling me.
I wanted to ignore it. I didn’t feel like getting into another discussion, because I knew Brian wasn’t simply calling to say good night or to admit he’d overreacted. I knew the latter for certain.
My hand froze in the air an inch above the phone. Come on, Jenna. Don’t answer it.
I wanted to relax. I was tired. I had several episodes of Claws recorded, a show I always laughed at. And I needed that. I wanted to veg out and have some me time.
When was the last time I’d done that? I couldn’t remember.