Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 91937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“You look nice.” He tries to ignore the way I’m looking at him by leaning down and kissing my neck. “We should go,” he mumbles, “before I rip that fucking skirt off you and fuck you in just those thigh-highs I saw you put on.” He kisses my lips gently since I put lip gloss on them before I walked out and put on my only pair of high heels.
I raise my hand to wipe the gloss off his lips. “You look really good,” I tell him. “Like, really good.”
“Yeah.” He winks at me. “Care to show me how good I look?”
“No.” I shake my head and try not to feel the pinkness coming to my cheeks but fail. “We have to go.”
He slips his hand in mine. “Fine, then tonight you can show me.” He pulls me out of his room, and we walk down the stairs toward the front door. The past two weeks have been somewhat refreshing. I think everyone knows we’re together at this point since Brady makes it a point to kiss me every time he can when we’re at the bar. I thought it would bother me and I would feel self-conscious, but I’ve come to terms with the fact I love him, and I know if the shoes were reversed, I wouldn’t give two fucks who saw me with him. There has been no word of Winston, which is a blessing. Wyatt is thriving, and by thriving, I mean he’s thriving. He only wants Brady to drive him to school so they can talk football and not have me interrupt. Let’s not start on how he would spend the whole weekend with Charlie and Autumn, as if he has been doing it his whole life. He is even over there now, with Emmett for the day, until court is done. We’ve even had Sunday dinners with them and Mr. Thatcher, who is one thousand percent head over heels in love with Wyatt and making sure he is there for all the things he wants to do. He even came and got Wyatt to go fishing one day after school. Then Mr. Thatcher stayed with him until we got back from the bar. Brady, of course, followed him home because that is the type of man he is.
“Ryleigh is meeting us there,” I say as I grab my purse and look at him. “I feel like I’m going to throw up,” I admit as we walk out of the front door.
He opens the car door for me. “You’ve got this. Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out.” My eyes get so dry they sting. “Get in before we’re late.”
I nod, not saying anything as I buckle myself in and put my hand on my lap, which is then pulled onto his lap as he drives us to the courthouse.
We park, and I look around for a second before he puts his hand on the lower part of my back and ushers me inside. I’m expecting to be met by Ryleigh. Who I’m not expecting to be met by is Mr. Thatcher, who is dressed almost like his son, with Autumn beside him smiling over at me. Charlie is behind her, his face like stone, and I know he’s just worried for Autumn, but he also hates Winston.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask, and I shake my head at my own stupid question.
“You didn’t think we wouldn’t be here?” Mr. Thatcher questions, putting his arm around Autumn. “But did you bring me cake?” He smiles at me, making me laugh, and a tear escapes the corner of my eye.
“No, but I made a carrot cinnamon cake this morning with cream cheese frosting drizzle for after.” I smile at him.
“Mine.” Autumn holds up her hand.
“Okay, are you ready?” Ryleigh asks. The door opens, and I turn my head, shocked again when Casey strolls in with Ryleigh’s uncles, Matthew and Max. All three of them are in suits without the tie, and they look like Magic Mike dancers, but then also a security detail for the stars. “We should head in there.” She motions with her head. “I’m so excited for this,” she chirps with glee in her voice as if we’re going to Disneyland and not facing off with my in-laws in court.
I walk with her side by side. Everyone else follows me, even saying that I’m shocked. Every other time we’ve been in court, it’s always been me alone, and now my side is full. We walk down the aisle to the front of the room, stepping over to the left table that sits in front of the judge’s bench. The table on the right side is still empty because the Cartwrights need an entrance.
I sit down in the chair as Ryleigh takes her things out of her bag and places everything the way she wants. My leg moves up and down with nerves when we hear the door open. Even though I tell myself I’m not going to look, I do and see their lawyer walking in with Winston, who is dressed like he’s going golfing in khaki pants and a white shirt with a dinner jacket. His sneer falls on Brady, who is between his father and Charlie, something I think they all planned. Brady looks up at the ceiling, and I can see his jaw getting tight and his hands going into fists on his legs.