Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
It’s not exactly the future I’d envisioned for myself. Chase, Diesel, Dodge, and Maddox are wonderful men, and I would be extremely lucky to call them mine, but I don’t think their profession is something I can ever be comfortable with.
All four of them texted back last night after the show. They proposed getting together, but I played up my tiredness, and we made plans for when and where we’d meet at the park.
It’s a perfect fall day, crisp and clear. The kind of day where you can have fun in the sun, and then cozy up by a fireplace at night. Recklessly, I imagine myself sitting on the men’s back deck, listening to the waves roll in as we watch the sunset together, all five of us wrapped up together in a blanket that’s somehow big enough to cover us all. But I wouldn’t actually need the warmth of a blanket because I’d be wrapped in their big, strong arms.
With heaviness in my chest, I force out a deep breath, because this is just a fantasy, one in which our lives fit together perfectly, where there are no concerns about jobs, jealousies, or disapproving parents.
Once again, I’m reminded of how much these men deserve a better woman — one who is strong enough not to care what others think, and secure enough not to care if other women lust after them.
The brothers are waiting for me in the parking lot, Dodge and Chase leaning against their truck in a casually gorgeous way, the sunlight casting attractive shadows on their bold features.
Maddox is at my door before I turn off the engine. “Jade, how are you today?” He pulls me into his arms as soon as I step out.
“I’m good. How are you?”
Instead of answering, he kisses me, and a wave of sadness nearly makes my knees buckle.
When Maddox releases me, the other three men take turns greeting me with warm kisses.
“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” Dodge says as he pulls a bag from my back seat. The other men help, and all of their moods seem light as air as they unload the items I brought for the picnic. Meanwhile, there’s a heavy gray cloud hanging over my head.
Chase leads us up the path to a picnic table in the pavilion. There are other people in the park, but amazingly, we have the whole pavilion to ourselves for now. I don’t see anyone nearby that I recognize, and I send up a silent prayer that it stays that way.
“I’ve been looking forward to trying this,” Maddox says as he pulls the bottles of pumpkin beer out of the cooler, where I had them chilling on ice.
“Really?” I ask. “I brought alternatives in case it turns out to be gross.”
“It’s good to try new things,” Diesel says. “Keeps life interesting.”
“You never know when something that sounds strange will turn out to be your new favorite thing,” Dodge says.
His words remind me of how I felt when I first got together with them. I’d have never imagined myself getting involved with male strippers — or, rather, revue dancers — but being with them turned out to be pretty wonderful, even if it’s not going to work for the long term.
“This chili smells delicious,” Chase says as he and Diesel unpack the food and set it on the bench while Dodge helps me cover the table with the fall-patterned cloth I brought.
I’m not sure I’m going to be able to eat. Should I tell them I can’t see them anymore?
I went back and forth about what to do while I lay in bed last night. I thought in terms of pros and cons, and I tried to envision things working out, but I kept returning to the same conclusion. Despite the fact that breaking up with them seems to be inevitable, I haven’t yet been fully ready to accept that conclusion.
“How much money did the auction bring in for the shelter?” Chase asks as we sit down to eat.
I put a few corn chips on my plate before passing the bag to Diesel. “I haven’t heard a grand total yet, but I know Lisa was surprised and extremely happy about the event’s results.”
“Barnes misses you, by the way,” Dodge says.
“We’ve missed you too,” Maddox says. “Can you spend the night tonight?”
“It’s only been a couple of nights since I was there,” I say, responding to Dodge’s comment.
“Actually,” Chase says, leaning in, “we were thinking that it would be great if you moved in with us, while we also take you out on dates, of course, because we’re really looking forward to doing that.”
Diesel quickly swallows the bite of sandwich he’d been chewing. “There’s a restaurant in Whitman we think you’d love.”
“And a couple of places on the island we haven’t tried yet, that we can try together,” Dodge says.