Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“Yeah, and then years later, he changes his name and starts a whole other family,” Jack adds on a sigh. “He’s a bigger dick than I thought. Which is saying a lot, given the guy broke my finger in three places.”
“Could you imagine being his other kids?” Willow questions, and a disgusted expression forms on her face. “To find out that not only did your father abandon you when you were little, but he just went off and had a whole other five kids. It’s gross.”
“I think we can all agree that his other kids got the better end of the bargain,” I interject. “I mean, they got a life without him. We got a life with him.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t change the fact that their father left them when they were little,” Willow counters. “I can’t even imagine the kind of trauma that causes.”
“Low is right,” Jack agrees. “It’s a miracle his other kids even want to help us. I mean, if my dad abandoned me and started a whole other family, I don’t know that I’d be rolling out the red carpet for the kids who actually got a father.”
I’m floored over my siblings’ reaction to this. It’s quite literally the opposite of mine and full of perspective and grace. Shame eats at me.
“How long did you know about this, Finn?” Reece questions, but Jack is quick to chime in right on top of him.
“What are the damn odds that one of your professors ends up being our brother from another mother?” His face gets this comical expression, and a laugh jumps from his lungs. “That has to be the biggest coincidence in history.”
“Yeah,” I say and avoid Reece’s eyes. “Definitely a huge coincidence.”
My eldest brother’s spidey senses are engaged, but I refuse to get into the dirty details of how long I’ve known about our father’s other family. It feels unnecessary at this point and, more than that, absolutely fucking stupid in a group setting such as this.
“How’s Mom?” I question, and Willow shrugs.
“She’s doing okay. I’m sure it’s a lot to wrap her head around, her husband having a whole other family and all. She’s also worried about missing shifts at the factory, but Remy told her she has nothing to worry about.”
“Not to mention, this lake house is sick,” Jack adds. “I feel like I’m in a damn Hallmark movie, bro. The Winslow siblings hooked us up.”
After the state trooper that Remy called in a favor with picked up my brothers and sister from the park down the street from our house in Westchester, he took them to a lake house that’s owned by their uncle Brad and aunt Paula. Ty was there to meet them. Apparently, Brad and Paula decided to spend the winter months in a rental in Florida, and they were more than happy to open their doors to Hayes strays. Then, Remy waited for my mom outside of work this afternoon and drove her up there to be with them after convincing her to come with him.
“The view here is unreal,” Low says with a smile, even turning the camera to face the floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the water. “I can’t believe we get to spend Christmas here.”
“Ty even took Jack and me to this Christmas tree stand up the street to get a tree. I can’t remember the last time we actually had a tree up,” Trav comments. “You should’ve seen the look on Mom’s face when we brought it in. I don’t think I’ve seen her smile that big in years. Hell, probably my whole damn life.”
“Damn,” Reece muses. “I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay them for what they’re doing for us.”
“Dude. You’re preaching to the choir,” Trav agrees with a sarcastic grin. “I think I might like my new siblings better than I like you guys.”
“I’m with Trav.” Jack nods on a laugh. “If Winnie, Flynn, and Jude are anything like Ty and Remy, I might disown you fucks.”
Low rolls her eyes, but she also smiles when she says, “All this time, I thought I was the only girl stuck around a bunch of stinky boys, but I actually have a sister. How cool is that.”
“Are you going to try to come home for the holidays, Reece?” Jack questions, and Reece shakes his head.
“I wish, man. But I’m a broke-ass college student who can’t afford a ticket. Plus, I need to save up for when I make the big transfer to Dickson next year.”
“I still can’t believe you’re coming to Dickson,” I admit.
Reece flashes a knowing smirk at me. “After all the fucking fights you’ve been getting into? I think it’s safe to say I need to come to Dickson to keep your ass in check.”
I shake my head. “I’m done fighting.” Unbelievably, I mean it.