Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Everyone is happy to finally be going home. I get on the plane, sitting down next to the window and hoping no one sits next to me. Luckily for me, people all scatter on the plane. I close the window shade and put my head back. I fall asleep for the hour plane ride home, and once I get in my car, I call my father.
“Hey,” I greet as soon as he answers.
“Hey,” he answers softly, “how are you doing?”
“I have no idea, Dad,” I tell him honestly. “Like, what the fuck am I thinking?”
“Where are you now?” he asks, and I can hear him moving.
“Just landed at home,” I inform him, and he blows out a breath.
“Okay, I’ll be there soon.” He disconnects the phone, and I don’t even bother calling him back because, fuck, I need to talk to someone.
I pull up Ryleigh’s name and text her instead of calling her.
Me: Just landed at home, gorgeous.
It takes two minutes for her to answer me.
Gorgeous: Sorry, forgot to text when I landed. Things are crazy here right now. Talk later.
I put the phone down, feeling like there is nothing to really say. She’s got her plate full. I have my plate full, and this whole thing fucking sucks.
I get home, walking up the stairs toward my bedroom, dumping my bag in the closet before stepping into the shower. I close my eyes, and all I can see is her face smiling at me, like a fucking movie going on over and over again. I get out of the shower and drag on a pair of sweatpants before going downstairs to eat something. It feels like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.
I check my mail that is put on the side, trying to distract myself, but I’m sitting at the island looking out into space. The front door opens, and then I hear the commotion. “Is he home?” My uncle Matthew, and even though he can be too much, I smile.
“He’s home,” my father confirms from the front door.
“Why does it look like someone died in here?” my uncle Max says as the voices come closer to the kitchen.
“Jesus,” my uncle Viktor says, “can we turn lights on in here?” I shake my head, not even surprised the four of them decided to take a road trip from New York, where they are mostly based, to come and see me.
“Holy shit,” Matthew swears once the light’s on, and he sees me. “What the fuck are you doing sitting in the dark all by yourself?”
“I didn’t even notice,” I answer him, turning to see all four of them almost dressed the same, in golf attire. I have to imagine they were probably all playing golf when I called my father.
“You didn’t notice you were sitting in the dark?” Viktor asks. “Are you okay?” His voice is soft, as it always is. He married my mother’s twin sister, so it’s like he’s my second father. They were always together. He also is a recovered addict who got traded when he was in rehab, and then met my aunt Zoe.
“No.” I look at them and then at my dad. “I don’t know what the fuck I am, but it’s not okay.” I shake my head.
I get up from the stool and walk over to the living room and sit on the couch, putting my head back. The four of them slowly come into the room, taking their spots and waiting for me to talk. It’s something they do all together. I’ve heard stories from Mini Cooper and Michael about how they just band together and wait for you to share your story before they tell you what you’ve done wrong. I rub my hands over my face, laughing because if anyone would have said that this would be me, I would have told them they were out of their mind. “What exactly are you feeling?” my uncle Matthew starts, standing with his hands crossed over his chest, his legs apart, watching me.
“I think I’m in love with Ryleigh.” I say the words out loud, looking at all four of them.
“What is wrong with you guys and thinking you’re in love?” Viktor shakes his head. “Matty said the same thing.”
My father is the only one sitting next to me. “When you’re in love with someone, you don’t think it. You just know it.”
I take a deep inhale. “Okay, fine, then I’m in love with her, and it’s just so fucked up.”
“Why?” Max sits on the other side of me with his hands in his lap. “Also, love is fucked up. It makes you do things you can’t explain.”
“Like elope with my sister.” Matthew side-eyes him as Max just smirks at him.
“Like marry the love of my life without her overbearing brother there.” He points at me, totally ignoring the way Matthew is giving him a death glare. It’s been a hundred years since they got together, and he’s still not over them dating behind his back.