Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 67492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Carrie, your daddy thinks he’s a comedian.” I make a funny face, and her giggles fill the room. “You have the perfect family, Brad. That’s just not in the cards for me. Not anymore.” There must be something in my tone that tells him I’m at the end of my rope talking about this because he lets it drop.
Brad and I met in college. We were roommates our freshman year, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. He was there for me when my life got turned upside down. Sure, he knows why I won’t ever have a family of my own. He means well, but it’s just not going to happen for me.
After college, Brad moved to Willow River for a teaching position. He’s originally from Atlanta, so he’s still close enough he can visit his family within an hour’s drive. He and Marisa are both teachers. They actually went to high school together but didn’t start dating until we were in college. I’m not gonna lie. I am envious of what they have. They’re living the life that I thought I was going to live until my world was tipped upside down.
“How’s the team?” I ask, making sure the subject is officially dropped.
“Good. We’re undefeated so far this season. I have a great group of kids. Five seniors who will be leaving after this season, but there are some sophomores that are doing well on the junior varsity team. I think we’ll be just fine.”
“You still have some juniors that are sticking around for next year too, right?”
“Yeah, one of them is damn good too. Kincaid boy. His dad runs the mechanic shop here in town.”
Kin-fucking-caid.
“That’s great, man,” I finally say. Unless there are two of the Kincaid brothers who own that shop, Brad’s star junior is none other than Blakely Kincaid’s brother. This woman… she’s everywhere in my life all of a sudden. It seems like, no matter what I do, she’s there. I don’t know if it’s just bad luck or because I now know that I have to work with her, and she’s infiltrated my world. Am I more aware? Whatever it is, I can’t seem to escape her. She’s everywhere.
“Yeah, great family. There are a shit ton of them.” He laughs.
I nod. “Can’t go anywhere in this town without running into a Kincaid.” I’m going for casual, but even I can hear the annoyance in my tone, something Brad completely ignores. He is my best friend, after all. He’s used to my moods by now.
“Deacon Setty too. The lawyer in town. Well, he’s not a Kincaid, but his wife was, or is, or she’s related to them somehow. I’m not sure,” Brad rambles on.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that I’ve been assigned to work with Blakely on the Christmas gala, but I hold back. Why, I’m not sure. Maybe because she’s everywhere and I seem to be thinking about her a lot lately. I know Brad will be able to sense that and think too much into it. It’s better if I keep this, my working with her, to myself for now.
“I should get going.” Brad pulls Carrie from her high chair after wiping her face and hands, which she hated.
“Come to Uncle Oliver.” I hold my hands out, and she dives into them. I snuggle her close as she rests her cheek on my chest. As an only child, I’ll never be an uncle, except for my best friend’s kids, and I’ve accepted that. Sure, if I were to get married, I would have been an uncle to my wife’s siblings’ kids, but that ship has long since sailed.
“Thanks for coming to see me,” I tell Carrie, rubbing my palm up and down her back.
“You definitely need one,” Brad says, nodding to his daughter.
“I have two. Yours.” I grin. I know what he’s doing, but no amount of telling me or lectures are going to change my mind. That day, the one I refuse to talk about, changed me. It changed my life, and I’ve accepted that.
“One day, man.” Brad shakes his head as he holds his hands out for his daughter.
“No.” I wrap my arms around Carrie to keep her from reaching for her dad and twirl us around. Her giggles fill the room, and damn if the sound doesn’t do wonders to cheer my ass up. I needed this tonight.
“Thanks for having dinner with me,” I say, kissing Carrie’s cheek and holding her so that Brad can get her coat on her.
“Thanks for having us and for dinner.”
“I needed it,” I confess.
“I can tell there’s been something on your mind, but I don’t want to pry. You know where I am.”
Yeah, I’m not telling him that it’s not something but someone—a very gorgeous someone who keeps popping up in my life—that’s on my mind. “Appreciate it,” I say, handing him his daughter.