Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
He knew I wasn’t messing around after JJ saved his ass. He’s lucky that it worked out for her. He promised me he would stay out of trouble, and he has kept that promise. I know as long as he keeps his ass away from that Anderson guy that got him in deep with gambling, then things should be fine.
That’s the hopeful part of me wishing. Another part makes me wonder if this will only lead to something else. My brother is always chasing after things that end in either emptiness or with JJ and me having to save him. Sometimes I wonder if he’s testing us or if he's testing himself. Either way, these thoughts are too much for this early in the morning and without some kind of caffeine in my system. I don’t want to focus on the past; I want to put one foot in front of the other and look to the future.
I snag my robe off the back of my chair that sits in front of my little desk and slip my house shoes on. My toes always get cold, so I make sure to keep something on my feet. It could be a million degrees and they’re somehow still cold. I let out a yawn as I make my way into our tiny kitchen to make Travis something to eat before he can go flying out the door.
He comes strolling down the hallway ten minutes later in his normal uniform for Castillo Inc. His hair is still wet from the shower he took.
“You’re too good to me.” He drops a kiss on the top of my head. We might be twins, but when it comes to looking the same, the only thing we share is our dark brown eyes that have this honey ring around the iris.
“Are you enjoying the day shift?” I ask.
“No.” He shoves two pieces of bacon into his mouth at once. I don’t know where the hell he puts it. Travis is tall and lean where I’m short with curves. His hair is even black as night where mine is a bright blond. “Got a raise though, so…” He shrugs and takes another bite of the breakfast I made him.
“You got a raise? How is that even possible?” He was robbing the company two weeks ago and about to go to jail.
“Think the boss man likes to make his wife happy.” I let out a long breath.
“You’re lucky the two of them are actually into each other.” I almost say fell in love, but that’s bonkers. Oh, JJ tells me she knows she is in love with Vincent, and it’s clear how smitten he is with her, but love that quick sounds crazy to me.
Then again, it’s always been JJ and Travis. We’ve only loved each other. Other people always came and went, but we are solid. Even when JJ had to move away for work, we still maintained our close bond. We are a family. We always will be no matter what.
It suddenly dawns on me in my small excitement about JJ being back home and living back where we all grew up that she’s not ours anymore. I hadn’t thought about that before. With how she and her new husband are acting, there will likely be little ones popping up soon, and then she’ll have her own family. Travis and I are going to make the best aunt and uncle. JJ even gushes over Vincent's parents. I’m happy for her, but in some ways I can’t help but feel a bit sad that things are changing so quickly.
“They seem happy, and my salary has doubled. Love must make people generous.” I roll my eyes at him. Yeah, that salary doubled because I’m guessing Vincent thinks in a way it’s helping the people JJ has called family for so long. It might be in hopes that Travis keeps himself out of trouble too. It’s pity money. “What's wrong with you? You’re all frowns this morning.”
“She’s his now.” The piece of toast Travis was about to shove in his mouth pauses right before it gets there as the realization sinks in with him too. He might tease and be a bit juvenile at times, but at the core, we all love each other.
“Bullshit.” He shoves the toast into his mouth. “JJ is loyal. She’ll always be our sister. Blood or not. Whether she has all the money in the world or not a penny. Nothing's gonna change that. You, of all people, should know that.” Travis comes back around to me, dropping another kiss on top of my head. “We’re still a family. We always will be.”
There he goes. Somehow, Travis always knows what to say when I need it. His normal teasing takes a back seat for once. I don’t think he realizes how telling that really is. His humor is his defense mechanism. We all have them. Mine is smiles and cheer.