Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
I nodded my head against his shoulder, but I didn’t let him go. Not ready to yet.
Jessie was always and would always be my rock.
And now, I was hoping we would be more.
10
West
Jessie wrapped his arms around me from behind where I was standing at the toolbox, looking for the correct size socket that I needed. I had volunteered to help in the garage since Jessie had to work, but he didn’t want to leave me alone. He’d agreed since he knew how much I loved working on cars.
“Jessie,” I scolded.
He pressed a kiss to my neck that had me moaning as I tilted my neck so that he had better access. “Really, man? For fuck’s sake, have the decency not to fuck in the garage,” Lincoln’s familiar voice rang out through the garage.
My heart skipped a beat in my ribcage. I’d cut him off the moment I went to prison. Told Jessie I didn’t want to see him, and Jessie had made sure I didn’t.
I swung around to face Lincoln, swallowing thickly when his eyes widened. I swallowed thickly. He looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Jesus—fuck—West?” he asked, his voice a bit gravelly.
I crossed my arms over my chest defensively. It was an automatic response to awkward, uncomfortable situations. “That’d be me,” I grumbled.
He stared at me for another long moment. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he finally snarled, his features twisting with rage.
Jessie stepped in front of me protectively, his broad shoulders tense. I reached up to grip his biceps, pulling him closer to me, hoping to keep him calm. “Watch how the fuck you talk to her, bro,” Jessie warned.
“She really thinks she can just show the fuck back up here?” Lincoln asked. I flinched at his harsh tone, not meaning to but unable to hold my reaction back. “She ghosted you, Jessie, and she fucking refused to see me. Did you fucking suddenly forget that as soon as you were able to bury your dick inside of her?”
I stepped out from behind Jessie, my eyes narrowed on Lincoln threateningly. “She can speak for her goddamn self,” I snapped at him, resorting to what I knew best—rage. Jessie gripped my hips, tugging me backward so the front of his body was pressed against my back. “I may have been gone for years, Lincoln, but I haven’t fucking changed,” I retorted.
“Obviously,” he bit. “You got arrested, and you cut everyone here that cared about you off because it just didn’t fucking suit you to deal with anyone, right? Because that’s what you do, West. You do whatever the fuck is convenient for you, regardless of how it makes everyone else feel. You’ve always been selfish as fuck in that aspect.” He looked over at Jessie with eyes that were swirling with rage. “But obviously you didn’t fucking cut everyone off, right, Jessie? You two seemed pretty fucking content a moment ago.”
“I just fucking got back in town two days ago, Lincoln!” I barked at him. “So, lose your fucking attitude with Jessie.”
Lincoln stepped toward me threateningly. I tilted my chin up defiantly, silently daring him to do something stupid. Jessie’s hands tightened on my hips. “Like mother, like fucking daughter,” he sneered down at me.
I reached up to slap him, but Jessie beat me to it when his fist went crashing against Lincoln’s face. “Jessie!” I screeched, but it was too late.
They were already rolling around the garage floor, fists flying. I didn’t dare get between them, knowing that if one of them hit me, I could probably lose a fucking tooth or get knocked clean the fuck out.
“Figures that after years of peace in this town, you would be the center of the ruckus the moment I get a call from a concerned citizen,” an officer said as he strode into the garage.
Jessie and Lincoln both jumped up from the floor. I stepped back from the officer on instinct, all of my defenses going up hard against any law enforcement official.
I fucking hated cops. Everyone in this town had it out for me, and none wanted to see me behind bars more than the fuckers that wore uniforms.
“Nothing happening here, Lucky,” Jessie stated calmly as he spit out blood on the floor.
“Didn’t look like it,” Lucky told him as he looked over at me again. Jessie stepped closer to me on instinct. Lucky tracked the movement. “Customer got concerned when she pulled up to get her car worked on and saw you two in here fighting and little miss troublemaker here shouting at you two to stop.”
“This fucking town will never change,” I grumbled irritably, rolling my eyes. Jessie shot me a warning look to shut my fucking mouth, but I ignored him.
Lucky pointed his finger at me. “I want you out of my town by night fall, West Thompson, do I make myself clear?”