Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
My vulnerability was exposed to a man I’d just started getting to know. To say I was uncomfortable would be the understatement of the century. For chrissakes, I was pushing fifty. In little over two years, I’d be fifty years old, and here I was, running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
Ty thankfully took things in stride. “Sounds to me like you need to lay down the law.”
“Pardon?”
“With both of you worried sick and holdin’ back, nothin’ will get done, Walker.” He offered a one-shouldered shrug and leaned back in his seat. “Trust me, I understand getting stuck in that cycle—and one’a y’all have to break free. Tell him you weren’t born yesterday. Tell him you know something’s wrong, and until he’s completely honest with you, you’ll stay in that loop of going back and forth and pretending shit’s gravy.”
He was right, of course.
Of course I had to confront Macklin. I knew why I hadn’t, and it was a horrible reason.
“I’ve been tryin’ to avoid fighting with him because I remember how we used to act,” I admitted. “That’s when we get hurtful.”
Ty snorted softly. “That was me with Savannah too. Girl tore me a new one after I’d lashed out, and I learned eventually. But I get it. In the heat of the moment, everything pours out. And if you’re anythin’ like me, you wanna be level at all times. You wanna be the strong type who holds it together—the one your family can lean on. But we don’t function that way, darlin’. Shit’s gonna come out sooner or later.”
Jesus.
I scrubbed a hand over my face. The way he said all this was textbook human behavior, something an eighth grader would understand, and I’d missed it completely.
“I have a goddamn degree in psychology,” I muttered. “I should know this.”
I did know this, and yet…
He grinned. “It’s always easier to help others. We’re our own blind spots.”
Painfully true.
Ty leaned forward again and grabbed one of my hands in both his, and he looked me directly in the eye. “After y’all left Florida, I spent the day going through writings on the Mclean forum. I found a shit-ton that Macklin’s posted over the years. Journal entries, reviews of demos, words of wisdom from his Master—and you have no reason to be uncertain here, Walker. You get insecure because y’all failed years ago, but you still love each other more than anythin’, yeah? So let that make you confident instead. Take comfort in how fuckin’ terrified you are to lose each other again—and fight.”
Who the hell was this man?
I shook my head in wonder and literally felt how his words boosted me. As if they filled my body with strength and resolution.
He made me breathe easier.
He made me take a step back and look at my situation with Macklin from a wider perspective.
As my admiration for Ty grew, I brought his hands to my lips and kissed his knuckles. “We can’t be temporary, Ty. I’m so absurdly drawn to you that I can’t fathom it myself.”
A slow smile spread across his face, and it wasn’t as assertive as it usually was. He was experiencing a similar vulnerability as I was. “You know, after Lane’s bullshit about temporary hookups, I’m kinda done in that arena. Somethin’ solid sounds great to me.”
I kissed the smile off his face, and of course, I had to add something about Lane. “That boy truly is full of it. No one is buying his aloofness.”
“Let’s not buy Macklin’s false confidence either,” he murmured. “We’re coming for them.”
A shudder ran through me, and I nodded once.
“I’m gonna give Macklin the day to think things over,” I decided. “If he doesn’t fess up about what’s wrong, I’ll show him tomorrow.”
“It’s a plan.” He kissed my cheek, and when he backed away again, the devil seeped into his eyes. “You grew up in the South, so you must’ve seen your share of snakes in your day.”
My eyebrows flew up. “Uh, sure. Yeah.”
“Well, plenty of them have their ways of attracting prey…”
Okay, he had my attention. “I’m listenin’.”
He smirked. “It’s time to drop some bait for the boys and see what sticks.”
I was already addicted to his mind.
You are now friends with @DaddyOfTerra
You now share a dynamic with @DaddyOfTerra.
I grinned faintly and went to my messages to text Macklin. The first bait had been dropped on our community website, and I didn’t want my boy to be too caught off guard. No blindsiding, we’d agreed upon.
I hope you’re having a good evening, love. Ty and I updated our statuses online, just so you’re aware. Remember, tell me if there’s anything you’re uncomfortable with.
There. I pocketed my phone again.
A second later, the first notes of Prince’s “Purple Rain” poured out from the living room, and I could only shake my head and revel in the perfection of the moment. This was much better than going to a restaurant. We were right here, in his kitchen, cooking together—after an amazing day.