Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“Okay.”
“Will you still go?” she asks.
“Do you want me to? I don’t have to. We can binge-watch Devil in Ohio again.”
“We can watch that anytime. You should totally go. He seems to like you.”
“I like him too,” I admit. God, do I like him.
A wistful smile ghosts over her lips. “You should’ve seen him when he showed up at the party.” She shakes her head slightly, almost like she still can’t believe it. “He looked ready to torch the place. Asked if anyone hurt me. I think if someone had, he would’ve ripped off their arms.”
Now I like Dex even more. “He’s kind of intense.”
One corner of her mouth slides up. “So are you.” She lets out a loud yawn.
I pat her arm and stand. “Night, kiddo.”
“Night.”
I run downstairs and methodically check to make sure each door and window in the house is locked. I grab my phone. No message from Dex yet.
Upstairs, I quickly change and slide into bed. I’m almost asleep when my phone softly dings.
Dex: Home.
In the dark and in my sleepy state, I’m not sure what to write back. Then it comes to me.
Thank you for tonight.
Consciousness slowly creeps into my brain the next morning.
My phone blinks, announcing I already have a text.
Serena: How was dinner?
The answer requires a phone call. Not a text.
Serena’s quiet, musical laughter greets me. “Oh boy, Emily. The answer must be good if you had to call to tell me how your not-a-date went.”
I briefly close my eyes, thanking the universe for the happiness in Serena’s voice. When we first met, she always seemed so unsure and fearful. Now, she’s confident and glows like a damn light bulb every time I see her. I love it.
“First, how are you feeling?” I ask.
There’s more laughter, then a rustling sound, like she’s shifting to get comfortable. “Tired. Uncomfortable. Ready for this baby to make his grand entrance. Please talk to me about something other than babies.”
“Serena.” I take a long, dramatic pause. “The man made me come three times without either of us even taking off our clothes.”
“Whoa.” She chuckles softly. “Impressive.”
“It was. He’s just…”
“Wait a second,” she gasps, and I roll my eyes, anticipating what she’s about to say. “What happened to waiting six months to get to know him before things get physical?”
“Technically,” I say with all the dignity I can gather, “I have known him for a few months, so it’s not like I let some random dude in my panties.”
“True,” she agrees.
“And he’s a friend of your husband-to-be, so theoretically, he’s been vetted to a certain degree.” Even though she can’t see me, I lift my chin in indignation.
“Also true.” She’s quiet and in the background, I detect a tick, tick, ticking, and I can picture her tapping her nails against the phone as she contemplates what she wants to say. “Gray has a very high opinion of Dex. He seems to like the two of you together. A lot.” She snorts. “Although I have a feeling he’ll warn Dex that if he hurts you, there will be hell to pay.”
“Aw, really?” Why does that make me feel all mushy inside? “Well, I guess I’ll forgive him for moving you so far away from me.”
“I’m not that far, Em. Once the baby’s here—”
“You’ll be too busy with new mom stuff.”
“I’m never too busy for you,” she corrects me, in her quiet but firm way. “You and Libby are always welcome here. Once I get the hang of the new mom stuff, I’ll feel more comfortable driving up to visit more often.”
Sure you will. But I don’t want to guilt Serena for her happiness. I’m an adult. I can accept that things change. People move on.
Maybe one day, I will too.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Dex
By Sunday I’m like an addict who needs his fix of Emily. Usually, I look forward to weekend church at the clubhouse—sitting down and catching up with my brothers. Afterward, everyone—ol’ ladies, kids, friends of the club—shares a meal together. Most weekends, Z and the guys from his charter join us and it’s like an extended family reunion.
This week, I jog downstairs early, dressed and ready to leave as soon as Rock declares the official meeting over. Sparky and Stash are sprawled across the sectional—looks like they never made it to their basement cave last night. Random girls—some I recognize, some I don’t—are draped over furniture or curled up in bundles of blankets on the floor. Some of my brothers really need to learn to sleep with their clothes on in public spaces. No one needs to see this shit in the morning. I toss a blanket over Hoot’s junk as I navigate my way through the maze of bodies.
Shaking my head, I walk to the dining room for a cup of coffee before church.
Bright light streams through the uncovered windows. To my right, the bar counter’s been set up better than a Starbuck’s.