Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“It’s not easy with how he is with you.” Dunc opens the car door for me.
“What do you mean?”
“In you go. You got a doctor's appointment. See if you can get rid of that sling today.”
“I do?” I slide into the passenger seat. Dunc leans in and pulls my seatbelt over me. “I can buckle myself in.” His only response is to press a kiss to my lips before shutting the door and going around to the other side to hop in.
“So? How is Van with me?”
“I’m jealous. All right?” I stare at him. That wasn’t what I thought he was going to say. But I can tell from how his jaw is clenching that he’s not joking.
“He’s my brother. I really hope you don’t want to be my brother.”
“He acts like you belong to him. You don’t. You’re mine.” I snort a laugh.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh.” I apologize remembering how I felt with Rose. I place my hand on his thigh. “I promise I do not see Van as anything other than my brother. He’s protective because of the crap I dealt with in our last school. The bullying started because of petty girls wanting Van, and I think he took that on as it being his fault.”
“Shit.” Dunc lets out a breath. He pulls the car over to the side of the road. “I know I got my own shit too. It doesn’t help that Van is Cooper’s real son.” It’s the first time he’s really admitted that out loud to me.
“Dunc.” I reach up to stroke his face. He leans into my touch. “Cooper is still your dad. Don’t take that from him. He was there for you back then and he’s here for you now.” Dunc grabs my hand, kissing my palm. Our fingers slide together to lock in place.
“What about you?”
“What about me?” I glance away.
“Back here, gorgeous.” He puts his finger on my chin to make me meet his eyes.
“I get scared,” I admit. “You all are really connected. I know it’s irrational, but my egg donor easily walked away from me.” I can’t stop the hitch in my voice. “It wasn’t because she didn’t have the means. She just didn’t want me. Hasn’t ever tried to find me. Not that I want her to, but it scares me that others could do the same.” I peel back some of my layers to reveal myself to him. I know it makes me vulnerable, but I don’t care.
“No one is going to walk away from you, Sadie. Soon enough, you’ll be tied to this family in more than one way.”
“What does that mean?”
“That you’re always going to be mine.” He leans in, his mouth taking mine in a slow, sweet kiss. I want to be his, but is it really that easy?
CHAPTER 23
DUNCAN
The party is going well. There’s no weed or booze because the parental units would not allow it, but everyone appears to be having fun. Clothes are off and swimsuits are on. About a dozen classmates are in the heated pool playing water polo. Another group is on the lawn playing a game of croquet that I swore no one would be interested in but anyone who loses has to collapse on the grass like they’re dead and you have to play around the bodies.
Next to me, Sadie shifts from one foot to the other, still nervous. A plastic cup is gripped between both hands.
“Ease up, babe,” I say quietly. “It’s all going well.”
“It is. It is,” she says, but she doesn’t sound fully convinced.
I shove my hands deep into my pockets so I don’t put my arm around her. It sucks having to keep myself in check, but I know that’s what she wants, especially with Van standing near the punch fountain glaring at anyone that comes near, and the parental units standing in the sunroom overlooking the patio.
“Why’s your brother looking like he has a rod up his ass?”
“He’s your family, too, and he’s afraid someone is going to spike the drink. I guess he heard something earlier.”
“Probably the football players.”
We both turn toward the grassy area just beyond the pool deck where the quarterback and the running back are engaged in a mock bull fight wearing blow-up horns. Sadie giggles a little. “At least they’re harmless.”
“True.” I do another scan and frown when my eyes fall on Rose. “What’s she doing here?” You’d think after the week we had where I broke her phone and then we all ignored her, she would have had the good sense to stay away. I decide to go tell her that when Sadie stops me.
“Let her stay. It’ll be ten times worse if you drive her away. She’ll be like the thirteenth fairy godmother that didn’t get invited and then curses me to sleep forever.”