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)
“I printed those out weeks ago,” I admit. “I wasn’t sure how things were going to work out here with everyone. Sometimes I felt like I didn’t belong.” I lift my head. “You felt that way too, didn’t you? It's why you keep calling Cooper ‘Uncle’.”
I don’t know why this only dawns on me now. Sure, I thought he was annoyed with the turn of events, but I never thought that he could be feeling the same way as I did. He only has a different way of showing it. Where I try to be still and not make waves, Dunc and Van are like hurricanes. Category five ones.
“I don’t know. My head was all messed up between thinking I was losing my dad and then you. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t care because all that shit brought you here. Nothing else matters if I get you out of this. We fit. I’m that family you told me about when we were lying in bed. You said more than anything you want your own family. A couple of kids and a husband. I want to give you that. Let me be that for you.”
“But do you want it?” I do want all those things in the future.
“Before you? No fucking way. That shit scared me. I lost my parents. I watched Uncle Coop torn up for years over a girl. I wanted to work and nothing more. Or I’d thought that.”
“And now?”
“Now I know losing you would hurt more than anything. In a crazy way that I’m still trying to understand, because of you, I can let myself see all those possibilities.”
“Dunc.” I drop my forehead to his. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hide us, but I thought it would cause less problems for everyone. At home and school. I thought it would protect everyone.”
“I disagree and not because I’m a jealous asshole. People will have to deal and move on. It was only a matter of time before it would come out.” I know he’s right. There is no way that we can continue to hide how we feel for one another. It’s not fair to either one of us.
“Okay.”
“Okay as in you agree with me?” I don’t think he was expecting me to give in so easily. But I’m tired of all of this. Of allowing all of my fears to impact the narrative of my life.
“Yeah, I agree with you. We both have felt a little lost in this family, but when I’m with you, it doesn’t feel that way.”
“Because you’re mine and I’m yours.”
“Dunc.” I sniffle.
“I promise I’ll spend my life loving you, and that is a promise I will never break.”
“I promise to love you too.”
Dunc claims my mouth in a kiss. I allow myself to get lost in him, knowing today is a new beginning for both of us. I’m not hiding us. Dunc and I will have the life we always dreamed of. Together.
EPILOGUE
DUNCAN
A few years later
“You anxious to leave, boss?” My foreman asks.
“Got plans,” I admit. I try to keep the grin off my face, but it’s not possible. I’m half hard thinking about Sadie waiting for me at home. Good thing I have my tool belt.
The guys hoot and holler but keep their dirty thoughts to themselves. They know better. Had to set a few straight after Sadie visited me on site a few years ago, but since then, everyone treats her with a healthy amount of respect.
Blake hands me a rundown of the shit we accomplished today. I review it and sign off. “Don’t look for me in the morning,” I tell him.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he calls after me.
“Sounds more like a challenge than a warning.” I give him a chin nod and take off.
On the way home, I pick up the flowers, cake, and a little bling-bling I think will look pretty around her neck.
When I arrive home, our dog tries to jump into my arms and eat the cake—or the flowers. One of the two.
“No, Panda!” yells Elsa. My three-year-old grabs the collar of our black and white shaggy-haired mix who weighs at least twice as much as she does. Fischl appears and picks up Elsa before the little one is crushed by her doggo.
“Sadie’s putting away our shopping,” Fischl informs me. The two are stocking the new nursery. Sadie’s twenty-four weeks along with our second kid. Everything Sadie and I had dreamed about is coming true.
I drop my packages on the counter and lift my girl out of her grandma’s arms. “How was your day, baby girl?”
“Good.” She holds my face between her tiny hands and gives me a wet smack. “How wath your day?”
I chuckle. “Good but better now.”
“Time for us to go, Chickadee.” Fischl takes Elsa back.
“Where we going, gamma?” Elsa is happy to be back with her grandmother. The two of them are thicker than thieves. Always up to no good.