Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Damn right,” Brooks tells his wife. “Now go.” He kisses her on the temple.
“I can stay back and help,” I tell them.
“Nope. You and Jordyn are included in this. It’s been decided,” Ryder tells me. He gives me a look that I take as pleading. I get what he’s asking without him having to say a word. He wants me to take care of Jordyn to make sure she’s included. As the only other person here who is not a Kincaid, I understand why. They can be a lot to take on. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is nice and welcoming, but sometimes it’s easy to let yourself feel like the outsider that you are.
I will never be a member of this family beyond being Sterling's best friend. I’ve accepted that. I also hope that when I do find someone to spend the rest of my life with, that they have a family as loving and as accepting as this one. Then again, they’ll have to. I refuse to settle for anything less. Being best friends with Sterling Kincaid since I was a kid has shown me what I want.
“Well, all right then.” I move to stand next to Jordyn and link my arm through hers. “Alyssa,” I remind her. “That one’s best friend.” I point to Sterling. “Let’s go sit by the lake.”
“Now you’re talking,” Kennedy says.
The five of us make our way down to the lake. There’s a fire pit with several Adirondack chairs sitting around it. Ten in total, which is more than enough for us. We each take a chair, and I swear all five of us sigh with contentment as we do.
“Are they really going to do everything all weekend?” Jordyn asks.
“Yep,” Palmer replies.
“They’re all stubborn as hell. Once they set their minds to something, there is no changing it,” Ramsey tells her.
“The men in my family can’t boil water,” Jordyn says, making us all laugh.
“My mother-in-law, Carol, made sure they were all independent. In fact, the twins, Maverick and Merrick, are the only ones who still live at home,” Jade explains.
“It’s going to take me a while to learn everyone’s names. Ryder does talk about all of his brothers, and even all of you often, but it’s putting the names to the faces that is going to take me some time,” Jordyn confesses.
“How about we help you out with that.” Ramsey smiles kindly. “I’m Ramsey. Ryder and his brothers are my cousins. Their parents, Carol and Raymond, are my aunt and uncle, but they are more parents to me than my own ever were. I’m marrying Deacon next weekend. Oh, you should come to the wedding. Has Ryder mentioned it?” she asks.
Jordyn nods. “He said he needed to make sure it was okay with you, though.”
“It’s more than okay with me. It’s a small gathering of those we care most about. I insist that you come with Ryder,” Ramsey tells her.
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
“Okay, me next.” Palmer raises her hand. “I’m Palmer, Ramsey’s best friend, and wife to Brooks. He’s the third oldest in the lineup of brothers. I’m also Deacon’s sister, who is Ramsey’s fiancé. I set them up,” she boasts.
“Are you ever going to let me live that down?” Ramsey chuckles.
“Is that even a real question?” Palmer replies. “Anyway, I’m married to Brooks, and our baby girl is due in four weeks. If you see my husband freaking out if I sneeze, he’s a little overprotective and stressing about our baby girl’s birth. He didn’t want to come, but I insisted.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. Oh, and my sister is Piper. She’s dating Heath. They’re not here this weekend. They already had plans with Heath’s family for the holiday weekend. They’re also expecting their first baby.”
“I’m Jade. I’m married to Orrin, the oldest of the brothers. I’m twenty-one weeks, and we found out what we were having yesterday.”
“What?” we all ask loudly.
Jade grins. “We stopped by both of our parents’ places last night to tell them. We’re going to tell you all this weekend.”
“You meant to say I’m going to tell you now,” Palmer replies.
Jade tosses her head back in laughter. “Not without Orrin, but we are spilling this weekend.”
“Fine,” Palmer grumbles, but the smile on her face is vibrant.
“I’m Kennedy. Declan’s my husband. He’s the second oldest of the brothers. This is our second baby. We have a five-year-old daughter at home.”
“Blakely?” Jordyn asks.
Kennedy beams with pride. “That’s her.”
“She has Ryder wrapped around her little finger,” Jordyn tells her.
“It’s not just Ryder,” I chime in. “All of them. Even Deacon and Heath will do her bidding at a simple bat of those long eyelashes of hers.”
“She’s something else.” Kennedy smiles. “We’re having a boy, and we couldn’t be happier.”
I smile at Kennedy. She and Declan have been through some rough waters, but they’ve made it look easy. They’re so in love, and the family they’ve created is something special.