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)
“I have to use the restroom. I think I’m going to call it a night.” Jordyn stands from her spot on Ryder’s lap. “Thank you all for today. I’ll see you in the morning.” She waves politely and starts to walk away, but my brother reaches out and laces his fingers through hers.
“I’m throwing in the towel too. Who’s on breakfast duty?” he asks.
“We are,” Orrin tells him. “All weekend.”
Ryder nods. “Text me when it’s time,” he says, and turns and leads Jordyn into the house.
“I’m sorry,” Ramsey and Palmer say at the same time.
I nod in acceptance, but I don’t bother with words. “I’m heading in too.” Alyssa has not come back out yet, so maybe she’s thinking the same thing.
“It’s getting late.” Kennedy stands. “Sterling, will you walk with me to the house?” she asks.
“I’ll take you.” Declan starts to stand, but his wife waves her hand.
“Sterling can walk with me. I’m going to shower before bed.”
“Are you sure?” Declan asks.
“Positive. Just come in when you’re ready. Enjoy time with your family.” She smiles at him with so much love in her eyes, I can feel it coming off them in waves.
Kennedy links her arm through mine, and we walk away. Her steps are slow, and I know she’s taking her sweet time because she has something to say. “You can say it,” I tell her. “Whatever it is you’ve got on your mind, you can say it.”
“They love you. We love you,” she corrects.
“I know that.”
“We also love Alyssa.”
“I know that too.” I’m not sure where she’s going with this, but I’m indulging her anyway.
“Out of everyone here tonight, I’m the newest.”
“You’re old news, Kennedy,” I tease.
“You know what I mean. I didn’t grow up in Willow River, so I don’t have the history that the rest of you have.”
“Go on.”
“We all want you to be happy. We want Alyssa to be happy.” She stops walking and steps in front of me. “You might not see it, but from the outside looking in, there’s more there.” I start to give her my speech, the one that I’ve perfected over the years, but she raises her hand to stop me. “I know you two are just friends. I know you have never been anything more than friends.”
“Then what’s this about? Alyssa is my ride-or-die. We’ve spent the entirety of our friendship defending it. Out of everyone I’ve had to remind that a man and a woman can be platonic friends, my family is the last lot I thought I would have to still be defending us to.” I run my fingers through my hair. “Even my brothers have brought it up recently.”
Kennedy nods and smiles. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I believe you when you tell me that the two of you are just friends. I believe you when you tell me it’s never been anything more. However, I want you to listen to me this time when I tell you that you should think about it. Think about your future. Think about how you want that to look.” She pauses as moments flash in my mind of hanging out with Alyssa. “Now, I want you to picture that same scenario with her married and with kids.”
“How do you know I didn’t?”
Kennedy gives me one of those looks. The one where the other person raises their brow and purses their lips because they know you’re full of shit. Yeah, one of those. “Because I know you, Sterling Kincaid. I know that you are fiercely protective of your best friend, and I know that in your mind, no one will ever be good enough for her.”
I hold her gaze, not sure where she’s going with this line of reasoning. “Is there something wrong with that?” I ask. “Is it bad that I want the best for her?”
“Not at all. But I think you need to open your mind to allow yourself to consider that you might be what’s best for her.” She smiles up at me while patting her palm flat against my chest. “I can see your wheels turning. I’m not going to lecture you. I just want to plant a small seed. Do you think that it’s possible that you both won’t settle for anything other than what you already have?”
“I won’t risk losing her.”
“Life is about chances, Sterling. Don’t lose her. Just love her a little harder.” Dropping her hand, she turns and disappears into the house.
I stare after her, letting her words bounce around in my mind and the fact that she spouted off the family motto. I can’t lie and say that I’ve never noticed that my best friend is a fucking smokeshow. Back in high school, I even considered asking her to be more, but I chickened out. The risk of losing her in my life wasn’t worth it, and it’s still not worth it. I don’t even know what my life would look like without her in it, and I never want to find out.