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)
“Too much pressure,” Ryder speaks up. “No way am I making Jordyn act out your wedding. I’m trying to keep her, not scare her away.”
Jordyn’s cheeks are pink, and she turns into Ryder’s shoulder. I watch as he presses a kiss to the top of her head before sliding his arm around her and pulling her to his chest. From the looks of things, she comes willingly.
“Good point.” Palmer points at him.
“Sterling and Alyssa, you’re our final hope.” Ramsey turns to me and bats her eyelashes. That shit works on Deacon, and it used to work on my brothers and me, but it’s been a damn long time since she’s tried it, not since Deacon became the most important person in her life.
I look over at Alyssa. “How are your acting skills, Tink?”
“I’m not going to be performing on Broadway anytime soon.”
“Come on,” Kennedy urges her. “It will be good practice for your big day.”
“Wait. Hold up.” Rushton turns to look at Alyssa. “Are you dating someone?” His eyes flash to me for a heartbeat, but I’m sure everyone picked up on it.
“Am I not allowed to date?” Alyssa counters.
No. Not unless it’s me.
What the fuck? No. I can’t think of thoughts like that. Not about Alyssa. No. No. No.
“No,” Rushton says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Why the hell not?” Alyssa fires back.
“Because.”
“Oh, that’s original, Rush.” Jade laughs. “Give the girl a break. She’s single and ready to mingle.”
“Sterling, back me up here.” Rushton looks at me. “Tell her she can’t date. We don’t need some loser moving in on our girl.”
My girl.
Fuck!
“What’s wrong with her dating?” I don’t look at Alyssa for fear that I’ll rush over to her, wrap her in my arms, and never let her go. As it is, the words taste like acid coming out of my mouth.
“Seriously?” Rushton asks.
“Come on, you two.” Kennedy stands. “Sterling, you go with Ramsey, and I’ll take Alyssa with me. The gate will be the altar.”
Just like that, the subject’s changed. Alyssa stands and follows Kennedy to the opposite side of the pool. I have to fight with myself to keep my gaze from following her.
“What the fuck is going on?” Archer asks.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is she dating?” Ryder asks.
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“Is she really not allowed to? She’s an adult, right?” Jordyn asks.
“She’s an adult, but we all know she’s going to end up with Sterling,” Maverick explains.
“What in the hell are you talking about?” I glare at my little brother.
“We know you’re just friends now,” Merrick explains. “But we all know it won’t be that way forever.”
“Who is we?”
Merrick shrugs. “All of us.” He waves his hand around in the little area that we’re sitting in.
“On that note, I think Kennedy needs help.” Jade, Ramsey, and Palmer climb to their feet. “Jordyn, you’re going to want to let them hash this out. Come with us,” Ramsey tells her.
Jordyn nods and follows the girls to where Kennedy and Alyssa are already standing, discussing what she’s supposed to do.
“Start talking.” I make it a point to glare at all of them. Even Deacon. I’m all about consistency with my angry glares.
“Back off, Hulk,” Archer teases.
“Have all of you lost your damn minds? Why would you say that shit?”
“We just always assumed…,” Ryder confesses.
“All of you?” Again, I make eye contact with each of them. They all nod. “Fuck.” I drop my elbows to my knees, burying my hands in my hair. In the last twenty-four hours, I feel like my life has been tipped on its axis.
“Sterling?” Orrin waits for me to lift my head to look at him. “We didn’t mean to upset you. We just always assumed that one day the two of you would figure it out.” He shrugs. “We know you’re just friends, but we all kind of hoped Alyssa might be one of our sisters one day.”
“I mean, I can make that happen.” Rushton raises his hand.
“Don’t even fucking think about it,” I seethe at him.
“That”—Brooks points at me—“is why we always assumed. You protect her like she’s yours.”
“She is mine.” Brooks grins at my admission. “No. She’s my best friend. Of course I’m going to be protective.”
“So then you want her to be happy.” Rushton pats his chest. “I can be that guy.”
“Rush,” I growl, making him almost fall out of his chair laughing.
“Never, man?” Declan asks.
“I’m not having this discussion. Again.” I stand and stalk off to the gate, which is also going to be the makeshift altar. I’m playing Deacon, so I’m going to stand here and wait for further instructions. In the meantime, maybe I can get my head straight.
My mind instantly goes to last night and this morning. I woke up around three with her body still wrapped around mine. The right thing to do would have been to not snuggle her and pull her closer. I couldn’t help myself. I wanted her close to me. Not because she’s my best friend, but because she’s a beautiful woman, and the ladies in my family had my mind going places it’s not allowed to go.