Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 69511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
The waitress left looking surprised.
“I don’t think she expected everyone to order dessert. They’re pretty big here,” I admitted.
“It’s so we can share,” Pepper admitted, repositioning herself in her seat.
She looked uncomfortable, which was not surprising seeing as she’d been in an accident a few months ago that had stolen her ability to walk while her fractured spine healed.
Reading this likely like I did, Atlas carefully scooped her up in his arms and positioned her in his lap, while from the other side, Gable put the chair she’d been sitting in under her feet.
I loved that they were all taking care of her.
Even the Semyonovs got into the act by scooting over and giving the two room to spread out.
Once we were sure Pepper was more comfortable, we went back to our conversation, and eventually when the dessert came out, I realized something.
I was in love with Gable’s family, Maven’s family, and Gable.
I wanted this life.
I wanted to be here, exactly where I was, for the rest of my life.
We didn’t talk about my mom’s revelation today.
We didn’t talk about how it was safe for me to go home now.
We did, however, talk about what my mother had thrown at me today. We talked about what would happen if I did donate, and what would happen if it didn’t.
“You’re not a diagnosis, Athena. You’re mine. It doesn’t matter what the doctor says. In the end, nothing changes on my end, and I hope you feel the same.”
At the end of the night, Gable took me right back to his place, deposited me into his bed with a t-shirt he’d taken off his own body, and I realized something else.
I didn’t just want the life he could give me.
I wanted everything we could make with that life, too.
I just had to be brave and put myself out there one more time.
But I didn’t do it.
Instead, I fell asleep in Gable’s arms.
And the next morning when I woke, he was talking to another woman in his kitchen, shirtless.
Every family has that one sibling who stresses everyone out. I’m that sibling.
—Gable to Athena
GABLE
I woke to my phone vibrating, and extricated myself from Athena’s Medusa grip to get it.
I pressed answer, but waited until I was well into the kitchen before answering.
“Sorry, hello?” I answered.
“Um, did I wake you?” Callena sounded worried.
“Yeah, but only about two minutes before my alarm,” I said right before my alarm interrupted the call and I turned it off before placing it back to my ear. “What’s up?”
“Tyrone and I were hoping to meet you to discuss the case,” she supplied eagerly. “A couple of new things have popped up.”
I sighed. “Sure. I’m at my house. I have about two hours before I need to be on shift, though, and it’ll take me thirty-five to get there.”
Meaning, we didn’t have long, and maybe they should wait.
Callena didn’t want to wait, though, and said, “We’ll be there in fifteen.”
I scrubbed my tired face and once again glanced at the clock.
Athena and I had to be at the station at the same time.
As I was leaving last night, Quaid asked me if I would be willing to take a shift working in a less than desirable beat that tended to be one of his highest turnovers.
I’d agreed, but only if I could come in when Athena needed to so I could get her there safely since we’d left her car behind last night.
Speaking of her car… it needed some work.
I realized she liked it and all, but she seriously needed to look into something more reliable. One that also didn’t look like it was going to have a tire pop off at any moment.
Heading to the laundry room, I got dressed in my jeans since I didn’t want to wake Athena.
When I was done, I headed to the guest bath to brush my teeth.
I was back in the laundry room looking through a load of mostly towels for a t-shirt when I heard the knock at the door.
My door opened and closed before I could get to it, and that meant one of my brothers had seen my light on and headed over.
“Gable,” Garrett called.
The sharp click-click of Boss’s nails on my hardwood floor would’ve also been a dead giveaway on who it was.
Boss was the only dog in the Carter neighborhood right now. We loved animals, but none of us were here enough to take care of them. At least, none of us had been here enough at first. Now that the majority of my brothers were wifed up, they could have a dog if they wanted to. The only issue was that their wives worked just as much as they did, and none of us would subject an animal to the boring existence of staying inside all day with nothing to do to entertain them.