Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
All of them look away, seeming a little chastised when I catch them watching me, but Ronnie gives me a wide casserole-filled grin as if we somehow share a secret when I can't recall ever having a one-on-one conversation with the man.
Mac clears his throat, but when I look at him, he's glaring at Ronnie, and it seems to take forever before the man realizes he's being watched. When he looks at his boss, his smile grows even wider, making me wonder about the type of relationship Mac seems to have with his crew. They seem to respect him, but at the same time, I can tell by the glint in the worker's eyes that he'll have a lot to say once I'm no longer near enough to bear witness to that conversation.
I swallow, another lump threatening to lodge itself in my throat.
Will he give him shit for it being me?
Does the man approve, or will he tell his boss that he deserves better?
Anxiety fills my blood, the decadent scent of cinnamon and sugar coming from the plate in front of me now making my stomach turn.
Ronnie eventually looks away, but then he gives weird looks to both Ethan and his twin as if they're having some silent conversation that all of them understand, leaving me in the dark. It makes me feel like some sort of science experiment, as if I'm some sort of anomaly they can't quite figure out.
I wish I hadn't come. I didn't show up here to put myself on display. I was trying to lead with the confidence my friends gave me this weekend, and since Mac had asked to bring leftovers to his crew more than once, I figured the casserole would be well received. The food was appreciated, but I can't help but feel like I've invaded some sort of space that I'm not welcome.
I put myself in this situation, but somehow, I'm stuck in my head, wondering if I'm some sort of inside joke for these guys.
I look up from my untouched plate at Mac, but he's once again focused on his breakfast.
I feel like a fool when the sting of tears begins to burn the backs of my eyes.
I'm normally stronger than this.
And I realize that there's a very big chance that I'm making something out of nothing, but that still doesn't prevent me from wanting to get up and run away from this entire situation. If I were a little more confrontational, maybe I could stand up and demand to know what their problem is, but even trying to channel that part of me that doesn't want to take shit from anyone, I can't seem to get up the nerve to open my mouth.
I pull in a deep breath and stand.
"Where are you going?" Mac asks.
"Home," I whisper.
He frowns up at me, and the threat of tears becomes a real problem when I see the look of disappointment on his face.
I swear I'm normally not this freaking emotional, but there's just something about today that has me all over the place. It started when I woke up alone in my bed, which shouldn't have bothered me at all, considering I went to bed alone.
"Stay," he says as he stands as well.
"I can't," I rush out as I begin to gather the items I brought from home.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I assure him, but there's a waver in my voice I can't disguise.
"Riley," he growls, his hand covering mine. "I’m not doing this shit again."
Chapter 30
Mac
I have no clue what I was about to say to her because the only thing I can focus on when I grab her is the tremble in her hand.
With my free hand, I curl a finger under her chin and urge her eyes up to mine. I swear the glistening threat of tears in her eyes nearly takes me to my knees.
"Baby, what's wrong?"
Instead of answering me, her eyes dart toward the group of men finishing the breakfast she brought.
The realization hits me like a ton of bricks square in the chest with enough force to nearly take my breath away. She's not comfortable around my men. She sat across from me, not eating her breakfast, feeling uneasy because they were all gawking at her like she was a circus monkey expected to do tricks.
"That was amazing," Ethan says as he drops his plate into a trash bag that she was thoughtful enough to bring along with her this morning.
Rather than heading back to the shop to finish loading materials up for the day, he walks past us, pausing right in front of Riley.
I watch in irritation as he leans forward and brushes a quick kiss on her cheek with a thank you on his lips.
She dips her head before telling him he's more than welcome, despite the discomfort still on her face.