Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“We need to talk,” Nico says, stepping up to my side
I raise a brow. Since he arrived with Sophie, Willow’s mom, early this morning to help set up, he’s kept his distance even at the frustration of his daughter and his wife.
“Outside,” he mutters.
I lift my chin then start to follow him through the room.
“Is everything okay?” Willow grabs my hand, stopping me, and I bend to brush my mouth over hers.
“All good, baby. Be right back,”
She looks to where her dad is standing, then back at me. “Okay. Love you.”
Fuck, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to hearing those words from her. Every fucking night I go to sleep wondering if I’ll wake up in the morning, the happiness and contentment I’ve been feeling just a dream I made up. But somehow, I’ve started each day with her in my arms and that connection to her just a little stronger than it was the day before.
“Love you, Mouse.” I squeeze her fingers then let her go.
When we reach the front door, Nico opens it, then waits for me to step outside before he shuts it behind himself.
“They got Matthew.”
My shoulders jerk back in surprise at this news coming from him and not Miles or Tucker. “A hunter came across his body this morning and the coroner just confirmed it was him.”
“He’s dead?”
“His body was found near Percy Priest Lake. He suffered a single gunshot wound to the side of his head, and after going over the scene, they believe the wound was self-inflicted.”
“So, they think it was a murder-suicide?” I surmise.
He nods.
Looking at the door, I don’t even want to think about what Willow will think or feel when she finds out this news. “I’m not sharing this with her now, not with all these people around.”
His jaw clenches.
“What?”
“I looked into you. I know some of your story. Know who Dayton, Miles, and Tucker are to you and about your sister. What I need is for you to tell me that what you’ve been through, and the shit you’re doing now, isn’t going to blow back on you and, in turn, my girl.”
“I love your daughter and I’d never let anything touch her.”
“You can’t always prevent shit like that from spreading through your life and contaminating everything.”
“I can. And my family knows where I am with Willow and that my priorities have shifted.”
His eyes stay locked on mine. “I don’t want to like you.”
“You don’t need to,” I tell him as the door starts to open.
“You haven’t been around long enough to know that’s not true,” he says, focusing on Sophie when she pokes her head outside.
“Is everything okay out here?” She scans me then Nico before locking her eyes on his.
“All good, baby, just filling Clay in on some news I got,” he tells her, ushering her back into the house and following her inside.
With a deep breath, I step back in behind them, not sure what the fuck to think about whatever the fuck that was.
“You’re not bleeding so I guess whatever Dad wanted to talk to you about wasn’t bad,” Willow says as soon as she sees me.
I take her into my arms.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll explain when we’re alone,” I tell her softly and her eyes search mine.
“Is it about Carly?”
I nod and she drags in a breath then takes my hand and just keeps hold of it like a lifeline until people start to leave.
With Leah and Sophie helping to clean up the plates and cups that were left around by guests, the place is straightened fast. I turn when the front door is opened and watch Miles step inside carrying a small wooden chest.
“Where’s Willow?” he asks me.
I motion across the room where she’s sitting with her dad.
“What’s that?”
“The chest Carly’s friend asked us to get for her.”
“Right,” I mutter, then call out, “Mouse.”
“Yeah?” She turns to look at me, then sees Miles and gets up. “You got it.” She gives a relieved smile, and her eyes start to water.
“I did. I figured you could mail it to Annie.”
“Of course.” She takes it from him and places it on the counter, but doesn’t open it. Instead, she smooth’s her fingers over the warn wood before giving him a hug. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.” He hugs her back, then looks around the room when she lets him go.
“How did today go?”
“It was nice having everyone together to share stories about Carly.”
“Good,” he mutters, looking across the room at Nico before he meets my gaze. “I gotta get to the station.”
“We’ll talk later.” I touch my fist to his then watch him walk out.
“I’m going to leave too,” Leah says, wiping her hands on the dishcloth next to the sink. “Unfortunately, I have to work tonight.”
“Okay.” Willow hugs her then I hear her whisper. “Thank you for helping today.”