Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
I fall into my own thoughts. Suddenly, the last few coins I have feel like they’re burning a hole in my bag. I had planned to hold on to the last few and take them back home with me.
However, now it only feels right to leave them here. As if my sister wants to set me free. Or as if she needs me to leave this part of her here.
I pull Trev to a stop and dig into my bag for the last of the coins. He looks at me with his brows furrowed. I sigh as I pull the coins out.
“I feel like I need to do this. She wants to be here,” I say.
His eyes soften and he nods in understanding. I move to the brick wall of the bridge and whisper my final goodbye, having nothing else left to leave behind.
“I hope this is what you would have wanted. It feels right. I’m not letting your memory go, just the pain. I will always miss and love you, Pook.”
With that, I kiss the last of the coins and toss them over into the Adige River. It begins to feel so final. My sister is truly gone. I shudder to think this is my new reality.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think I will be. Are you ready to head back?”
“If you are.”
“Yeah, I’m ready for that bath. Maybe even a bottle of that wine.”
“Tonight, you can have whatever you want,” he says with a wink.
I hope he knows I’m taking him up on that offer. I know exactly what I want. This day has been a soothing balm to my soul and it’s all because of him. I want to show him my thanks.
Trevor
Lynn’s thoughts are written all over her face as she sits across from me in the claw-foot tub while I hold her foot in my hands and massage it. The steaming water has left a shine of sweat glowing across her face, collarbone, and breasts. I lick my lips as I roll my gaze over her.
“See something you like, handsome?”
“I see someone I love, sweetheart.”
“Um, you’re working magic, honey. Don’t stop,” she purrs like a Southern belle as I hit a sweet spot on her tender foot.
We did a lot of walking and exploring. Those sandals she wore weren’t the best for walking. I kiss her little toes and then the sole of her foot, making her cheeks glow.
“I should’ve worn sneakers,” she murmurs, dropping her gaze to the water.
“Don’t get all shy on me now,” I croon, sliding my hand up her calf and then back down to her ankle again to drag her body closer to me.
Reaching for her other leg, I drape her thighs over mine and reach for her ass to pull her onto my lap. Once I have her settled where I want her, I wrap my arms around her and tug her into my chest.
She comes willingly and places her head on my shoulder. After holding her in my arms for a moment, I then begin to rub her back, massaging her skin as I breathe her in. She gives a sigh and relaxes in my hold.
“How are you really feeling?”
I ask the question because although I can see the desire in her eyes, I can also see she’s hurting. Something happened on that bridge. She’s been a little reserved since.
I won’t lie and say I hadn’t been thinking of Brooke during our walk. This should’ve been her trip. She and Cliff should’ve been in this tub celebrating their engagement.
“I don’t know,” she whispers in answer. “I can tell you what I’m thinking.”
“What’s that, darlin’?”
“Everything can change in the blink of an eye. One minute you have it all figured out and then just like that”—she snaps her fingers—“in the blink of an eye, one single action can change it all, and it doesn’t even have to be your own action.”
“Yeah, that’s a fact. I think that’s what burns me up about it all. Pook hardly drank a beer and yet a drunk driver took her from so many people who loved her.
“I’ve thought about that every time I’ve had a drink while here. My daddy would have a fit, but when in Rome,” she whispers while running her fingertips up and down my arm and back to my shoulder.
“They said his license was suspended for a DUI while having his kids in the car with him. He should’ve been locked under the jail then,” I snarl.
“Oh my God, what kind of monster drives with their child in the car while drunk?”
“That son of a bitch, apparently.”
“Our family didn’t deserve this, Brooke didn’t deserve this, but I know she would want us to let it go and move forward with our lives. I’m going to try. That’s what I’m thinking.
“I need to try to live my dreams and make them all come true while I can. Daddy wasn’t going to allow me to do my music thing. He wasn’t going to make the calls for me.