Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
It leaves me exhausted.
When I see that she has a story up, which is unlike her, I click it. My stomach drops, for my heart is sitting in some guy’s lap. The blond guy has his arm around my girl, his lips on her jaw as she laughs, looking every bit the vixen she is. She hasn’t posted pictures of guys or even her with one, but I knew it was bound to happen. I close my eyes, letting my phone fall into my lap as I rub my eyes roughly. I lean back and exhale as I shake my head.
I always knew she’d move on. Emery is smart, brilliant, beautiful, and loves so damn hard, I can still feel it.
I just wish it were me holding her.
Kissing her jaw.
Loving her.
Instead, I’m marrying someone else.
Someone who isn’t her.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Benson
Just like I know there is something wrong with Cameron, I know Quinn isn’t okay.
And it stresses me out to no end to know both my people aren’t good, because I’m great. I’m sitting beside the most beautiful girl in the world, fully loved by everyone in this room—minus Ava—and I’m happy. For the first time in years, I can say I am truly happy. Yet knowing that Cameron is dealing with some delusions she’s conjured up, while Quinn is marrying some chick he isn’t even in love with, I feel guilty for being happy.
Cameron’s hand sits in mine, and I squeeze it three times. I told her it was a calming technique, but I didn’t tell the whole truth. I saw on TikTok that you squeeze your person’s hand three times to silently tell them you love them. Three little words. Three little squeezes, just for her. My love. She looks over at me, and I smile as I reach up, wiping her lip free of biscuit. Her lips curve, and I’m thankful she has color back in her cheeks. She froze up on me, a stricken look on her face when we were in the kitchen, and I don’t know why.
But I will.
“I’m gonna go check on Quinn,” I tell her, and she nods as I start to get up.
“Why?” Ava asks before I am fully out of my chair.
I look over at her, and before I can even tell her to go kick rocks, Cameron says, “Because when you love someone, and they’ve been pooping for a while, you need to make sure they don’t need more toilet paper.”
Quinn’s laughter fills the room, and I lower back into my seat as I grin. “Thanks, Cam. But I had to make a call. No pooping. Yet.”
“Right?” Aiden agrees, leaning back and rubbing his belly. “Elli, I think I’m stuffed.”
Mom beams. “I know for a fact you have room for apple pie.”
I was full a second ago. Not now. “I have all the room.”
“Me too,” Cameron agrees, and when I look at her, she’s grinning. Her eyes are bright, leaving me breathless.
Before I can kiss that smile off her face, Quinn is reaching for his beer. “If I can have everyone’s attention.”
Oh shit. He’s doing this now?
Cameron glances at me just as I glance at her, before looking back at the train wreck that is Ava and Quinn. He clears his throat and leans on the back of Ava’s chair. “Mom, before you bring out that apple pie, I have an announcement.”
“You failed school?” Shelli asks.
“It’s all been a lie? You’re not a genius?” Posey suggests.
“You realized I’m the hotter brother?” I ask, and Evan snorts. “I mean, everyone knows it.”
“He’s always known that,” Evan says. “I think he’s finally going to do something about that wart on his ass.”
Everyone starts to laugh as Quinn rolls his eyes, laughing himself. Ava doesn’t seem to think anything we say is funny, which is annoying. We’re hilarious.
“I think if Owen were here, he would have decided you were announcing your retirement as the favorite kid,” Evan adds, and that has everyone laughing, even Quinn.
“I love you guys, truly,” Quinn says around his laughter, and I lean back in my chair, my gaze moving to Elli because she’s going to be the one to freak out. She loves Emery and loves the whole Brooks family. Hell, Aiden is Emery’s big brother, and he’s married to Shelli. This isn’t going to go over well, and I just pray it’s enough to get Quinn to come to his senses. “But—”
Before he can finish, though, Shea’s phone rings. He issues an apology, getting his phone out and then making a face before declining the call. “Sorry, it’s Dad. I’ll call him back. Continue.”
But before Quinn can, the phone rings again, and that’s not good. Alarm rings in my ears as dread fills my gut, and I cut my gaze back to Shea. Before he can decline it again, Elli stands up, fear taking over her features. “Answer that.”