Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Joker!” the men call out, and I exhale, letting him hear my irritation.
“Joker, let me down.”
He turns his attention from Wheeler back to me. “I want you in my arms, Peaches.”
I roll my eyes and slap my hand against his chest. “You’re embarrassing me around my family. The last thing I want my family to think is that I am weak, you big doofus,” I grumble.
Torin huffs and gives me a look that tells me he’s not happy. However, he does put me down. He keeps one hand tight around my back, his fingers biting into my side. It’s not painful, but the intent is clear. The man wants me to stay right by his side.
“Kyla!”
I look up to see Trudy walking over to us. I pull away from Torin so I can hug her. “Hey, woman,” I laugh as she hugs me close. Trudy is like an older sister, only I’m probably closer to her than Thea. It’s not because I don’t love Thea—we’re just different people. Thea keeps herself closed off. The only people she’s ever let in are our parents, Mattie, Thomas, and Dom. She’s always been more comfortable around men. I’m the complete opposite. That may explain my current issues with Torin. Men make me uncomfortable. I’ve never really been interested in dating that much. The one time I tried, it was with Chad. I didn’t go out with him because I was in love—or even deep like. He was the school jock. All the girls wanted him, but he seemed to only want me. The attention was nice, so I agreed to some dates. Everyone said we were meant to be together. It just seemed like less hassle to continue dating him instead of breaking up and being pressured into going out with other guys that I had zero interest in.
Torin is the only man I’ve ever been physically attracted to. It never occurred to me to date any other man after I met him. I’m starting to see what a big mistake that was. Which, I suppose, is the main reason I’m thinking of going out with Carlos. He’s a great guy, always makes me laugh, our families are close, and he’s been hung up on me for a while. Torin’s reaction to Carlos talking to me was shocking, though. I wish I could figure out what was going on in his brain. I shake that thought away and try to concentrate on Trudy.
“Girl, what gives?” she chastises.
“What do you mean?” I ask, not understanding.
“You’re Joker’s old lady?” she cries.
“I—”
“That she is, but I just convinced her tonight. We haven’t told our family yet,” Torin interjects, making me jump. I had no idea that he was listening to our conversation. He’s standing right behind me, damn it. I thought the others would distract him longer. I sigh as not even a second later, I feel his arm snake around me again. I turn, giving him an annoyed look. He just winks at me. I hate how makes my heart run away with me. I get the feeling from Torin’s smug look that he knows exactly how he makes me feel.
The bastard.
“Girl, how could you not let me in on the tea? You should have told me, especially after that last reading I gave you!”
“What reading?” Joker asks.
“Didn’t Kyla tell you? I gave her a reading a few weeks ago with tea leaves. It’s something new that I’m dabbling with.”
“It didn’t work,” I answer before Trudy can blab.
Trudy gives her signature twinkly bell laugh that I normally loved to hear. Today, however, it just makes me want to growl at her to shut up. Telling her that probably wouldn’t be too smart, though. Archie is pretty damn protective of his woman.
“Bullshit. This is proof that it did,” she argues. I hold my head down in defeat as I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“What’s proof?”
“You claiming Kyla as yours. The leaves revealed that she’d suffer loss and love and I swear the initial J was in the leaves. Obviously, the love part is you!” she exclaims excitedly.
“Or it could prove that we’re not going to work out and he’s the great loss,” I mutter.
“Kyla!” Trudy admonishes.
“What? I’m just playing devil’s advocate here. We all know what a man—whore Joker is.”
I can hear Torin’s rumble of discontent next to my ear. He puts a hand under my chin, forcing me to look at him. “There’s something for you to get straight, Peaches. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Peaches? Oh, that’s so cute! I love you two together,” Trudy squeals.
“You hear that, baby girl? She loves us together,” Torin croons.
“We’re not—”
“We’re not advertising it just yet, Trudy. We need time to tell Bull and Breaker.”
Trudy nods understandingly. “I get it. She is the baby of the family after all. Doesn’t matter that she’s old enough to have a relationship or not. I dealt with the same thing with my big brother.”