Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
The whole time Tucker is talking, my smile deepens. “I think that sounds wonderful.”
My dad clears his throat looking at me. "So, everything is settled."
"I think so," I say tentatively, suddenly so unsure of my tomorrow. Yesterday I knew I would be here, but my tomorrows can be shaped anyway and anywhere now.
"Okay, but when you give your mom and me grandbabies, your husband is going to need to take time off to bring y'all down to Florida," Dad says, a little misty-eyed.
"I think we can do that," I promise, feeling free.
He pulls me into a hug, and I feel as if the pieces of my life that I couldn't get to fit before are finally falling into place.
"For now, we better get back to work. We don't want Tucker to get a run-down shop."
That gets a round of laughs as I fill Tucker and Henry's orders.
"If you leave town, how will I get my dog treats?" Henry asks, looking concerned.
"She's going to be my sister-in-law. I'll make sure we always sell them and anything else she might whip up," Tucker says, patting Henry's arm comfortingly.
I like that idea. I can't help but smile at them. My phone interrupts the sweet moment, pulling me away.
I don't recognize the number.
'That's weird," I mumble to myself.
I've had the same number for the last nine years, and no one has ever called me that I don't recognize unless there's a spam risk warning on it. There's no warning on this number.
"Hello?" I ask tentatively. It could be Kage or Faye, and they got my number from Ryder or Mary. Mary's already programmed into my phone since we talk so often. "Hello?"
"Is this Tillie?" a female asks.
"Yes."
There's a heavy pause before a sigh. "This is Emily."
I feel the blood drain from my face as my body goes cold. "Why are you calling?" All the emotion is gone from my voice. I'm surprised I can talk at all right now.
"I guess I deserve that," Emily says.
"Yeah, I guess you do."
"I was, uh, hoping it would've been long enough that maybe you'd forgiven me, but I guess not."
"What do you want?" I ask. I won't feed into it. She hurt me. There's a time for forgiveness and healing, but I can’t get there right now. “Seriously, why are you calling? We have nothing to do with one another. My life is in Pine Ridge, and last I heard, you moved to California."
"Well, I did go out there for a while, but I live in Cheyenne now," she says.
My stomach flip-flops as I realize she's only a few hours away now. That's not nearly far enough. It was fine when we had practically a whole country between us.
Maybe it's all the more reason to move out to Dallas with Ryder. A sign. That's what this is.
"What do you want, Emily?" I ask again.
"I saw your picture in the paper. You know, the one with Ryder?"
"So?" I ask, shutting my eyes as I pinch the bridge of my nose in exasperation. "You aren't with Ryder anymore."
"I know. It's just...I'm in trouble, Tillie, and you're the only one that can help me because none of the Monroe's talk to me anymore," Emily says. I can hear the desperation in her voice.
"I don't know why you think I would or could help you."
"Because you're a good person. I have no one and nowhere else to turn. I need you to get Ryder to talk to me," she says hurriedly. "I’ve tried to call him all week, but he's not taking my calls. The house phone is unlisted—"
"Why are you trying to get a hold of Ryder?"
"Tillie…I'm in trouble…I'm pregnant."
I absently hang up the phone, ignoring the fact she’s still talking. My eyes open in shock but I don’t see the room around me.
I'm confused as to why I don't hear anything breaking as my world crashes in on me.
Ryder
I step up to the plate again and try to get my breath. Two strikes. Jesus. I haven’t been this bad in years—maybe forever. I don’t know how to make it better, either because my mind isn’t on the game. That’s unheard of for me. For me, no matter who was in my life, what was going on, it has always been about the game that I loved to the point of obsession.
That’s just yet one more thing that Tillie has changed. When I get my hands on her, and after I’ve worn her ass out for putting me through this shit, I will inform her of that and tell her the next time she fucks up my game she’s going to be sucking my cock for a week as an apology.
“Time out!” The umpire calls out and I jerk. I see Green walking toward me and shit, an idiot could see he’s pissed.