Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“Fuck,” one man spews, shaking his head. His eyes come to me, and he straightens to his full height, crossing his arms. “Can I help you?”
The other man turns, taking the same stance as his brother.
“I’m here for Jewls.”
Like Gill, they size me up. “Take it you’re Major?”
“Yep.”
They share a look of disapproval. “Jewls ask you to come?”
At this moment, I don’t give a shit about their judgment. “I didn’t wait for an invitation.”
“Maybe there’s a reason you didn’t get one.”
“Any other time, I’d be happy to take your razzing and let you bust my balls. But today is not that day. Where’s Jewls?”
“My guess is Jewls is riding Midnight Lace on the other side of the pasture.”
“She’s riding a horse?” Buzzing roars in my ears, thinking of her astride a horse and the possibility of her getting hurt.
“She’s been riding horses since she was two.”
The fan above blows a breeze filled with the scent of pineapple and citrus, setting my heart racing. I twist and find Jewls galloping into the barn on a black horse.
My feet take off, jogging her way. She looks tiny perched atop the massive animal, and when I get to her side, she’s staring at me in wonder.
“Major? What are you doing here?”
I grasp her hips, gently tugging her down and hitching her legs to circle my waist. Her green eyes search my face, welling with tears when realization sinks in.
“You know?”
“I know.”
“I’m so sorry, Major. This doesn’t have to ruin your life. You can—”
“Don’t finish that sentence, Julianna.”
“Do you hate me?” Her pupils dilate in surprise.
My chest seizes at the vulnerability and fear in her shaky voice. “I love you more than anything in this world.”
A sob breaks free, and she clutches my shoulders, melting into my hold. “I could handle almost anything. I expected your resentment, but the thought of you hating me is paralyzing.”
Resentment? “Baby, why the fuck would I resent you?”
Her lips tremble and she focuses over my shoulder. “It’s my fault. You wanted to be responsible, and I promised you I was protected. I’m basically trapping you with a baby you did not plan and did not want.”
Flashbacks slam into my brain and then twist and turn into the scene at the drug store. “That fucking cunt told you that?”
More tears slide down her cheeks as her answer.
“Jesus, Jewls. Don’t you get it? You’re my everything.”
The damn breaks and she clings to me like a lifeline. With each wracking purge of her body, the agony of her fears seeps into me. She hasn’t been working through the fact that she’s pregnant; she’s been living in fear of my reaction.
And my rejection.
A fury unlike anything I’ve ever felt stirs inside of me as I cradle the woman who had reason to doubt my devotion.
“Hey, lovebirds? What’s with the teary reunion? You’ve been gone from Nashville less than two weeks.”
I all but forgot about her brothers.
She sniffs a few times, twisting so her cheek is pressed to my collarbone. “Shut it, Huey and Louie.”
“You’re crying like a girl!” one of them shouts back.
“Because I am a girl! And I missed my boyfriend.”
Whatever banter continues is drowned out by the new rush of adrenaline.
I’m done with being the fucking boyfriend.
28
Jewls
“She wet the bed until third grade. Uncle Dope wouldn’t let her come back until she was fully potty trained.”
“That wasn’t my fault! Uncle Dope replaced my vitamins with a water pill!” No matter the scorching daggers in my glare, my brothers won’t shut up.
“This is why I didn’t date in high school. You boys are juvenile delinquents. Can’t you shut your traps and go home?”
“Awwww, little Anna Banana is getting flustered. Are you embarrassed of us?” Toby takes a slug of beer, eyeing me with hilarity.
“Yes, and you’re doing it on purpose.”
“Baby, let them go. I’m enjoying this.” The arm Major has draped over my shoulder tugs me closer.
“You’re enjoying me being humiliated?”
“I enjoy sitting here with your family, drinking cold beer, with you at my side.”
A sensation of warmth rushes through me. There’s no time to respond when the back door opens and Justin walks through with three more of our cousins carrying cases of beer.
“You have to be kidding me!” I throw my hands in the air. “Get out! This is not a carnival.”
“I’ll make the popcorn.” Caleb stands, flashing me a snarky grin.
“Mama! Make them leave!” I cry like a child. She’s perched proudly on the arm of Dad’s recliner.
Justin walks over, taking in my position at Major’s side, and sneers. “You the controlling boyfriend?”
“Protective,” Major counters, completely at ease. “You one of the Darryls?”
Justin’s face twists in anger, and I burst into giggles. “Yes! He’s a Darryl.”
“Not funny, Jewls,” Justin snipes.
“It is sooooo funny!” I fall into Major’s lap.
He smiles at me lovingly, then shakes my cousin’s hand. “Major Powers.”