Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Silence fills the space between us. The tension is so thick, I’m surprised I can even breathe. I look at each of my sisters, waiting for someone to say something as they glance at one another.
“We just want what is best for you,” Louisa says softly. “We don’t like hearing someone say things like that when we know how much you care for him.”
“I love him,” I correct, holding my eldest sister’s gaze. “And I know how protective you guys are. That’s why I came right here.”
“To defend him, to fight his battles,” Elliot accuses, and I glare at her. I have to remind myself that she’s pregnant and that we’re so damn close. She’s my best friend, my favorite person in the world, and I know she only wants to protect me from harm.
“Wouldn’t you?” I ask, holding her gaze. “If Alex made this mistake, or even Ciaran, Dimitri, or Coleson? Wouldn’t you guys defend the men you love?” I’m met with silence, and I know I’ve gotten through to them. “No one is perfect. Hell, none of us is. And I’m not saying Riggs is, but I love him, and he makes me feel things I’ve never felt in my life. Please trust me. Please don’t hate him. Give him some grace. He’s a good man. My man.”
I don’t tell them what his intentions were today. I almost want to forget that fact because I don’t want the moment he gives me his momma’s ring to be ruined by what happened today. As much as I hate secrets between my sisters and me, I feel that sometimes they’re necessary. Also, I don’t want them to dump on the idea of him asking me to be his. The answer is a given for me, but my sisters need time to warm up to him.
“So, tomorrow will be awkward,” Louisa says then, and I shake my head.
“I told him not to come.”
Elliot’s mouth goes slack, and the rest of my sisters gawk at me. “Are you serious?” Eliza asks, and I shrug.
“We don’t have any intentions of making tomorrow anything but perfect. As much as we both want him to be there, I know you guys need time to process and trust him again. Hopefully this will help.”
Elliot looks away, shaking her head as Austen meets my gaze. “He was okay with that?”
“Not at all. He’s torn up about it, but he knows how important this day is for Lou and Ciaran.”
Louisa swallows hard. “He does love you.”
“He does,” I say softly, and thankfully, Darcy comes back to me, going between my legs for the support I didn’t realize I needed.
“I’m sorry, sis,” Elliot says quietly. “Want me to kick Alex’s ass?”
I scoff, shaking my head. “No. He was only looking out for me.”
She nods as her eyes fill with tears. I close the distance between all of us, and, to my surprise, Darcy follows with me. Riggs is doing great with him, and that only makes me miss him more. As I wrap my arms around my sisters, they hug me just as tightly, and we all can’t help but laugh when Elliot’s belly gets in the way. In their arms, I feel like things may have changed. I’m no longer the baby who needs protecting. I’m a woman in love, like they are, and they know they raised me to take care of myself.
On a sigh, I say, “Now, I’ve got the day to myself. What are we doing?”
We decide to have a girls’ night and then head to the venue early. Since I don’t have an overnight bag, I head over to my apartment to pack one. Once I’m in the car on my way, I pick up my phone to see all the missed calls and texts from Riggs. My heart swells as I dial his number, and he answers immediately.
“Where are you?”
“On my way to my apartment to pack a bag, I’m meeting the girls for a girls’ night.”
By his sigh, I know he’s not happy. “Come home.”
“Maybe tomorrow,” I say softly, fighting back the tears. “Aren’t you wondering how it went?”
“I don’t care,” he says simply. “I don’t care what they think of me. I only want you.”
I bite my lip, my tears spilling over as my heart hammers in my chest. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Clara—”
“I love you.”
“Damn it, love, you’re hell on my heart.”
“And you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I wouldn’t,” he admits, his voice low. “Would you come home if I said I’m slowly dying without you by my side?”
I smile through my tears, and I swallow. “No, but I would say I feel the same.”
“Then come home.”
“I will tomorrow,” I say softly, wiping my cheeks free of tears. “I love you, Riggs.”
His voice breaks as he says, “I love you more, love.”