Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“What do you mean all over again?” Austin asked quietly. “Who didn’t want you before?”
“Well—my father,” I said. “And my grandparents. The only other family I had besides my mom.”
His hand stilled for a moment.
“That probably sounds stupid,” I said quickly. “Because it’s not like they knew me and rejected me. It wasn’t personal. They just didn’t want me in the first place. But it . . . it felt personal. I always wondered what was wrong with me.”
“There is nothing wrong with you.” He pulled me in a little tighter and kissed my head. “There never was.”
“Except that I can’t seem to get a relationship right, which is eventually a problem if you want a family.”
“And yet somehow I managed it,” he said wryly.
I smiled. “You did. But I’d like to share a life with someone. I just need to get better at trusting people not to hurt me. Or at least better at choosing who to put my trust in.” I picked up my head and looked at him. “I can’t depend on you to punch every guy that hurts me.”
“I would,” he said seriously, tucking my damp hair behind my ear. “Honestly, I fucking would.”
My heart liked that a little too much.
“God, I didn’t mean to dump all this on you.” I put my head down again. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad you did. I like knowing things about you.”
“I like knowing things about you too. You just don’t talk as much as I do.”
“No one talks as much as you do. Not even Mabel.”
“Okay, but tell me one thing about yourself.”
“Like what?”
I thought for a moment. “Who did you admire most growing up?”
“My dad,” he said without missing a beat. “He was always the strongest person I ever knew. I wanted to be like him.”
“You are,” I said softly.
He kissed my head again and sniffed. “You’re right—your hair totally smells like wood chips and baseball glove.”
Laughing, I put my arms across his chest and held him tight.
But my smile faded when I remembered that we only had three more nights together.
I didn’t want this to end.
NINETEEN
austin
Late Thursday afternoon, Xander sent me a text asking if I’d come help him paint at the bar. Before I answered him, I messaged Veronica.
Hey. My brother is asking for help again at the bar after work. Should I tell him to piss off?
No! Why would you do that?
Because I’d rather be with you.
Aww. How about I come up and help? I could bring snacks.
You don’t have to.
I don’t mind! What are you working on?
Painting.
Perfect! I’ve got lots of experience painting NYC apartments. Got any old shirts lying around I could wear?
Bottom left side dresser drawer. Take anything you want.
Okay. See you soon!
Given the haphazard way Veronica slapped color on the walls, I wasn’t sure how true her statement about experience was, but she looked adorable in one of my old shirts and ball caps, her blond ponytail sticking out the back. We had music on, and she was definitely doing more dancing than painting, but just having her there put me in a good mood.
At one point, we ran out of tape, and she volunteered to run to the hardware store to pick some up.
“How are the kids doing?” Xander asked when we were alone.
“Good,” I said, rolling on the navy blue paint. “We FaceTimed yesterday. They’re having a ball.”
“Back Sunday?”
“Yep.” I was torn every time I thought about their return. I missed them like crazy and couldn’t wait to have them home again, but I would miss being able to spend time with Veronica too, and we only had three nights left. “Hey, can I borrow your SUV Saturday night?”
“Sure. What for?”
“I’m taking Veronica to dinner at The Pier Inn. I thought it might be nice not to drive the truck.”
“Ooooh. A date.”
I frowned. “It’s not a date.”
“Oh, sorry, I must have misheard. I thought you said you were taking Veronica to dinner at The Pier Inn—because that’s a date.”
I ignored his attempt to pick a fight. “I’ll return it on Sunday.”
“No rush,” he said. “So I take it things are good with you guys?”
Things were better than good. I was having more fun with Veronica than I’d ever had with anyone. “Yeah.”
“Definitely seems cozy between you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you guys just seem really comfortable together. This is the most I’ve heard you laugh in years.”
I put the roller in the paint tray and worked it back and forth.
“And you’re definitely more relaxed, but I’m going to assume it’s not because you’re getting more sleep.”
“Safe assumption.”
“You give her that hickey on her neck?”
“Fuck off.”
He burst out laughing. “Don’t let Dad see it. I think he might be in love with her.”
I cracked a smile. “I know.”
“He said her fiancé must have been a complete idiot to let her go.”