Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
When I’m swimming from the deep end to the shallow end, Braxton hooks his arm around me and pulls me into him, his mouth connecting with mine in a passionate kiss. My legs encircle his waist, clinging to his muscular torso like a jellyfish, and for several minutes, we make out, our tongues dancing and our bodies grinding against one another. It feels good to just be with him.
When we both come up for air, he pushes the wet strands of my hair out of my eyes.
“Hey, beautiful,” he murmurs with a smile. I love seeing him happy, alcohol and drug free. His hazel eyes are bright and filled with love. He hasn’t said the words since we’ve been back together, but I can feel them in everything he does and every look he gives me.
“Hey back.” I run my fingers through his messy, wet hair. “This is nice... being away. Between planning the baby shower and my new job, it’s been kind of crazy lately.” Good crazy, but still crazy.
“No matter how busy life gets, we’ll make time like this.” He kisses the corner of my mouth. “How was the baby shower?”
“It was good. That little girl is going to be so spoiled. I can’t wait to give her all the lovin’.”
Braxton chuckles. “Do you still want three kids? Two boys and a girl, so they have each other and will be protective of their little sister?”
My heart swells that he still remembers what I said even after all these years.
“Yeah, three kids would be perfect. What about you? How many do you want?”
“I want whatever you’ll give me,” he says, wading us through the water until my back hits the wall.
“So what if I wanted seven?” I joke.
“Then we better get to it.” He winks. “But seriously, though, I’d be good with however many you want. I agree having two or three would be perfect, so they never feel alone. I always had the guys, but it would’ve been nice to have someone in my house I could talk to and get into trouble with.” He hits me with a gorgeous smirk that has me tightening my legs around him.
“Speaking of which... How’s Gage?” Ever since they returned home from the tour, he’s been acting weird. We’ve always been close. Even during the years I didn’t see them, we would keep in touch, but every time I text him, he gives me one-word answers, which has me worried.
Braxton frowns. “He met someone...”
“What? Who?”
“We don’t really know much. A few days after we got home, she showed up and hasn’t left. They’re usually in his room, only coming out to eat, and sometimes they go for walks, I think. I’ve seen them hanging out on his balcony a lot. She doesn’t really talk much, but she seems nice. Kind of... sad, though. I feel like there’s a story there, but we’re trying to give him his space. It’s the first woman he’s hung out with since...”
“Yeah,” I breathe, my heart clenching at the thought of Tori. She was one of my best friends, and her death... fuck, it was just so tragic. “Is he still using?”
“I’m not really sure. He’s been so wrapped up in her that he’s rarely around. I can’t imagine him not smoking, but if he’s doing anything harder, it hasn’t been in front of us.”
“Kendall’s dating some new guy... A lawyer.”
Braxton shakes his head. “Poor Dec.”
“It’s his own fault for not telling her how he feels. He should’ve learned from Camden not to do that.”
“True.” He presses his mouth to mine. “I knew the moment you kissed me all those years ago that you were the one for me.”
“And do you still feel that way?” I ask, knowing the question shows my insecurities, but in my defense, we haven’t talked about our future, aside from fighting for each other—and now, when we were talking about babies...
“I do,” he says without hesitation. “I know what it feels like to be with you, and without you, and I know you’re the one for me.” Pinning me to the wall with his body, he brings his hand up and cups my face. “I love you, and any future I see has you in it.”
I can’t help the smile that splits across my face at his words. “I love you too, and I feel the same way.”
Braxton’s lips glide against mine, and I sigh into him, feeling like I’m finally content for the first time in a long time.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
BRAXTON
“Brax!” Kaylee shrieks, cackling loudly as she splashes me with the salt water.
“You’re going to get it,” I warn, wiping my face and swimming toward her. We’ve spent the past two days between the pool, the beach, and the bed. We have to leave tonight so she’s back for work tomorrow, but she wanted to spend the afternoon at the beach one last time before we go.