Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
And I can’t stop wondering if she’ll be home when I get there. One thing I’ve regretted all day is how I just let her leave without talking to her. I should have told her how I feel instead of letting her leave thinking that I wanted to end it all and this was just a fling. I didn’t say it like that, but I might as well have by the look of hurt on her face.
My brothers are talking about their lives, and I try to take part, but all I can think about is Madelyn. I fucked up, and I know I did.
Fletch slaps me on the back. “You okay?”
I nod. “Yep. I’m good.” I take a drink of my beer to try to act like everything is normal when in actuality I feel like my life is falling apart.
Fletch doesn’t believe me, though. “What’s up? Trouble at the orchard?”
I shake my head. “Nope. We’re going to have a good season.”
“Does that look on your face have anything to do with Madelyn?”
I glare at Beau, who’s talking to Colton and paying me no mind. “She left today. She’s interviewing with Evers Orchards.”
Fletch nods his head. “So I’m assuming since you’re all tore up about this that you like this girl.”
I snort. That’s putting it pretty lightly. “Yeah, something like that.”
Fletch tilts his head toward me. “Well, if she’s got you like this, then she must be something.”
I nod my head. “Yeah, she is.”
Fletch points at me. “Well, then don’t fuck it up.”
I nod. “Yeah, I got it.” But even saying that, I’m wondering if I already did.
My phone dings in my pocket, and I pull it out to look at it. “Owen and Justice texted back.”
That gets the attention of all my brothers. Beau is the first to respond. “What did they say?”
I read the texts and then look around the table at my brothers. “They’ll be here.”
My brothers smile, and I join them. It will be nice to have all my brothers back together again.
CHAPTER 23
MADELYN
I park my car in the driveway at The Wild Peach. As I look out at the orchard, I get that same feeling I had the first time I got here. That everything just feels right. I’m not sure what it is about this place, but it almost feels magical. At least to me it does.
I walk up the stairs to the house and am about to walk in when I hear Asher say, “Hey.”
He’s sitting on the porch swing, and I release my hold on the door and turn to him. “Hey,” I whisper.
He pats the seat next to him. “Come here.”
I go to sit next to him, and he puts his arm around me. “You know what I was thinking about today?” I ask.
He holds me tighter, and his voice drops. “What?”
“You need to add a deck onto the back porch. It would be nice to be able to sit back there and see the orchard under the moonlight. Don’t you think?”
He turns in his seat so he’s facing me. He has one hand on my back and the other on my knee. “Yeah, I think that’s a great idea.” He blows out a suffering breath. “How did today go?”
I shrug, searching his eyes for any indication of what he’s thinking. “It went well. They have a smooth operation. The property is beautiful, and they offered me a good salary, a house of my own, benefits…”
I let my voice trail off because the more I say, the tenser he becomes. “It’s an hour away,” he says. “I know it’s not ideal, but I can come see you on the weekends.”
I sit up a little straighter. “You want to see me?”
“Fuck, Maddie, I messed up so bad yesterday and I’ve regretted it since you left.”
I put my hand over his and thread our fingers together. I choke out the words. “How? How did you mess up?”
“I messed up when I told you that we were temporary and that you should go. I shouldn’t have said that to you because it was a lie, Maddie. I know we haven’t known each other long, and I know there are a hundred reasons why I should let you walk out the door, but I can’t do it. As soon as you left, I ran to the house to see if you’d packed all your things and taken them with you. In that instant, right before I knew your things were still here, I felt what it would be like to not see you again, and it was hell. I don’t want to go through that. I know I’m being selfish, but I can’t let you go.”
I suck in a breath. “You can’t?”
He shakes his head and brings his hand up to cup my face. “No, I don’t want to. We have a connection, and I don’t want to let you go. I looked it up on the map app, and Evers Orchards is not that far. I can come and see you.”