Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“Don’t let your husband hear you say that,” Emerson teases her.
Monroe waves her off. “I’d say the same thing to him.”
Emerson sits on the couch and pats the cushion next to her. “Come sit.”
I want to run and hide, but I know that’s not an option, so I take the cushion next to her. “He’s my brother, but you’re my friend. This is a safe place, Briar. You can tell us, and there will be no judgment, and nothing will get back to the guys. Especially Forrest.”
“He says he wants to date me,” I blurt, feeling my face heat even more. I’m sure I’m as red as a tomato. I’m a twenty-two-year-old single mom who has no dating experience. I’m acting like a teenager.
Emerson nods. “Then he means it.”
“I’m… a mess, Emerson. I have no dating experience past a few dates in high school. I’m a single mom of twins. What could he possibly see?”
“He sees a beautiful woman with adorable daughters,” Maggie says.
“Briar, Forrest isn’t the kind of man to take advantage of a situation.” Monroe eyes me carefully. “He’s a man of his word. I’ve known him my entire life. He’s one of my husband’s best friends and my best friend’s older brother. He’s one of the good ones.”
“It’s just hard for me to trust,” I tell them.
“Briar.” Brogan says my name, and I feel a lecture coming on. I turn to face her, knowing I can’t avoid my twin. “He’s been to the house. He let the girls put his hair in bows and paint his nails. He invited you and the twins and even extended the invitation to me to his house for dinner. He just offered to take your daughters for a couple of hours so you could get a break. Let all of that sink in, sister. How many times has he tried to sleep with you with the interactions the two of you have had?”
“None. Well, I mean, he hugged me, and he’s kissed me. Just quick… a couple of times.”
“Aw, my big brother has a crush,” Emerson coos.
“I don’t know that I’m ready for casual or serious. I have to think about the girls,” I tell my friends and my sister.
“Forrest has the patience of a saint.” Monroe laughs. “He put up with us when we were younger.” She points to Emerson. “He was nineteen when he moved out. We were nine. I can still remember when he came to my house and sat down with my parents. He told them that he was Emerson’s big brother, and….” Her voice trails off.
“Our parents suck.” Emerson picks up where Monroe left off. “Forrest moved out and would get me as much as my parents allowed. The minute I turned eighteen, he moved me in with him. Before that, he would let me spend the weekends and breaks from school with him; sometimes, even during school. It’s not like my parents cared. If his schedule allowed, I was with him. He went to Monroe’s parents and told them all of that. He told them that Monroe was my best friend, and he’d very much like for them to allow Monroe to come and stay with me sometimes when I was with him. At nineteen, he had more maturity than our mom and dad put together.”
“What we’re trying to tell you is that it’s not an act. It’s who he is,” Monroe jumps back in.
“I’m scared,” I admit.
Brogan takes the seat next to me and wraps me in a hug. “We can’t let the past define us, Briar. You light up when he’s around, and so do the girls. Take this at your pace. But promise me you’ll keep an open mind. Let him show you.”
I nod. “Fine, can we move the heat off me? What about you?” I ask my sister. “Your dating history matches mine.” I give her a pointed look. Our stories differ, yet they’re similar. She’s been there with me every step of the way since that night, and I know calling her out is a shitty thing to do.
“If and when there is a man that comes into my life who proves he’s worth my time, I’ll hold on to him with all I’ve got,” Brogan announces. She didn’t hesitate with her reply.
“And you?” Monroe asks Maggie.
“What they said.” She grins. “It’s so damn hard to find the good ones. Emerson and Monroe, well, and now, Briar.” She wags her eyebrows. “You’re the lucky ones to have found good men.”
She’s calling Forrest mine, and I don’t know what to do with that. What would that look like? Being his. Him being mine. It’s a dream to find a man to love all three of us. Sure, I’m scared and trusting is hard for me, but I’m still me, and finding the love of a man who will love me and my daughters with all he’s got, even I can dream about that.