Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Sounds good to me.”
He snickers. “Nope. You’re not getting out of this, but later tonight, I have plans for you. Do you want me to get the door, or do you have it?”
“I’ll do it, though I’m going on record that sex will be more fun and less emotionally draining.” But really, I want to do this. It’s time to do this.
Archer swats me on the ass, and I head to the door and open it. Rhett, Dusty, and Morgan are all there, two vehicles in the driveway since they didn’t come together.
Pretty Girl immediately gives them a love attack, while Casanova hides behind my legs, unsure about these new visitors.
“It’s okay, sweet boy.” I kneel beside him and pet his head. “They’re nice. They came over just to see you.”
As if Pretty Girl understands me, she turns around and looks at me like, What the fuck, Dad?
“And you too,” I tell her, then look up at them, still making sure Casanova knows it’s okay. “He’s skittish with new people. It’s probably good you’re here. It will help with socializing him. When me and Arch take them to the dog park, it’s usually when no one else is around.”
Dusty and Morgan come inside, Rhett lingering behind them with his hands in his pockets like he’s not sure what to do. Morgan kneels to pet them, and I remember the first time he met Pretty Girl and how good he was with her.
I feel Archer’s gaze on me as Morgan starts talking to Casanova. “Aren’t you a handsome boy. It’s okay. I know Rhett is scary, but we’ll protect you.”
Dusty laughs.
“Fuck off,” Rhett grumbles, and though that edge of past anger lingers between them, there’s the smallest hint of teasing too.
Morgan looks up at him. “I’m giving you shit…feels weird, but it just happened.”
“Did you get a lobotomy?” Rhett crosses his arms, and this moment feels like what being real brothers is supposed to be, but how the fuck would I know?
Morgan gives his attention to Casanova again. “I don’t want to rush you, but we’re here to love on you when you’re ready.”
I’m pretty sure Dusty swoons. “You’re so sweet.”
I roll my eyes and stand up. “You two are gross.”
“It’s ridiculous,” Rhett adds, and the three of us laugh together…then stop to stare as if we just realized what happened. Yeah, I’m pretty sure bits and pieces of this really is the way brothers are supposed to be.
Rhett clears his throat, the moment breaking. “Can I come inside, or are the two of you going to block the entryway all night?” he says to Morgan and Dusty.
They stand, and all three of them come farther into the living room, Rhett closing the door behind them.
“Have a seat…or whatever,” I tell them. Morgan and Dusty do, but I see Rhett looking around, and it takes me a moment to realize that Rhett has never been inside my house. He’s seen it, come over to give me shit or whatever, but usually I step outside and we argue and he leaves.
My place is nothing special. My things aren’t as nice as his—mine being a mishmash of stuff I like and comfortable furniture. The stairs are across from the front door, the open-concept living room is spacious enough, and the kitchen is behind it.
“It’s, um…it’s nice, East.”
I look toward Casanova and pet his head. “Thanks.”
“We are so bad at this,” Morgan says, his tone sad. I think we all share the sentiment.
“But you’re here,” Archer says, hands on my shoulders, massaging them. “You’re here and trying. That’s what matters.”
“I second that.” Dusty reaches out and wraps his arm around Morgan, and when my gaze finds Rhett, I recognize the deep loneliness in his eyes because I’ve worn it myself my whole life. But Archer is helping to soothe mine, just like Dusty does with Morgan, and I can’t help wondering if Rhett has ever had anyone to help with his.
*
I used my smoker to make ribs, and then baked potatoes and grilled vegetables for dinner. My table isn’t big enough to accommodate all of us, so we use the card table too, pushing the two together. It’s a cool fall evening in the UP, probably around fifty, and I open one of the windows to alleviate the suffocating feeling I have with so many people in my house. I don’t want to be this way. It never bothered me before, but I keep noticing little things about myself that aren’t exactly wrong, but…I do want to maybe work on them getting better. I’d love to be able to have my brothers in my house without sneaking away a couple of times because I feel like I can’t breathe.
“This is really good, East,” Dusty tells me, breaking the silence.
“I told you he can cook,” Morgan adds, making a weight settle in my chest for having had dinners with him and not Rhett, but then Rhett hasn’t always made it easy. He’s never tried with me either, but he did walk away from Gregory for me. That’s something I can’t forget.