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)
“What’s her name?”
“Pretty Girl.” I chuckle.
“Aww!” Lori says, and I can tell she’s smitten.
“She’s our good girl, aren’t you?” I pet her head along with Lori, not shying away from saying our. If they didn’t get it from what East said, they do now. It’s the first time I’ve had a boyfriend publicly. I’ve dated men casually, but that wasn’t usually in Birchbark. “Anyway, we’re going to grab a table. Enjoy your lunch.”
East stands, a silent thank-you in his eyes. We say our goodbyes and head over to a table in the corner.
“Remind me why we’re doing this again?” he asks.
“Was it really that bad?”
He shakes his head. “Shut up.”
A waitress comes out and brings us water and menus. I feel people’s gazes on us as they walk by, other diners too. Even Lori will look our way and smile, curiosity burning bright.
Pretty Girl and Casanova lie under the table while we look at the menu.
“I’m gonna get a cheeseburger,” I tell East. And an extra order of fries for the dogs, of course. They love them.
“I’m doing the fried chicken burger. I’m getting fries for the dogs.”
I grin. “Already planned on it.”
He smiles back, and it nearly stops my heart.
The waitress returns, and we order. East is a little quieter than usual at first, but as I keep chatting with him, the conversation flows easier.
The food arrives, and the pups perk up. We each slip a fry under the table to them.
“Your mom texted me,” East says.
“She did?”
“Yeah…we’re gonna plan something for my day off next week. She’s…nice.”
“She likes you.”
“I like her too.” I grin at him, which East returns, before he stares off, getting lost in his head. I take a bite, give him some time. “We should look for some more of those puzzles.”
That easily, my heart runs a race. It’s incredible how much he gets to me, and I love that it was his idea. “We can do that.”
“Do you think we can find a butterfly?”
For Ella. And I don’t care if I have to make one myself, I’m going to find a fucking butterfly puzzle for this man that so many people look at and think he’s so hardened, a troublemaker, aloof, when really, it’s that his heart is so damn big, the world hurts him more than most. All I want to do is protect it, stand in front of it like a barrier between his heart and the rest of the world, and take all the hits for him.
Reaching over the table, I put my hand on his. “Yeah, I’ll do my best to find one.”
He nods, then clears his throat, just as Lori steps up. “Sorry to interrupt. We’re leaving, and I just wanted to say you make a lovely couple.”
“I think so.” I wink at her playfully, before adding, “Thank you.” After sending a kind smile our way, she slips away. “I always liked Lori. Smart lady.”
East laughs, one he doesn’t try to hide or bite back, and in this moment, everything feels fucking perfect. We continue our meal, the conversation flowing easily now, the dogs enjoying their treat.
When we’re done, I say, “Let’s walk around a bit.”
“You never seen downtown Birchbark, or what?” he teases.
“Brat.” When I reach for his hand, East doesn’t pull back, our fingers locking together in the middle, while we each hold one of the dogs. “I can’t believe how warm it is today.”
“Perfect day.” East looks at me, eyes all intense, showing me things he struggles to say, and I know he doesn’t mean the weather.
We enjoy the sunshine, taking a stroll down Main Street. We make a turn down one of the quieter side streets, still with shops and businesses along the way.
When East pulls to an abrupt stop, I look at him, and it’s like every part of him is shut down, like all that emotion in his eyes is turned off, jaw set like he’s walling himself off.
Glancing ahead, I see why. Gregory Swift is standing there, and an instant wildfire burns everything inside me. East’s hand tightens on mine, and a hate unlike anything I’ve ever felt surges within me.
Gregory notices our hands, and disgust turns his face harder. “What the hell…are you doing…with him?” His words are slow, measured in a way they weren’t before his stroke, and it takes everything in me not to pull my arm back and hit him, to feel the satisfaction of wiping the ugly look off his face.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business. Excuse us.” I try to pull East with me, but it’s like his feet are rooted to the earth. “East…sweetheart. Let’s go.”
“He’ll ruin your life…your career…just like he ruins everything he touches.”
My blood runs cold. My vision blurs. This man is pure evil. “What did you just say about him?” I take a step forward, my hand coming free of East’s. “You don’t know him. You don’t deserve to know him.” I’m even closer to him, but I don’t remember taking the steps. My hands fist, muscles tight, the rein I have on my control slipping. This man has hurt East in too many ways to count. Let him believe he was worthless, never cared enough to get him help. Blamed him for the death of his mom and wished it had been him rather than his sister. I’ve never in my life wanted to hit someone as badly as I do him.