Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“How are things going between you and Lea?”
I look at Ben then set my beer on the rail of my deck, where I swear once the nights are warmer I will have Lea bent over, so I can take her from behind while she looks out at the view.
“Judging by that faraway look in your eyes, I’m gonna guess you guys are good,” he mutters.
“Things seem to be getting better, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.” I look away from him to the horizon. There has been something under the surface I just can’t seem to grasp, and not knowing what it is, is driving me crazy.
“Maybe it’s time you tell her about what her mom did.”
“I can’t.” I scrub my hands over my face. “I don’t want to be the one to tell her that shit, and I know it’s fucked up to be pissed at a dead woman, but I’m still fucking angry at Josie for not coming clean to Lea when she was alive. I feel fucking torn about it, because I know Lea has doubts about us. I can see it in the way she looks at me sometimes. I know she wants to ask me why I never came after her, but she’s afraid of what my response will be.”
“What do you think is going to happen when she finds out?”
“She’s gonna lose it, and since Josie’s gone, I’ll be the one left picking up the pieces,” I grumble.
“I know why she did it, but I understand why you’re pissed, and believe me, I agree she kind of fucked you over in not coming clean.”
“Yeah.”
“Any word from the ex?” he prompts.
“Lea talked to her lawyer, and he signed the papers as soon as he got back to Montana.”
“So she’s clear of him?”
“That part of her life is over, brother.”
“Good,” he grunts, settling back into his chair. “Now your mom and sister are coming to stir shit up?” he asks, making me chuckle.
“They are. You know Mom. I warned her to take it easy.”
“Like that’s gonna happen.” He shakes his head, knowing my mom as well as I do, since he basically lived with us from the time we turned sixteen, when his dad kicked him out.
“I know, but I won’t separate my family and Lea.”
“I don’t think you should,”
“I can’t. I know she’s afraid of being alone.” I take a pull from my beer, setting it on my thigh. “I want her happy, and I don’t even know if she realizes that part of her happiness is dependent on having people around who care about her.”
“I can’t imagine Lea not having friends in Montana.”
“She said most of her friends were friends of hers and Ken’s. I guess some of them knew he was having an affair and never told her about it,” I reveal.
“Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with people?”
“I have no fucking idea.”
“Well, if you ever hear Rhonda’s cheating on me, you better fucking tell me or I’m kicking your ass.”
“Shut the fuck up. You and I both know that is never gonna happen,” I scoff.
“Just sayin,” he growls as his knuckles turn white around the bottle in his hand, like even the idea of Rhonda with another man pisses him off enough to break something.
“She’s getting ready to have your baby,” I remind him.
“I know, thank fuck.” His body relaxes, making me laugh. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“How long’s it going to take until you tell me Lea’s pregnant?”
“Seeing how it should have happened fifteen years ago, hopefully not long, but first I need to find a way to settle everything between us then put a ring on her finger,” I say.
“You’ll find a way.”
“I have to; our future depends on it,” I mutter as his phone starts to ring.
“Lea’s calling.” He frowns, looking at the phone in his hand and swiping his finger across the screen, putting it to his ear. Through the speaker, I hear Lea’s worried voice saying something, and then Ben is up and taking off through the house. I get up and follow him, listening as he growls, “I’m on my way. Tell her I’m on my way.”
“What’s going on?” I question, hopping into the passenger seat of his truck and slamming the door.
“Rhonda went into labor. Lea’s driving her to the hospital now.”
“Is she okay?” I ask nervously.
“She was yelling in the background for me to get my ass there or she was cutting off my balls, so I think so,” he says, running a shaky hand over his head and stepping harder on the gas.
“We’re less than five minutes away, and if you kill us before we get there, Rhonda is gonna be pissed.”
His foot eases off the gas and he turns toward town, still speeding, but not as fast as he was. Once we reach the intersection for the hospital, I tell him, “Just pull up in front, and I’ll park the truck while you head inside.”