Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Her brow cocks up, and she dips her head with her lips curled. “Oh really? How did that go?”
“From the look on your face, you probably already know.” Like my body and brain are fighting an all-out war.
“Well, considering you’re obsessed with little Everly, I’m sure it’s never easy leaving without her over your shoulder like a damn caveman.” She pats my cheek.
“She’s my best friend’s little sister, and they’ve just made that shit way worse.”
“What happened?”
“They’ve asked me to watch after her, letting her move in with me for at least four months until she finishes school and then gets a gig.”
“Are you serious?” she says as she begins to grin and bounces on her heels like she’s a teen again. If my father saw her right now, I’m sure she’d be over his shoulder and carried into the nearest unoccupied room. Those two are bad, even in their older ages. They love the idea of love so much that it makes it hard not to share their sentiment. Maybe it’s why I’ve waited for the right girl, and why I’ve never given up on the idea that maybe one day Everly and I will be right for each other.
“Why? Are you happy?”
“She’s twenty now and you’ll have her feet away from you. What are you waiting for?”
“It’s not that simple. Have you forgotten that I’m nearly a decade older, and that Drake wants me to keep men away from her, not fuck his innocent little sister?”
“Yes, I suppose you have a point there, but I guess you need to decide what’s more important to you. Your happiness or his. You’ll have time to decide, and you have patients that need your attention.” She slaps my chest with a stack of patient records. “Get to it, Dr. Martinez.”
I roll my eyes and grumble, “Yes, Mother.” She leaves me and then I’m met with Nurse Matteson for a run through. We’re about to get started when we’re called in for a GSW, a gunshot wound to the chest. This is going to be a long night.
I work through my twelve-hour shift without allowing Everly to cloud my thoughts. It’s one of the good things about being an Emergency Medicine doctor in a major city like Dallas. There is always something keeping you on your toes, especially on a Friday night. Still, the second I get on my motorcycle, Everly is in my head again.
After my shift was over, I drove to my parents’ house. They were sitting on the porch drinking some tea and smiling at me when I got to the steps.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Are you tired?” she asks, pulling out of my father’s relaxed embrace. Exhausted, actually.
“Nothing, Mother.” I raise my hand up to stop her from rushing to my side. I love her concern, but I’m fine.
“Don’t bullshit us, son. Is this about what your mother mentioned to me earlier?” I should have known that she would tell him. They have no secrets. It’s midday on Saturday and the Texas sun is blazing down on me. The warmth doesn’t help my fatigue.
I sigh and rub my hand over my stubble. “Of course, there’s not much I can do.”
My father stands up and meets me at the bottom of the steps, pressing his hand on my shoulder. “There’s a lot you could do, but I bet you’re full of tension and pent-up energy for her.” He raises his brows with a knowing look. He knew I was suffering sexually.
I wanted her beyond belief. At my age, I should be getting pussy regularly, but that wasn’t the case. My parents didn’t know the truth, but he knew at the very least I’d been waiting for Everly, which is stupid since I’m not even sure she’s a virgin. As much as I was obsessed, I hadn’t kept track, and Drake had implied she had some boyfriends.
“Come on, sweetheart, we’ll make you some food.”
“No, I should probably go home and get ready. There’s a lot to do in the house before she comes to stay next week.”
“Next week? So soon?”
“Yes, that’s what Drake said before I left, after reminding me not to have anyone touch his sister.”
“And you suppose that anyone includes you as well?”
“Of course it does. Is there a brother out there who will throw his sister at his friends?”
“No, but son, you’re a hell of a catch. If there was a friend that a man was going to send his sister to, it would definitely be you.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’ll see you guys later. I just stopped by to say hello.”
“Take care and let me know if you need any help to get the rooms ready.”
“I probably will have a lot of work this week, but I’m sure you’re busy as well.”
“Actually, I have the next couple of days off. So, if you need me, I’m all yours.”