Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
The kid had no filter, but in all fairness she was just voicing what Tripp’s parents and brothers were wondering, as well, since he could clearly see the curiosity on their faces. He’d given them no prior knowledge that he’d be bringing a plus one today.
He set Whitney back down, then made the introductions. “Everyone, this is Skye, a friend of mine,” he said.
Tripp then pointed out everyone by name for Skye—his parents, Audrey and Kurt, Beck, Chloe, Drew, and . . . a pretty, blonde haired woman he hadn’t formally met yet, either, but one he recognized as the woman who’d won Drew at the auction, even though it had been her sister who’d bid on him.
Everyone greeted Skye, immediately making her feel welcome, and she greeted them warmly in return.
“And this is Georgia,” Drew said, sliding an arm around the blonde woman at his side who wore a shy smile, making it clear that things had worked out between them beyond his bachelor auction weekend obligation to her. “She met everyone at the family barbeque a few weeks back. The one you missed because you were on call and had an issue with a patient.”
He nodded, remembering the child that had gone into respiratory distress from a severe asthma attack that day. He hadn’t had a chance to talk to Drew since the auction, and he was happy to see his brother so relaxed and content. Which was kind of shocking to Tripp since Drew had put any kind of relationship with a woman on the back burner in lieu of his career as an attorney. Clearly, something about Georgia had changed his mind.
“Boys, there’s beer out in the cooler on the back patio,” Audrey announced, shooing the men toward the slider door. “The girls and I are going to get a glass of wine and meet you out there in a few minutes.”
Tripp caught Skye’s gaze, silently asking her if she was going to be okay.
She gave him a sweet smile and an imperceptible nod. “I’ll be fine,” she assured him.
Chloe swooped in and hooked her arm through Skye’s, flashing him a gregarious grin. “Don’t worry, Tripp. We won’t corrupt her too much.”
He rolled his eyes, but appreciated his sister-in-law’s kindness toward Skye. Also, he was certain that Chloe wanted to know everything about his “friendship” with her, because she’d clearly seen his interest in Skye during the charity event.
He headed outside with his father and brothers. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, perfect for planting another rose bush in Whitney’s honor. A large gallon sized plastic bucket with a pruned rose bush inside sat on the deck, which Tripp had ordered and had delivered for today’s memorial. There were no blooms yet, but in the spring the bush would be vibrant with deep purple hybrid roses.
Drew passed out the beers while Beck didn’t waste time mincing words.
“Friends, huh?” he asked as he twisted the top off his bottle of beer.
Tripp shrugged. “For now.”
His brother smirked knowingly. “Her choice or yours, because friends do not look at friends like they want to fu—”
“Beck!” their father barked out from where he was sitting in his patio chair, cutting him off with a frown. “Skye seems like a nice girl, and there’s nothing wrong with being friends.”
“With benefits,” Drew added with a snicker.
Despite the fact that Tripp and his siblings were all grown adults, there were times when they were together that they still acted like the brainless thirteen-year-old boys they’d once been.
“Skye isn’t someone I recently met,” Tripp divulged before taking a long drink of his beer. “I dated her back in Boston when I was in med school, so I’ve known her for a while.”
“Why did you break up?” Beck asked.
Tripp absently glanced out at his parents’ beautifully landscaped yard, something his father took pride in now that he was retired and in remission from cancer. “At the time, I was so overwhelmed with school and my residency, I felt like I couldn’t give her the commitment she wanted.”
Drew groaned in commiseration. “I just recently learned that lesson, too. I believed I couldn’t have both a career and a relationship, and I would have lost Georgia if I hadn’t pulled my head out of my ass and realized she was the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and that I can balance both.”
Tripp smiled at Drew, happy for him. “Unfortunately, I had to learn the hard way, because letting Skye go back then was one of my biggest regrets. I’m just glad that I’ve got a second chance with her.”
“Sounds . . . serious,” Beck said quietly.
Tripp nodded. “It is. For me,” he said, then gave them a bit more information to better understand Skye hesitancy. “She had a bad marriage and now she’s cautious and guarded, but I’m not going anywhere.”