Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
This is exactly how I want to spend the rest of my life.
Chapter 25
Indy
“It’s a nice house,” Breaker murmurs, looking at the big white house surrounded by trees and a pond. It is beautiful, and it’s kind of off to itself, so the quiet is nice. My man is so nervous, and I hate it. He’s not the type to be nervous. This just isn’t natural. We’re sitting in the driveway of Breaker’s parents. Skylar and Torin just went into the house. She suggested we wait out front so they’d have time to prepare everyone. I could understand the need, but I wish we had just gone in with her and gotten it over with.
“It is nice. Does anything look familiar?”
“Not really,” he says, sounding frustrated. I think a part of him thought he’d come back to Kentucky and his memory would just click into place. It’s clear that hasn’t happened. “Maybe it will after you meet your parents.”
“Maybe,” he says, but he doesn’t sound convinced.
“I like the house,” I begin, wanting to change the subject before he gets too upset. “I’d rather own one of those big log homes that has ceiling to floor windows and huge glass patio doors that lead to an enormous deck.”
“Wow, really? If that’s the kind of house you’ve wanted, then how did you end up buying a ranch with an old farmhouse?”
“That had more to do with the price, location, and availability than personal taste,” I explain.
“I’ll keep that in mind if we ever decide to move or add on,” he says, making me smile.
“You need to quit worrying, Breaker. It doesn’t matter what happens. We can deal with it. You just need to remember that you’re not alone. It’s us against the world, sweetheart,” I promise him.
“Yeah, Bwaker! It’s all of us. That means me too!”
“Hey! I thought you were asleep.”
“I was Mommy, I’m awake now. Geez.”
Breaker and I laugh as he reaches back, unbuckling her booster seat, and carefully lifts her up front with us. “Everything includes you, kiddo. You and your mommy are my family now.”
I watch as my daughter hugs Breaker around the neck, looking so tiny and vulnerable. I don’t worry, though. No one will ever hold her as carefully as Breaker. No matter what, she will always be safe with him.
“I love you, Bwaker,” she says, burying her face into the side of his neck. I feel his body quiver beside me. He’s holding Tinny. His eyes are closed, but when he opens them, all I see is how bright they are with unshed tears.
“I love you, too, Tinny. I’ll always love you.”
Wiping away a few of my own tears, I wonder if it is legal to be this happy. “I think we should just go on inside. I don’t know what Skylar has planned, but personally, I don’t think anything she has to say will put them at ease. This is going to be hard no matter what. We might as well just go get everything started.”
“I’m with you. Let’s go. If they’re jerks, we’ll get back to the farm and watch Frozen.”
“Or How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Tinny chimes in.
All too soon, we are out of the truck and at the door. Breaker knocks, but no one answers. He looks at me and I just shrug. “Jesus,” he mutters. He finally just opens the door, and we walk inside. We’re in a small foyer with a closet to our right that I assume is for coats and things. The walls are white with black trim. It looks into this huge living area with white-tiled floors and black leather couches. Everything is ultra-modern. It’s pretty—a little cold for my taste, but I can see the appeal. There are family pictures all over the walls in big chunky black wood frames. All the photos are in monotone too. I can see some of Breaker, though.
I guess we’re in the right place. The room in front of us is also full of people. Besides Skylar and Joker, there are four other people. I assume the older couple are Breaker’s parents. He described his father already after seeing a picture of him that Devil had, so he doesn’t surprise me. His mother is very beautiful. I can tell Skylar looks just like her. The other girl has a red tint to her hair, but she’s tall and looks like a runway model. She’s also pregnant. This must be Breaker’s other sister, Thea.
“Skylar, just tell us what’s going on,” his father growls, rubbing the back of his neck. It makes me smile because I’ve seen Breaker do the very same thing. “You went out of your way to call this damn family meeting. Because of you, we had to postpone heading down to North Carolina to search for your brother. You better have a damn good reason.”