Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
But it works.
This is our life.
A flash of blonde catches my eye as Rowan comes around the corner at Major and Jewls’ side of the house.
Everyone cheers with the newcomer, Jewls immediately shoving a drink in her hand.
Rowan takes a sip, cringing only slightly, and is bombarded by Ember and Raven.
I lose sight of her being passed around until she’s hoisted in the air by Cooper, a member of the band. My stomach clenches, ready to move to her until she throws her head back, her laughter floating through the air. She bends to tell him something, and he places her on her feet.
Her smile radiates across the distance, hitting me square in the chest.
I will her to look and share a crumb of her beauty aimed at me.
She turns, talking to the others. Just when she twists my way, Talon steps in and sweeps her into a hug, whispering something in her ear.
Her cheeks flame, and she glances down, looping a strand of hair behind her ear. It’s then she looks up, catching my stare.
Her smile falters, her eyes darting away quickly.
Fuck.
In that split second, I saw it.
The humiliation and misery.
She used to look at me without regard. Sharing her shyness and uncertainty, but always with warmth.
It’s gone.
I did that shit to her. To us.
It stops tonight.
“You ready?” Ace passes by with Major.
“Yeah.” I stare another few seconds before following them through the house and to the street
“This is going to be classic!” Talon tinkers with the battery box on the contraption we built.
“It better fucking work,” Ace grouses.
“Are you doubting my engineering skills?” Major questions.
“No, but we have a lot riding on this. We worked with fucking explosives; the expectations are high.”
“A bunch of rockers can’t beat this. We will watch them weep.”
“Speaking of weeping...” Talon’s words hang, gaining the attention of Ace and Major.
I avoid their curious eyes, moving to the smaller set-up and absently checking the cylinders. “A friend of my sister's needs a place to stay for a while.”
“Doesn’t affect me since I live around the corner, but still interested to hear this.” Ace takes a pull of his beer.
“Not much to tell. She uprooted her life to follow a guy. He got here first and decided commitment wasn’t his gig. She already landed her job, resigned, and gave up her apartment. She wants a fresh start but has nowhere to go until she gets a few paychecks and can get her own place. Carson and Addie have been friends with her since middle school.”
“She cool?” Major’s question has an edge to it, and I understand why.
When Ace mentioned Harley moving in, we didn’t blink. Same with Jewls.
But we all knew those women.
Tera Sails is an outsider. Jewls will share space with a woman she doesn’t know.
“She was spoiled growing up, but Carson said she’s changed and full of ambition. Tera may have been chasing a man, but she landed her dream job. She’s not willing to lose this opportunity for an asshole who wants to play the field. It’ll only be a few weeks until she gets on her feet.”
They all share a look, a look that pierces deep. Without saying her name, they are thinking about Rowan.
“It’s nothing more than an arrangement. I’m doing this for my sisters.”
“If that’s all, then we’re cool with it.” Major tips his beer my way.
“I’m sure Harley would like to meet her,” Ace adds.
Talon stays quiet, too quiet. He sat through her sob story last night and didn’t say a word. No reaction at all. He’s usually the first to advocate for a woman scorned, so his silence tells a story. “Let’s blast the sky. I’ll get the crew.” He jogs up the driveway and around the house.
“I thought everyone was here,” Ace says, his gaze aimed at where a car is approaching slowly.
Our house is the only one on this street. Either this person is lost, or they’re a late arrival.
I do a quick count, knowing everyone is already here.
The Lexus comes into view, stopping behind the line of cars parked along the curbs.
Even in the dark, I catch the woman stepping out. Her skintight sundress and strappy sandals shimmer under the street lamp. She looks around awkwardly, her face lighting up when she spots me, and then comes running.
Tera.
She’s here a week early.
And she’s nothing like the girl I saw almost five years ago. She’s all woman, in every way possible.
My brain scrambles and my body freezes as she throws herself at me. On instinct, my arms circle her waist as she jumps up.
“Ford,” she breathes out, her mouth at my ear.
“Oh fuck,” Ace hisses.
I immediately swing around to find the mob piling out from the house.
Rowan stops dead as she takes in the scene.
“Yo, Ford! Who’s the hot chick attached to your body?” Nate shouts jokingly.