Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I nod. “Yeah, I get it. It’s rough for all of us, but probably especially for Ava and Gina, knowing that they’re not descended from Daphne Steel.”
Sage smiles. “She’ll be all right. She loves the holidays, and then we’ll be back at school for the last semester, partying and having fun.”
“Yeah, I know she’ll be all right. I just still…” I push my hair behind my ear. “I can’t imagine some of this. How our parents kept all of this from us for all these years.”
“That’s what bugs Gina the most, I think.” Angie takes a drink of wine from the stemmed glass she’s holding. “She’s pretty mad at Uncle Ryan and Aunt Ruby.”
“What about Ava?” I ask.
“Ava knew about it before Gina. Plus, she’s engaged to Brendan Murphy. That’s the thing about Ava. She doesn’t let Steel drama get her down.”
“Sometimes I wonder if she wishes she weren’t a Steel,” Sage says.
“I don’t think so,” I say. “She’s just a…different kind of Steel. Frankly, I admire her. I mean, I don’t want to give up my trust fund. Do either of you?”
“God no.” Sage giggles.
“Maybe I could,” Angie says. “If it were for a good reason. Like if I could help people, you know?”
“Good for you, Angie.” I give her a smile. “What would you want to do?”
“I don’t know. Help battered women maybe. Or better yet, help mentally ill people. People who suffer from the same issues as our grandmother.”
I nod. “Yeah, I could see that. So does that mean you’ve decided what to do after you graduate?”
“Well…” A smile breaks across Angie’s pretty face. “Yeah. I’ve only told Aunt Melanie about this, and I’ve sworn her to secrecy. But I’ve been applying to medical schools. I’m going to take a gap year first, but then I’d like to study medicine and become a psychiatrist like Aunt Mel.”
“So that’s where your desire to help the mentally ill came from.” I give her a hug. “Good for you, Ang. You’ll be a great doctor.”
“Yeah,” Sage says. “And since when do you not tell me these kinds of things? We’re twins.”
“Fraternal twins, not identical.”
“So what? We grew in Mom’s uterus together. We don’t have secrets, Ang.”
“Right. We don’t. Not anymore.” Angie meets her twin’s gaze. “Don’t tell anyone. Not even Mom and Dad. Only Aunt Melanie.”
“I think it’s great,” I say to Angie. “What about you, Sage? What are you going to do after college?”
“I am done with school, that’s for sure. My degree is in business, so I’m thinking I’ll probably work for Dad on the business end of the ranch. Show Dave I’m as smart as he is.”
Uncle Bryce, Sage’s father, is a financial wizard and our chief operating officer. “That sounds…not even remotely fun,” I say, laughing.
“Growing apples and peaches doesn’t sound like a lot of fun to me either.”
“Are you kidding me?” I look out into our vast backyard, imagining the green orchards from blossom to fruition. “I get to be outdoors. Plus I get to help run the business. The best of both worlds.”
Angie and Sage don’t know I’m leaving yet. I can’t tell anyone until I tell my parents. Only Donny and Callie know, and if I start telling the awesome foursome, it won’t remain a secret for long.
“Have you seen Jesse?” I ask.
Sage looks around the yard. “Nope. Dragon seems to be missing, too. Cage and Jake are by the pool house. They’re holding court over some townies.”
“And you two aren’t there?”
Sage’s eyes light up. “We’re headed that way. Come with us.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Wherever Jake and Cage are, Jesse and Dragon will eventually be. We walk toward the pool house, passing a table where my mom and dad are sitting with Uncle Bryce and Aunt Marj.
“There you girls are.” Dad motions us over.
“Great party, Aunt Jade.” Angie smiles.
Mom nods. “Thank you, Angie. Glad you’re having a good time.”
“It’s hard not to have a good time with all the handsome rockers around here,” Sage says.
Uncle Bryce looks at her sternly. “You stay away from those rockers, young lady.” Then he smiles.
Aunt Marjorie laughs. “Give it up, Bryce. Our babies are grown up.”
I don’t say anything, but Uncle Bryce doesn’t have much to worry about with regard to Angie and Sage. Neither of them is interested in settling down anytime soon, especially Angie, if she’s going to give medical school a whirl. Juggling that time commitment plus a relationship won’t lead to anything good.
But that’s still a secret for now.
Honestly? The one they should all be worrying about is me.
Because as soon as Jesse Pike gives me a look, it’s over. If he asked me to marry him tonight, my answer would be a resounding yes.
Too bad he’s never looked my way.
That’s not exactly true. He always helps me with my pool form when we’re playing at Murphy’s bar. Sometimes without me even asking him to.