Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 48632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
“That sounds like my brother, Jude,” Rory states.
“Well, I’m glad. Whatever works for you. Plus, Matthew’s cooking is terrible, or so I hear. Tysen told me he burnt a pot of boiling water,” Macie says on a chuckle.
“I can confirm that he’s forgetful. I asked him to make some toast, and that was almost too much. I had to remind him that the numbers correspond to the minutes in real time.” This time, the whole group laughs at Matthew’s expense. I should feel guilty for throwing him under the bus, but it’s nothing he hasn’t stated before to others, either.
The guys walk in one by one, a few carrying in what I’m assuming is the pulled pork we’ll be eating with all the other sides that are gathered on the counters. Matthew notices me immediately and veers toward me, ignoring everyone else in his path in order to get to me.
He holds his hand out for me to take, and when I do, he lifts me up for him to sit down, then pulls me in his lap. “You good, kitten?” he whispers in my ear, and I shiver.
“Yes.” I clear my throat when it comes out as more of a moan than I intended to.
“Then we’re staying, I take it?” He knew all along I’d like the people he surrounds himself with.
“I’m not leaving. We’re talking about starting a book club.” I settle back on his chest, closing my eyes for a moment, and listen to the noise around me. This is what it’s like to have friends, and I know the more I’m around them, the more these people will become like the family I’ve never had.
20
MATTHEW
“Is this seat taken?” I look up from my laptop, where I’m seated at Twisted Oak. Letty picked up a few shifts before she knew about her inheritance, and since she’s working at Ophelia’s and waitressing here, this is where I’ll be in order to spend any amount of time with her.
“Jesus, you two are a pain in my ass.” Jagger and Jude slide into the booth in front of me. I close my laptop and sit back in my seat, looking at the two. I’d been waiting for Letty to have her break to eat dinner with her, and now it looks like I’m sharing it with these two boneheads.
“I could have brought in the whole gang but then thought better of it. You’d be pissed for putting Letty to work, and if we gave our business to someone else, then we’d be assholes.” Jude shrugs his shoulders.
“Plus, with the news this guy is bringing to the table, you’ll need backup. Trent will be here in a few minutes and take out the trash.” Jagger looks from me to a guy sitting at the bar.
“Care to elaborate?” I look from one to the other.
“The guy who slashed and dashed Letty’s tires is sitting at the bar. He’s some new guy in town. Something didn’t sit right with me when shit for all came back from the cameras Twisted Oak uses. Fuckers are grainier than hell. So, with the make and models I wrote down that came in and out, I did what I do best: hacked into the Department of Transportation’s cameras. Those damn things are constantly picking up tags. Several days later, I finally got a hit.” I clench my teeth, ball my fists, and am itching to punch his face in and knock his dick in the dirt.
“Well, this is a pleasant surprise. What brings you all to Twisted Oak tonight?” Letty walks up to the table. I scoot over, and she slides in beside me. My hand instantly goes to her thigh, fingers pressing in and holding her to me. My mouth finds hers to give her a soft kiss. Fuck, my kitten, she’s everything, and truth be told, she’s probably the only reason I’m able to keep my cool.
“Ronnie’s working tonight, and Rory has an online class and told me to make myself scarce. Apparently, it’s some kind of group thing where they’re all on the Zoom call. I’ll eat here with these guys, then bring food to my Foxy,” explains, cool as a cucumber, without giving anything away. I’d rather keep this away from Letty. She’s had too much on her mind lately. I’ll end up talking to her about this and every other thing when the fucking dust settles.
“I’m here because Lyric doesn’t want to cook. Told her I’d bring dinner home, she told me to take my time. Apparently, she’s researching books to kickstart the women's folk book club.” Letty claps her hands together and lets out a little squeal of excitement.
“Okay, give me your orders. I’ll go put them in. Jude, you’re eating here. Jagger, yours and Lyrics to go?” She pulls out her notepad, and it’s then I realize this will give us ample time to deal with the shit for brains at the bar. Once she puts our orders in, Letty will work her tables until the food is ready, and then she’ll take a break.