Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Jesus.
That was awful.
“And now?” she asked, scared. “Are you . . . is this goodbye? It’s not goodbye, is it?”
“Hey, of course not. Even if I was staying here it wouldn’t be goodbye. You are my sister. You’re always going to be part of my life. But you have your own life now and I’m not sure if I fit into it.”
She let out a sob.
“Do not upset her,” Hayes demanded.
Rohan actually grinned. “He’d be annoying if he wasn’t protecting you.”
She grinned back at him. “Yeah, he has his uses.”
Hayes just shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. “She’s mine to protect now.”
“Which is why I feel so confident leaving, knowing you’ll take care of her.”
“You’re going back to them?” she whispered.
“No, little sister. Although they want me to. And Lucan isn’t happy that I’m leaving. So I need to get out of the state for a while. I’m going to go . . . find myself. As ridiculous as that sounds. But I need to just get out of here and be by myself for a while. I have a few things to work through.”
“I understand that,” she said. “But you will call, right? And message? And you’ll come for Christmas, right?”
“I’ll definitely call and message. Maybe for Christmas.”
She nodded and leaned her forehead against his chest. “I want you to be happy.”
“I want that too. But I want it more for you than me.”
“I want it for you more than me,” she replied stubbornly, glaring up at him.
He grinned and tapped her nose. “Everything is going to be all right, Dee-Dee.”
She sighed and nodded. “What about money, though?”
“Ahh, well, see I have this lawyer and she’s working to get me some reparation for the time I spent in jail. But I also received a payout from Lucan.”
Devi hated that but she understood why he took it. “We can also sell the trailer and you can have that money.”
“Use that to pay the bill for Derick’s . . . remains,” he said. “I hate leaving you to deal with that.”
“It’s all taken care of,” Hayes said.
“Thanks, man,” Rohan told him. “And thanks for taking care of my sister. Now, let’s find some champagne and toast how fucking amazing you are.” He moved away to get some drinks and Hayes drew her close.
“I hate that he’s leaving,” she said.
“I know, baby.”
“But I also love that he’s leaving, because he’s getting away from Lucan and that life.”
“I know, baby.”
“I’m just really going to miss him.”
“I know, baby.”
She sighed. “I’m glad I have you, though. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“And you never have to find out, because you’re stuck with me forever.”
That sounded like a perfect kind of forever to her.
As they drove up to their cabin a few days after the exhibition, surprise filled her as she saw Jed up a ladder trying to attach a banner. She caught a few words on it. Congratulations Devi!
There were bright streamers and balloons attached to the wooden posts supporting the porch roof.
Daisy turned with her mouth dropping open. “Oh no!”
Hayes got out and then moved around to help her get down.
“Oh no! Oh no! you’re early!” Daisy cried. “They’re early, Jed!”
Jed grunted.
“We haven’t got the banner up yet and I have these!” She drew something out of a bag by her feet. But as she held up the long cylinder-like object, it exploded and glitter flew into Hayes’ face, covering him.
Devi couldn’t stop herself. Giggles erupted out of her. She bent over, her arm over her stomach as she laughed and laughed.
When she stood up, she expected Hayes to look irritated or impatient. To her surprise, he was smiling.
He drew her against him, holding her tight.
“Are you okay?” she asked him.
“Never better, baby. You’ve found your sunshine. And I’m going to make sure you never lose it again.”
“I won’t as long as I have you.”
“Then it’s guaranteed.”
EPILOGUE
Six months later . . .
Devi stood beside Hayes and stared at the cabin. It was completely isolated, settled into a beautiful spot.
It looked to be in really good shape considering no one lived here. Although he’d told her that he had someone keep up the maintenance and air it out every so often.
Hayes was tense beside her and she wasn’t certain if she should touch him or back off.
Finally, she slid her hand into his. If he rejected her, then she wouldn’t take it to heart. She knew how hard this was on him. But he latched onto her hand and held on tight.
“Are you all right?” She winced after asking that. Of course he wasn’t all right.
This had been his and May’s special place together.
Her favorite place.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I do,” he told her. “It’s time.”
He led her up the steps of the cabin and inside. The cabin was gorgeous with a view out to the lake. She could see why May had loved it so much. Devi followed him around as he walked silently through.