Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 114068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
“And that package delivered.”
“Ew.” I laugh, the constriction in my chest easing ever so slightly. “Too soon, H.”
Another knock. My neighbor’s dog, an adorably naughty pug mix, starts barking. I can hear him scratching on their storm door.
“You sure you don’t want me to get that?” Haines asks.
The camera pops up on my phone, and I freeze when I see the broad-shouldered figure in a backward baseball hat standing on my doormat. My stomach lurches.
What—how—my address in Dallas, he’s never—fucking Mollie, I bet she—
“It’s Duke Rivers.” He knocks again. “I promise you, Wheeler, I’m not upset. I just wanna talk.”
I start to shake.
Haines meets my eyes. His look like they’re liable to pop right out of his head. “Did you—”
“Invite him?” I half whisper, half hiss. “No, Haines, I did not invite Duke to Dallas.”
Duke found out about the pregnancy. Why else would he drive two hundred miles to show up unannounced like this? Then again, he did try texting me earlier today. I ignored it, just like I always do, telling myself it’s better we keep our distance. No use postponing the inevitable, right?
Who told him about the pregnancy? Did Mollie let it slip? More likely it was Cash. He’d never spill my secrets on purpose, but maybe—I mean, what if he thought Duke deserved to know? Cash isn’t wrong. Duke does deserve to know about this, but I just wanted to be the one to tell him.
Shit shit shit.
I put a hand on my forehead. Is Duke angry? I’m not. I’m just overwhelmed. What the hell am I going to say to him? I still don’t know how I feel about the whole thing, much less how I’m going to handle his feelings.
“Please, Wheeler,” Duke calls. “Just gimme five minutes. I need to make sure you’re okay.”
Haines pushes out his bottom lip. Awwww.
My mind races. I don’t want to see Duke. Really, I don’t want to do anything except rot on my couch like the waste of life I am.
But he came.
He drove all the way from Hartsville to see me.
Pretty sure he didn’t come to yell. Or to fight.
But he did come. And at the very least, I owe him an explanation. An apology too.
Throwing off the blanket, I pivot on the sofa and put my feet on the ground. Haines follows me as I head for the front door, stopping briefly to examine my reflection in the hall mirror.
“Shit,” I repeat, this time out loud. I look like hell. Greasy hair. Greasy skin. A smattering of pimples dots my chin, another lovely side effect of this pregnancy.
Haines quickly smooths my hair, tucking it behind my ears.
“Any better?” I ask.
“Meh. Better than nothing.”
“Ugh!” Throwing up my hands, I turn back toward the door.
He gives me a soft tap on the hip. “Go get ’em, cowgirl.”
“Stop it!”
“I’m just kidding.” Haines shakes out his T-shirt. “Although I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to finally meet this guy.”
I grab the doorknob. Closing my eyes, I take a deep, fortifying breath. I haven’t been this nervous since…God, I don’t think I was this nervous taking the SAT or meeting my parents’ divorce attorneys for the first time.
Go figure. Telling your very cute hookup that you’re pregnant is a bit of a mindfuck.
You’re an adult capable of having adult conversations. You did not do this on purpose. It was an accident, and you can handle it.
The timing, though, couldn’t be worse.
I roll back my aching shoulders. Then I open the door.
Duke is enormous. The bulk of his body blocks almost the entire opening. He’s resting one forearm against the side of the doorframe so that he leans forward a little, the scent of him—clean laundry, piney juniper—filling my head.
He looks up, his blue, bloodshot eyes locking on mine, and everything inside me heaves.
He’s so handsome, and he looks so distraught that my vision blurs. Tears.
Lots of them.
“Aw, Wheeler.” He steps forward, uninvited, and takes my face in his hands. He thumbs away my tears, his callouses moving smoothly over my skin. “Sweetheart.”
My heart swells at the endearment. My pulse slows a little at the gentle tone of his voice, his gentle touch. For the first time all day, I feel…like not dying.
At the same time, electricity darts through me at the feel of his hands on my skin. I could fall into his touch if I let myself.
“You found out.” I close my eyes.
“Cash.” I hear him swallow. “He didn’t mean to tell me—”
“I should’ve known it would slip. The five of y’all are so close.” Rolling my lips between my teeth, I open my eyes and meet his. “I hope you believe me when I say I was going to tell you. I just needed to come home first. Get my head screwed on straight.”
“She had to come see me is what she means.” Haines steps up beside me and holds out his hand. “I’m the good brother, Haines.”