Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Okay, that’s a little more daunting, but nothing I can’t handle. I don’t think.
“I’m not in the wedding party, but I’m helping out a lot, so it’s not like I could be by your side the whole time.”
“My cousin is going, so I won’t be alone. Wait …” This is actually taking some convincing. My eyes narrow. “If you don’t want me there as your date, you’re allowed to say that.”
Big hands grip my biceps. “No, no. I do. I …” Whit blows out a loud breath. “I’m worried it will scare you off, and the reason I haven’t asked is because I didn’t want you to feel like this is turning into more than we’ve discussed—”
“You’re right. We should have had this conversation already, but like you, I’m … hesitant.”
“About us?” Whit’s voice is so small. It makes me want to hold him and reassure him.
“About saying we’re more than what we are or defining it wrong or labeling us and then figuring out it’s too soon. I don’t want things to change, but this feels important to say.”
The words I’m falling for you try to come out of my mouth but get stuck.
“I want you to be my date to my brother’s wedding,” Whit says.
“Then I will be there. Lucky I asked Tanner for the night off two weeks ago, huh?”
Whit shoves me. “Were you going to ever tell me?”
“Nope. I was waiting for you to bring it up.” I step around him and head for the maple cotton-candy stand.
Whit’s stare burns into me as I order two and give him one.
He leans in and kisses me, soft and sweet. “Thank you.”
“It’s just cotton candy.”
He shakes his head. “Not for that.”
“Definitely no need to thank me for doing something I should have had the guts to do after the second night we hooked up. I think I knew it back then, but it’s taken this long for me to really get comfortable with saying it aloud, so thank you for being patient with me.”
Whit takes my hand in his while we walk and eat. “A wise man once told me that everything happens on our own time. If you put too much pressure on yourself, you might end up a blubbering idiot in a bar full of people.”
“Okay, I don’t remember the blubbering idiot part.”
“Oh, I added that in.”
“Of course you did.”
We continue walking around the festival while I hold my breath for something to go wrong. As if waiting for the universe to smite me for even thinking I could possibly have a relationship with someone and have a sort of plan in place for a future. I don’t know what that future holds or what it looks like, but I can’t imagine it without Whit.
Maybe if I don’t make solid plans with him, it won’t fall to shit.
He makes me happier than I’ve been in a really long time, and I don’t want that to change.
“So, now that we’re officially together and stuff, can you please finally fuck me?” Whit’s words are so casual, I can’t help laughing.
I’m thankful he brought it up because it’s something I’ve been thinking more and more about too. I’m still nervous about making it good for him and making his first time memorable, but there’s only one loud resounding answer to that question.
“The next time you’re able to stay over and not leave me before the sun is up, it’ll happen.”
I want to hold him after our first time. I want to wake up to him the next day. I want to take care of him.
Whit leans in and kisses my cheek with his sticky, sugary lips. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“Good.” Because I’m ready.
22
Whit
“Nothing is ready,” Campbell says. “The hay bales aren’t in place, and the aisle isn’t set up.” He paces in front of me in the great room of our farmhouse, his shirt messily untucked from his penguin suit.
“Gordo’s fixing it.” I place my hands on my brother’s shoulders. “It will be okay. You’re getting married today.”
I wish I could say my sole focus is on my brother, but it’s not.
Tonight’s the night.
Rainn said the next time we can spend the night together and not have to get up stupid-early the next morning is when we’ll have sex.
I’m nervous as fuck but so ready for it. So, so, so ready.
“You finish getting dressed,” I say to my stressed-out brother. “I’ll go find Gordo and help him.”
Campbell nods. “Okay.”
We’re behind schedule. The plan was to set up the barn yesterday, but a drop in temperature and threatening snow had us working past nightfall on the farm yesterday to prepare for the snowstorm that never came. Our past selves decided this morning would be the best time to set up all the wedding shit. Our past selves are assholes.