Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
The three of us stare down Chance as a singular unit, challenging him, not to argue further, but to accept this. For his own good. The alternative is potentially losing his sister.
“Damn, Kayla,” Cameron mutters proudly, nodding in approval.
Kayla gives him a quick glance but keeps her attention focused on Chance. He frowns, still thinking despite the full-blown love declaration. “You’re sure?” he asks.
Kayla barks back, “In my entire life, have I ever done a single thing I didn’t analyze, calculate, list out the pros and cons of, and obsess over? You want to review the spreadsheet I made?” Chance seems on the verge of saying yes, and Kayla quickly shuts him down. “No. It’s none of your business. Trust me to know that I’m making the right decision for myself.”
Kyle holds up a hand, telling Chance, “Gonna say, you probably don’t want to see the whole list. I definitely saw at least two entries in that spreadsheet firsthand, and my ego still hasn’t recovered. I have nightmares.” He eyes go vacant, like he’s remembering his time in the war, the he shivers dramatically, his gaze clearing.
When Kayla glares at him, Kyle mimes locking his lips and throwing away the key. I get a picture of what their lives must’ve been like growing up all together, five boys and one girl who ruled them all.
“Okay.” Chance’s entire argument ends with one little word.
“Okay?”
“I trust you,” he declares. “Them? No. The world at large? Definitely not. But you? Always.”
And somehow, that’s it. Kayla smiles at him and he smiles at her, and they reset their positions to the same side of the war. Them against the world, with us being accepted into their fold at Kayla’s side.
I’m still not counting him as an ally. More of a non-enemy, which is a start, I guess.
“Shall we move to the dining room?” Miranda suggests. As she turns, I see her wiping at her eyes, and Charles rubs her back, following her closely and whispering to her privately.
I can see how Kayla became the woman she is—strong, confident, independent, hard-working. And also caring, kind, and full of love to give… if you’re worthy.
Luckily, I am.
KAYLA
“Outside fork,” I quietly tell Riggs, answering his questioning look confirming which fork he should use for the salad course. He nods in appreciation, but I’m pretty sure he already knew and just wanted to check in on me.
But I’m fine. If anything, they’re the ones to worry about.
They’re going through a crash course, first-hand look at the not so pretty side of being part of the Harrington family, and in many ways, they are knocking it out of the park. To their credit, they let me fight my own battle against Chance, albeit with a fair amount of tense grumbling from both of them, and they didn’t make a run for the door. Not that I thought they would.
I trust them to stick with me through the good and the bad days to come. And I fully expect there to be a fair amount of each. They can trust me too. I won’t give up on us, and fuck knows, I’ll fight for us. I already faced down one of the people I love most, so the rest of the world will be easy pickings.
“Excuse me, everyone.” Conversation around the table stops, all eyes turning to Cameron. “I know tonight has already been a bit dramatic.” His eyes land on mine, a glint of amusement in their blue depths. “But I have an announcement to make.”
He reaches out to take Riley’s hand, his face softening. “As you know, Riley said yes when I asked her to marry me last Christmas.” He pauses, and I swear we all lean forward in eager anticipation. Mom especially. “And we’ve chosen a date—August 8th. We hope you’ll all come to witness us becoming a family, officially.”
I understand the distinction because to Cameron, they are already a family and no ceremony or piece of paper will make him any more assured of that. But it matters to Riley. She has no family of her own, so being part of the Harringtons is a big deal to her, which makes it important to all of us.
Cameron presses a kiss to his bride-to-be’s cheek, but her eyes are on Grace. “You’re still okay with this?”
Knowing Riley, they’ve had multiple conversations about this already. The three of them, Riley and Grace alone, and Cameron and Grace alone, at Riley’s insistence.
“Absolutely,” Grace answers. “As long as I can go dress shopping with you.”
Riley nods emphatically, her smile bright. “Of course you can.”
Riley is truly the best stepmother Grace could ever have. She understands that motherhood isn’t in titles but in actions, and while she does everything she can to make sure Grace is cared for and loved, Riley has no desire to replace Michelle, Grace’s mom. If anything, with Riley becoming part of their family, Cameron has done some much needed and long overdue healing from the loss of his wife, and memories of Michelle are even more present.