Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“You must miss Sinner.”
“I do, but the space has been good for him, and I think he found it just a little too awkward to see me with Mack, Reaper and Scrapper. He’s happy for me, but the move was probably for the best. Besides, Danny obviously likes you.” She laughs. “Aw, blushing brings your freckles out.”
“You don’t mind, do you? That I’m sort of something with your brother?”
“He’s a grown man, even if he doesn’t always act like it.” She pauses, then turns serious. “Listen, prison was rough on him. It is on everyone, but he was practically still a kid when he went in. He can be a little over the top at times. I think he acts out a bit because he went without freedom for so long, but that’s just my backseat sisterly psychology talking. He plays hard, and he loves hard. Priest and Colt have mellowed him out a little, though. It’s a good thing.”
“I appreciate you telling me, but I don’t want him to feel like we’re gossiping behind his back.”
“Good. I like that you’re protective. He deserves it. I’ll give it a rest, but I just want you to be warned that if he decides you’re something he wants, he’s going to go all in.”
“I can’t tell if that’s supposed to be a warning or a promise.”
“A little of both?” She shrugs with a little laugh. “I know you said you had history with Priest. You don’t owe me your story, but are you interested in all of them? Or is Priest the one you really want?”
“I… I don’t know if I’m ready to make that sort of decision yet.” It feels like a lie when I say it, even though the words are true. “But I would never hurt Sinner. Not on purpose. I just don’t know if I can have my career, and a relationship like you have.”
I glance back at Priest. Everything about him looks relaxed, but I bet he’s paying attention to every detail of what’s going on around us. What’s happening now is fun, and it feels real, but it’s early. I love that Priest, Sinner and Colt are unapologetically who they are, even in a world where I usually feel like I’m anyone but myself. I don’t know how this will work long term, but I’m not going to run away from what could be the best thing to ever happen to me.
“I think you’re on the right track,” Mila says, and as if in response, there’s a rumble of motorcycles approaching. “I think we’re about to have company.” She gets up from the bench, waving as Sinner and Colt pull up. They park next to Priest’s bike on the strip of greenery that separates the promenade from the street.
We hurry over, and as soon as I get there, Sinner yanks me into a hug, followed by the kind of kiss I should be embarrassed having right in front of his little sister.
I’m barely out of his arms before Colt throws his arm around me. “Everything good?”
Mila nods. “I think I got what I needed. Time for me to go, because I really don’t need to see my brother’s tongue. Like at all. Not even a little bit.”
Sinner sticks out his tongue in response, blowing a raspberry. “That’s fair. Now you know how I felt when I was living with you.”
“Yeah, I think we’re set.” I turn to Mila. “It was nice meeting you. Please send me your write-up before you publish it anywhere, okay? I want at least my agent to go over it first.”
She nods. “Of course.”
“Ready to go?” Priest asks, wandering over to join us. “You’re going to want to get some rest before the club party tonight, because there won’t be much after.”
22
Chapter 22 - Quinn
“Quinn, I honestly didn’t know. He told me he was creating PR ops for you, and that they would seem more natural if you didn’t think they were staged. I swear, I had no idea that he was planning anything so dangerous. Never. I couldn’t even imagine!”
I should never have answered my phone, but I’m not as angry as I was when I first found out what she’d done. I think it’s still fundamentally changed something between us, though. I always thought I could trust her to know what was best for my career, and now I’m not even sure about that. Colt and the others would prefer that I go no contact, but she’s been my manager for so long.
That doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven her, or that I’m ready to see her in person. “You still went behind my back? I was scared when I got those messages, Mom, and all you said was that you would handle it.”
“Baby, I hate it when we argue. I know you want space, but we’re going to figure this out, okay?”