Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“Harpsichord doesn’t need a reason to cry,” Ava calls out from the kitchen. “She cried when Xander took the ice tonight before you got here.”
“Hey, I’m proud of him, okay?” She wipes a tear away. “He’s going to be such a good uncle.”
“Okay, there’s a whole lot of emotions going on over here,” I call out. “Help!”
Greg’s wiping his hands on a towel as he walks in and joins us. He scoops his girl up and sits with her in his lap, brushing his hand over her hair. “Hey, it’s okay, baby girl. There’s no need to cry.”
And just like that, I feel like crying. What’s it like to have a father like that? To have someone in your life—a man—who’s gentle and loving and would never, ever hurt you?
I don’t know. Sure, I have Holden, and he’s the best. But I had a tyrant for a father, and I never trusted that he would touch me with anything but violence and pain.
I squeeze Harper’s hand and stand, then cross to the kitchen.
“Thanks for inviting me,” I say, mustering up a smile. I have too many emotions rolling through me, and I need to keep it together until I’m alone. “It was a lot of fun, and dinner was fantastic. I’m going to head out.”
“I’ll text you tomorrow,” Ava says.
Good, because I want to know what’s going on with Chad. But I can’t say that because if I talk too much, I’ll break down, and I will not do that here.
Everyone says goodbye except Tucker, and when I walk out, he’s following me.
God, please don’t follow me right now.
“I’ll be right back,” I hear him say as I hop down the steps. “Wait, Duchess.”
“Oh no, you go be with your family.” I send a fake-as-fuck smile over my shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Wait.”
Damn it, let me go fall apart in peace!
“You know, I’m tired, and I need to get to bed early.”
“Darby.”
His voice isn’t hard or angry as he catches up to my stride, and I stop and turn to him.
“What?”
Damn it, my eyes are wet. Fuck.
“Whoa, what’s wrong? What happened in there?” His hands immediately come up to cradle my neck and jawline, his thumbs brushing my cheeks, wiping away the tears that I fought so hard to keep at bay. “If someone hurt you, I’ll kick their ass. You have to talk to me, or I can’t fix it.”
He’s already dead, Hotshot.
I huff a laugh and then swallow hard. “There’s no fixing this. I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re not fine.” He’s gritting his teeth, frustration lining his face.
“I will be.” I close my hands around his wrists and gently tug him away. “Thanks for tonight. It was fun. You’re an excellent cook. Maybe I won’t turn you down for dinner all the time anymore.”
He doesn’t smile. His features are hard, his mouth set in a straight line.
“See you tomorrow,” I say again, and then walk away.
This time, he doesn’t follow me.
CHAPTER SEVEN
TUCKER
She’s not fucking okay, but I have to get back inside to my family. Nothing about letting her walk away sits right with me.
After returning to the house, I see that everything is cleaned up and the family is getting ready to leave.
Good. I can go check on Duchess.
“She okay?” Harper asks with a concerned frown.
“I think so,” I reply. Honestly, I don’t know, but I don’t want my pregnant sister to worry about anything.
After my siblings all leave, it’s just my father and I on the front porch.
“I like her,” he says simply.
“Who?”
Dad laughs and claps me on the shoulder. “Don’t bullshit me. You like her too. Your little vet intern. I see the way you look at her.”
I’m sure I look like a lovesick puppy. Because that’s exactly how I feel.
“There’s nothing—”
“Yeah, okay.” He laughs and strides down the steps to his truck. “Keep lying to yourself, son.”
He winks at me, climbs in his vehicle, and drives away.
Two seconds later, my phone pings with a text from Xander.
Xander: Is everyone still there? I don’t want to message the group text when they’re driving.
Me: They just left. Give it fifteen or so. It really was a great game. Good job.
Xander: I do my best. That’s why they pay me the big bucks.
I snort, and before I can respond, the bubbles are dancing again.
Xander: Who’s the new girl again? I could hardly hear you. She’s hot. Is she single?
I love my brother. He’s a good guy. He doesn’t even sleep around with all of the puck bunnies that hang around the team. He’s not an asshole in any way.
But I want to kick his ass for even thinking about Darby in any sort of way.
As I stand here on the porch, I realize that I can smell smoke from the campfire out back, and I want to go sit with her, to make sure she’s okay. So, I quickly send him a response.