Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
“That’s cause you’re smart,” I giggle. She flips me off. “I’m really glad you’re back, you know.”
“I am too. I’ve missed home.”
“I wasn’t just talking about being back in Corbin. You’re you again—the you that you were before you got all …”
“Twisted up?” she laughs—although it’s not a joyful sound. It’s more self-deprecating.
“Stop, Gabby. You might have gotten lost, but I just meant that you weren’t you. You are now. God, that sounds lame even to my own damn ears.”
Now it’s her turn to giggle. “It’s okay. I am under no illusions about the utter bitch that I used to be.”
“Dom was an asshole. You always deserved better, Gabz.”
“No. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Dom had issues back then, but I had stuff inside of me that somehow got all twisted up. The more I tried to be who I thought I was supposed to be, the more desperate I became. I was a monster.”
“Gabby …”
“It’s okay, Izzy. The thing is, if I had it to do over, I know I’d walk away from Dom the minute he refused to claim me publicly. I would have never involved Thomas or anyone else in my twisted need to be loved. I can’t even tell you what made me so desperate for it. What I will say is that what King and I found together is beyond anything I ever imagined possible. I love that man with every fiber of my being. He healed every broken piece inside me. King says I did the same thing for him, but I have no idea how that’s possible. My man worked miracles in me, and he makes me feel safe. I never thought I’d ever feel that way—especially after my rape. Yet, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I will always be safe with King. He would burn the world down for me and Etta. I don’t doubt him at all.”
“I’m so happy for you, Gabz,” I tell her honestly, my heart painfully squeezing when she mentions being raped.
“I am too, but enough about me. I want to know what man has you looking like you just won the lottery and are walking on clouds?” Gabbie asks.
I frown at her. “Who said it was a man?”
“That glow in your eyes. Now spill, woman.”
“Fine. I’ve been talking to a member of the Kings of Anarchy,” I confess, grudgingly.
“Grifter? But I thought he had an old lady? We even heard she was pregnant.”
“Not Grifter. Caleb comes here with him, though.”
“Candyman?” she asks, her eyes wide as saucers.
“You don’t have to look and sound that shocked, Gabz.”
“I’m sorry, Izzy. It’s just … well … he’s …”
“A man whore?” I laugh, but it’s not humorous at all.
“King said the girls flock to him, and they call him Candyman because he has a particular hunger for blowjobs. Heck, Pez told me he heard the man refer to his dick as a candy cane that the girls love to lick.”
I laugh out loud, lowering my head down to the table and slightly bang my head against the wooden top repeatedly. “God,” I groan.
“Izzy?” Gabby prompts.
I keep my chin against my hand that is flat on the table but force myself to stop banging my head and look at Gabby. “He’s a dumbass,” I confess, because what else could I say?
“Why do I get the feeling that the fact he’s an idiot isn’t going to stop you from going there?”
“Because it’s not. He’s promised that for however long we do our thing, there will be no other women.”
“First question. What is your thing?” Gabby asks.
I sigh. “I’m not sure what we are to be honest, Gabz. It’s not long term. I have a life in Lexington and my residency will be killer. I don’t have time for a relationship anyway—but especially one with a guy in Tennessee who is used to women falling at his feet and worshipping him daily. Still, there’s an attraction there. So, I’ve kind of termed it friends with benefits.”
“Why do I feel like you’re playing with fire here, Izzy?”
“Because I am? I think, though, at least in this case, it might be worth the burn.”
“As long as you don’t let your heart get involved,” Gabby adds, and I find myself nodding.
“Yeah, as long as I don’t do something as stupid as that.”
“Where’s my woman?” King booms from the other room.
“In here, honey,” Gabby calls just as King walks into the room, holding a car seat by the handle, where little Etta is snuggled and sleeping soundly.
“Hey, Izzy,” he says, never taking his eyes off Gabby.
“Hey, King.”
He walks over and kisses Gabby in a way that even makes my toes curl just from watching. “Missed you, Sunshine.”
“Missed you, too. Were Mom and Dad alright?”
“Oh yeah, they loved their day with Etta.”
“That’s good. I thought they might. Our daughter loves attention.”