Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 141556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
“You’re insane,” I tell him, but there’s no heat in it.
He smirks, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “You love it.”
“I love you.” The words slip out easy now. Natural. “Even when you’re being a possessive bastard who can’t wait until our guests leave.”
“Especially then.” He pulls me close and kisses me deep enough that I taste myself on his tongue. “Happy birthday, Saint.”
I laugh against his mouth, and it feels like freedom. “Best one yet.”
We slip back out to the party separately. I head to the bathroom to fix my hair and check that I look somewhat presentable. When I return to the living room, Calder’s standing by the window talking to Sawyer, expression perfectly neutral like he didn’t just have his face between my thighs in the pantry.
But when I catch his eye across the room, that smirk returns. Satisfied. Possessive. Mine.
I shake my head and turn back to Allie, who’s showing me something on her phone. But I’m smiling. Can’t seem to stop smiling.
As the sun sets, I catch my father talking quietly with Calder by the window. They’re keeping their distance, bodies tense, but they’re talking. I can’t help but smile. It’s something. The start of a relationship at least.
“Think they’ll ever be normal with each other?” Levi appears at my elbow, watching the same scene.
“I don’t know.” I glance at him. “What about you? You ever going to forgive your brother?”
Levi considers the question. “I want to. He’s family after all, but it’s hard. He lied to us, let us all think he was going to go through with the ceremony. It’s the betrayal and the fact that he didn’t trust us enough to allow us to be a part of helping him that angers me the most.”
“He didn’t do it to hurt you, or because he doesn’t trust you. He was trying to protect you.”
“I know.” Levi’s voice gentles. “Doesn’t make it hurt any less.”
I understand that. The complicated knot of love and betrayal. You can forgive someone and still carry the wound.
“For what it’s worth,” I say quietly, “I’m glad he did it even though it hurt. Even though it was terrifying. I’m glad he found a way to end it all. To set all of us free.”
Levi looks at me, really looks at me. “And you both found happiness in the end.”
“Yeah,” I admit. “I never thought it would happen, but it did.”
“That’s all that matters.” Levi squeezes my shoulder. “Happy birthday, Saint.”
“Thanks, Levi.”
Joy fills my chest. I’m grateful for this moment with family and friends. To share this birthday with Calder. No, it wasn’t love from the start for us. We had to fight tooth and nail, go through trauma and tears, but we’re here, together.
The party winds down as night settles over the mountains. People drift away one by one until only Calder and I are left, standing on the porch in the crisp night air.
“That went better than expected,” I say.
“Low bar to clear.”
I laugh and lean against the railing. “True, especially after our last gathering. I’m surprised anyone showed up.”
Calder smiles. “It’ll get easier. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but eventually all the wounds Roman caused will heal.”
I know that, but part of me feels guilty for being happy when I know others are suffering. “I just hope it isn’t too late. Especially for Kade. You can tell he’s not himself.”
“Kade’s complicated, but he will figure it out. He’ll have to make peace with himself, then he’ll be able to figure out what he really wants.”
“I know. I’m just worried, that’s all. Something is going on between Allie and him. Did you see the way he looked at her?”
Calder wraps me up in his arms. “I saw, and I know that they’ll figure it out, just like we did.”
Dipping his head, he brushes his lips against mine, and I open to him, kissing him back. Not in a hurried manner, but in a way that says we have tomorrow and forever together.
This is what we chose.
Us. Together. Forever. Against all odds.
It’s not redemption or forgiveness. Nor is it some neat and tidy ending where everything is magically fixed. It’s messy and real. The love story of two broken people deciding that broken together is enough.
BRANDED & BROKEN IS THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES AND IS KADE’S STORY. IT’S AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER HERE.
The End