Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
I chance a glance to find her eyes wide, her lips parted ever so slightly. Our eyes lock. Her chest rises and falls with such vigor, I worry she’s internally freaking out. I mean, hell, with how wild her eyes are, I think she is. “How long?”
“How long?” I repeat, and her eyes narrow.
“How long have you liked me?”
I can’t help it; a chuckle leaves my lips, which only pisses her off more. “Like. That’s cute.”
She lets out a sharp breath and then clutches her throat as my eyes burn into hers. “Darlin’, I’ve been in love with you since before you ever asked if I was going to kiss you or not.”
Her lips part at that. “We were kids.”
“Yeah, and I knew you were it for me.”
“Dean—”
“What?” I ask, unsure why I sound so irritated. “I fell damn hard for you, I think maybe I loved you before that, maybe when we kissed for the first time. But I knew for sure in that moment.” Once more, the silence is tense, but neither of us looks anywhere but at each other. I take in her flushed face, her ruby-red lips, and the rapid movements of her chest. I wonder if she sees the hearts in my eyes, if she sees how fucking in love with her I am.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Her voice is heavy with emotion, her eyes flooding with tears.
I shrug. “We both were grounded after we got caught, and then you went off to college. Next thing I know, you’re knocked up.”
A tear rolls down her cheek, and she wipes it away quickly. “You never made me think you were into me. It always felt like I was your little sister.”
I snort at that. “I was scared shitless of Sadie and Missy.” She blinks and I laugh. “You remember that time we went to the fair?” She nods, another tear falling, but once again she wipes it before I can get to it. “They took a photo of us, and I was staring at you like I always do. You didn’t notice because you were inhaling a funnel cake.”
She lets out a very unladylike snort, and I grin. “Funnel cakes are life.”
“Watching you eat one is an erotic experience,” I tell her, and her eyes darken. “There was no way I could look away. And once Missy was shaking the Polaroid, I saw the moment they knew I was into you. They glared at me, and when you went to the bathroom, they told me it couldn’t happen because I was leaving for college and they wouldn’t let me break your heart.” She presses her lips together and looks away. “I wouldn’t have, by the way.”
“I know,” she whispers as her eyes fall shut. “I just wish you would have said something.” I nod and watch as she wipes her face free of tears again. “We have both been miserable for so long, and that was completely avoidable.”
“Maybe. But what if we were too young?” I ask since that is something I have pondered over the years. “What if we needed this time? What if, now that we have this chance, we’ll treasure each other even more?”
Another tear falls, and I reach out, wiping it away with my thumb before she can. She shifts her eyes to mine, and I smile. “I would wait for you my whole life, KenniLeigh.”
More tears stream down her face as she slowly shakes her head. “But if you had made the move earlier, then I wouldn’t be this broken woman with baggage.”
I blink. “You’re not broken.”
She digs her fingers into her eyes, and a sob bursts from her lips. “What was supposed to be a quick divorce is turning into hell on wheels. I don’t even know how to love after years of thinking I was in love with a man who was cheating on me for so long. I poured my whole self into my boys, just so I didn’t feel what he was doing to me. I mean, hell, Dean. How can you say that I’m anything but broken?”
Unable to handle what she is saying, I take her by her arms and drag her toward me. Her ass lands on my lap, and I wrap my arms around her neck to press my forehead to hers. Her eyes are clenched shut, her makeup and tears running down her gorgeous face. “Open your eyes, darlin’.”
She swallows before doing as I ask. Her eyes are so sad that I feel my own burning with tears. “Your dad told me tonight that you wasted your best years on that man, but I don’t see it that way.” Her eyes widen, and I nod. “Yeah, he knows. And you know what I told him? I told the only man I’ve ever feared that the best years of your life will be the ones we have together.” Another sob breaks free, and I squeeze her closer, her fingers coming up to clench my thin tee. “There is absolutely nothing broken about you. You are strong, you are resilient. You stayed with a man so that your boys had a father. You got your education and worked, without anyone knowing. You walked away on your terms and kicked him right in the balls. You made sure your boys are set for life. You came home, not with your tail between your legs, but with your head held high and ready to live for you.” Her lip wobbles, and I kiss it softly. “Kenni, I am in awe of you.”