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)
His laughter that feels like home. A silent moment never being truly silent. His presence causes everything to slow down and make sense. I’ve wanted for so long to be happy, and in a month, I’ve learned that true happiness isn’t loud. It doesn’t knock or announce itself. No, it can tiptoe right in there with a coffee from Noelle’s or by buckling my seat belt. It can be his hand on the small of my back, the way he twirls me on the floor with his eyes locked on mine, or how he is always there to care for me.
I’ve been home a month, and I couldn’t have prepared for him.
And I sure as hell can’t imagine my life without him.
I lean against the island and open our chat.
Thousands of messages stare back at me, and each one fills my cup like nothing else.
With a smile, I type quickly.
Me
When will you be home?
Dean
Around 3, Wagner is in Knoxville with his mom. I told him I’d cover for him, but he says it’s fine and he’ll come back. I’m a bit worried about it, but he’s a man. I can’t tell him what to do.
My heart swells. God, he’s so good.
Me
I miss you.
Dean
Oh, my darlin’, I stay missing you.
I bite my lip.
Me
I wish I hadn’t pushed you away last night.
Dean
You didn’t push me away. You asked for space.
Me
I should have brought you inside.
Dean
Now we’re talking.
Dean
Because I might not be a weatherman, but you can expect some inches tonight.
Now I’m cackling. I can’t with him.
Me
I’m about to call you my Kindle…
Me
Because I want to take you to bed for hours and forget the world exists.
Dean
I HAVE MET MY MATCH!
Dean
Marry me. Now. Right now. I’ll meet you at the courthouse.
Dean
No underwear so I can take you on the side of the building.
I’m snorting, my laughter as loud and wild as he makes me feel. He has to be joking, but damn it if I’m not considering jumping right into another marriage if it means I’ll be Dean Moore’s wife.
Before I can text back, though, my phone rings with a call from Flint. I already spoke to the boys this morning, so my heart spirals into full mom panic mode as I answer.
“Hey, honey. You good?”
The moment he speaks, I know he’s not. “I’m fine, promise. But I was on Life360 to get the address where Ash is, and I noticed that Dad is in Thistlebrook.”
I clench the side of the island. “What?”
“Yeah. He’s, like, right outside of town. I called him, but he declined my call.”
What. The. Fuck.
“I don’t know what he’s doing, and I almost called Dean first. But I wanted to hear your voice to be sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” I say quickly, but then I pause. “Why would you call Dean?”
There is laughter in my baby’s voice. “’Cause he’s your boo thang,” he sings like the dork he is.
I press my lips together. “Who told you?”
“Skyye.”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “I wanted to be the one.”
“Nope. Dean needs to call.”
I laugh. “We’re adults, son.”
“But you’re my mom, and if he wants to be with my mom, he’s gotta come through us.”
“I can’t with you,” I laugh, shaking my head, but I can’t ignore the uneasiness in my belly. Nothing good can come from Stratford Robbins being here. Especially when I know he received all the evidence I have of his affair a couple days ago. “We will continue this discussion later. I need to call Dean to let him know about your dad.”
“Okay. I’ll call you if he finally calls me back.”
I doubt Stratford will, but I’m thankful just the same. I tell my boy how much I love him before I dial Dean. “Oh, let me go into my office if we’re moving our sexting to phone sex.”
I shouldn’t smile, but I can’t help it. “Babe, pause.”
“What’s wrong?” he asks. “Are you okay?”
“Flint just called and said Stratford is in town.”
“What?”
“Yeah.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and then he says, “Matt is on his way over to stand by while you have this meeting. I’m gonna call the boys, see what they can give me. And then I’m gonna chase that fucker out of our town.”
Heat floods my core at the steel in his voice. “I shouldn’t be turned on, should I?”
Dean chuckles. “Stop, I can’t focus if you’re being all sexy.” I giggle despite the situation. “Stay in the house, don’t open the door until Matt gets there, and text me after your meeting.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
I press my lips together. “I wish you were here.”
“Me too,” he says. He hangs up, and my heart aches. I know there was so much we each wanted to say, but we didn’t. I hate that. I almost call him back, but then Matt walks through the door—not in uniform, but I can tell he’s packing his weapon.