Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
He smiles, and I realize it is the first real smile I have ever seen from him.
Maybe, just maybe, this is a blessing in disguise.
I guess time will tell.
MERA AND NIA ARE IN the kitchen when I return, spreading peanut butter on graham crackers and swigging something bubbly from the bottle. They see me walk in, eyes hungry for news. I head for the fridge and before I’ve even closed the door Mera starts.
“Well? You good? What did he say? Did he lose it? Go crazy? Throw down? Threaten to lock you up and never let you out?”
I laugh. “No, he was actually happy. He agreed to a plan, and to Kael being in the baby’s life.”
Both girls stare at me. “Seriously? Gage? The psycho?”
I giggle. “Yep. Maybe when the shock wears off he might lose it, but for now, we’re good.”
Mera claps her hands. “I am so excited. A baby! Yay!”
A sweetbutt walks into the kitchen, staring at the three of us with her nose all twisted. “There is some girl here lookin’ for Knox. Do you know where he is?”
We shake our heads and she leaves. Nia turns to me. “Are you all curious, or is it just me?”
“Oh,” I say, heading towards the door. “We’re curious.”
The two girls laugh and we rush outside. There on the porch stands a girl with the longest, thickest black hair I have ever seen. Her skin is as pale as a cloud and her eyes are so yellow it hits you when she pins them on you. She’s wearing a pair of jeans that hug her ass and a shirt that shows every curve of her body.
She is gorgeous.
She looks over at us, features unreadable, then breaks into a smile. “Hey. Is Knox around?” Her voice is soft, with a sassy undertone.
Mera squints. “Who’s asking?”
“Callie. Just Callie.” She sticks her hands in her back pockets, unfazed by the way we all stare at her.
“Uh, you got a last name, Just Callie?” Nia asks, chin raised.
These two.
I try not to laugh.
“Didn’t think I needed one.” Callie’s eyes flick to the bikes and then back to us. “Is he here or?”
“He’s inside,” Mera says, her eyes still skeptical. “How do you know him?”
“I’m his old lady’s cousin.”
We all go silent, staring at her confused.
“Knox doesn’t have an old lady,” Mera says, shaking her head in confusion. “I have been here long enough to know that.”
Callie crosses her arms, her face growing a little sad, a secret behind her eyes that haunts her. “He did. She died.”
More silence.
None of us knew this.
Knox had an old lady that died? How? When? What happened?
Mera looks to us, her face twisted in confusion. “Wolfe has never mentioned that.”
Before we can say anything more, Knox walks out. His eyes scan over us, settling on Callie, but there is no recognition there. He doesn’t know her.
“Knox,” Mera says, her eyes locking onto him. “This is Callie, your old lady’s cousin.”
Her tone is tight and when the words come out, Knox flinches and his eyes dart to Callie, who is staring at him in some kind of shock, like he was not what she was expecting at all. The two of them stand there, staring, and I wonder what the hell is about to go down.
“You don’t know me,” Callie says, her voice careful. “But I’m here to tie up some loose ends with the family farm. I wanted to let you know I was in town.”
Knox doesn’t speak.
He just stares at her.
We all stand, waiting.
“Get the fuck out,” he growls, and with that, walks away.
Not another word spoken.
What the hell.
All of our eyes swing to Callie and she is watching him go, her mouth slightly open. Then, she turns to us. “Well, isn’t he just a ray of fucking sunshine. I guess I have that to look forward to.”
Mera snorts, and Callie smiles.
I think she is going to be fun.
Mera and Nia walk her out, and I stand, watching them go. Kael comes outside onto the porch, draping an arm over my shoulder. “What’s the show?”
“That is Knox’s dead old lady’s cousin...”
Kael flinches and looks at them walking out. “Fuck.”
“I’m guessing that is a story you don’t share often?”