Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“Pete, you said you wouldn’t,” Noah said warningly from behind us.
“I’m just glad for the time to get to know you,” Pete finished, shooting me a halfhearted smile.
“Welcome,” my dad greeted as we entered the kitchen.
As my parents introduced themselves to Rena and said hello to the Miranda-Whittakers, I watched Reese. She grinned and elbowed Pete. He set his hand on her shoulder, saying something that made her wrinkle her nose.
Everyone laughed.
“We were so happy when Beau brought her to meet us,” my mom said, her hands clasped in front of her. “They complement each other so well.”
“We’re working on that stick up his ass,” Reese joked out of the side of her mouth.
My dad laughed.
“Can you imagine if you’d found someone like you?” Noah said to Reese teasingly. “I think I would’ve had to move out of the state.”
“You love me,” Reese shot back.
“You’ve grown on me,” he conceded. “Like an unsightly mole.”
They teased and chatted for a few minutes, but I couldn’t make myself join in. My mind was racing. There were too many voices, and I couldn’t follow the conversation.
I felt exposed and raw.
Millie was private. I didn’t talk about her with anyone. Mordecai was the only one who understood what it was like to be cut off from the other half of yourself, and it hadn’t been his choice. I’d made that decision and then had to live with it.
“The table is all set,” my mom announced. “Shall we eat?”
“It smells so good,” Rena said as we made our way to the table.
“It does,” Pete agreed.
I dropped into my seat, trying desperately to focus on the people around me. My dad was staring at me from the end of the table, but I could barely look at him. I needed to get Reese alone.
“Thank you so much for hosting us,” Pete said from across the table. “You have a beautiful home.”
“It’s our pleasure,” my mom replied, putting a bottle of wine on the table.
I’d just noticed that Reese hadn’t taken her seat when she leaned in from behind me to put a basket of bread on the table. Her torso just barely brushed my shoulder as she moved, and she jerked back instantly.
She’d changed her dress. The light blue fabric brushed against my shoulder as Millie set down a platter of food in the center of the small table. I held back a shudder as she jerked away.
A nervous laugh bubbled out of her mouth. “Static,” she said, smoothing a hand down her side.
“I can’t thank you enough for what you did today,” Alan said, shaking his head. “I almost killed myself trying to get back across town this morning.”
“More than happy to help,” Zeke replied easily, glancing at me.
I nodded in agreement. I was trying so hard to act normal, but I couldn’t seem to make my mouth form words. My mate was standing right next to me. I could smell the soap she’d used to clean the grime of the building off her skin.
I wanted to ask why he hadn’t been home with his wife the night before. Why he’d believed that it was acceptable to leave her alone when the Luftwaffe was terrorizing London. Why he hadn’t left her in this small flat that belonged to his parents instead of in the middle of town. I wanted to wrap my hand around his neck until he lost that relieved smile he was wearing.
I would’ve never left her alone. I would’ve never allowed her to stay in London at all. She’d be safe in some small town in the US if I had anything to say about it, somewhere that had no military targets, where people still left their porch lights on at night and went to sleep without fear.
“I knew you’d come, darling,” Millie said as she moved around the table to put her hand on his shoulder. “I just had to wait.”
He lifted her hand and kissed it.
It took every ounce of willpower I had not to overturn the table.
“Reese,” my mom called.
I snapped back into the present and turned my head to look at Reese.
“Sorry,” she murmured, giving her head a small shake. “Déjà vu.”
“Oh, I hate when that happens,” my mom replied. “Sit, honey. I think everyone is set.”
“This is so nice,” Pete said, looking around the table. “I don’t remember the last time we had Rena and Reese at the same table.”
“That’s because no one ever invites me,” Rena complained.
“That’s not true,” Reese argued. “You’re just always too busy for us.”
“You’re always welcome,” Noah chided.
“We’ll have to make sure Bjorn’s brothers are here next time, too,” my dad replied.
“Do they live close?” Pete asked as everyone began serving themselves.
“They live here,” Reese said, smiling at him.
“Oh, man.” Rena grimaced at my mom. “How many sons do you have? That’s brave of you.”