Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“When is the big performance?” Blake asks, and I glance at where Mik and Benji sit at the nearby breakfast table.
“In about a month,” I reply.
“How does your ankle feel?” Blake asks. “Be honest, Skyla. Don’t just say fine.”
“I have moments when I feel like it wants to give, but I’ve learned to adjust my stance or the way I land, and so far, it feels good.”
Blake nods. “Are you wearing a brace?”
“I haven’t needed to.”
“That’s good news.”
“Where are you going to dance?” Birdie wants to know.
“London,” Mik says to her. Even Mik loves Birdie, and he usually stays away from kids. “We’re going to perform for the new king and queen.”
Birdie’s eyes go round. “Wow. I want to go watch.”
“London is far away, peanut,” Bridger says, shaking his head. “And we haven’t been invited.”
“If you all want to go,” Connor says before anyone else can speak, “I’ll take you in the jet. There’s room for everyone.”
I love my brother. I know he’s broody and can be intense, but he’s also generous, and the fact that he’d offer to take this family to London shows me that he accepts them. And that means the world to me.
“Are you sure?” Bridger asks with a frown. “That’s a lot, Connor.”
But my brother simply shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing,” Billie replies with a frown. “Don’t be a stubborn ass, and let people thank you once in a while.”
Connor’s eyes zero in on Bee, but everyone else is already talking about plans to travel to Europe, and I’m soon scooped up in a hug from Dani.
“What do I wear to something like this? I’ll have to call Polly,” she says.
“Oh, yes, Polly will have something brilliant,” I reply with a nod. I absolutely adore Polly Wild’s dress shop downtown and have bought a lot of my things there.
“Are you okay with this?” Beckett asks me, his mouth near my ear as he slips his arms around my waist, hugging me to him. “With everyone coming? We can whittle it down to a few, Irish. There are a lot of us.”
“I want all of you there if you’re willing to come.” I bite my lip and stare up at him. “It’s nervous I am for this performance, and I didn’t want to ask you to come, but—”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” he replies, his chest rumbling against me. “I’m so fucking proud of you.” He kisses me before he moves away, and I take a moment to breathe this all in. Apparently, Beckett and his family spend most of their Sundays like this. All together, out here at the ranch. I absolutely love it.
I hope we continue doing it often because this gorgeous farmhouse needs this. Family. Laughter. It reminds me of back home in Ireland before I left for the States. Even though it’s only Connor and me in our family, our parents come from large families, and they regularly get together for someone’s birthday, Easter, or anything to celebrate. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed that essence of a large family until this moment. I love that Bridger and Brooks are chatting with Benji and Mik as if they’re old friends. Beckett is now sitting with Birdie, watching something on his phone with her on his lap, laughing. That I’m in the kitchen with Dani and Blake, making a meal for all of these wonderful people.
It feels like family.
It feels like home.
I glance around, wondering where Connor and Bee went. I’m about to go looking when Bee walks into the room, her hair mussed, her lips a little pink and swollen, and her pretty hazel eyes bright.
My brother walks in not far behind her, looking cool and calm, but I notice the way his hand lingers at the small of Bee’s back as he passes by, and her cheeks flush.
Well, look at that. Maybe these two will make their way to each other after all.
Blake’s phone rings, and Birdie scowls.
“Are you being called to the hospital?” the little girl demands, clearly not pleased with that idea.
“No, peanut,” Blake replies as he declines the call but sends a text. A second later, they must reply because he smiles. “But I have a date later.”
“A date,” Bee demands, her hands on her hips, clearly recovered from whatever she and my brother were up to. “With who? I didn’t know you were seeing someone.”
“You’re so fu-freaking nosy,” Blake says, eyeing his niece. “You don’t know her.”
“Oh, I bet that’s a big, fat lie, Blake Adam Blackwell,” Bee says. “I know everyone in this town. Who is she?”
“Now I know why Skyla fits in so well here,” Mik says loud enough for us all to hear. “She’s as much a busybody as Billie is.”
“Hey.” I toss a hard noodle at my best friend, hitting him in the forehead and making him roar with laughter, which Mik doesn’t do. He’s never roared in his life. “Be nice.”