Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Before leaving, I shoot Jules a text.
Me: Whenever you wake up, there are coffee pods in the kitchen and cream in the fridge. I’ll be at your restaurant all day today, pulling out the old floor.
With that done, I call Dani.
“Hey, you just caught me before I go in to volunteer in Birdie’s class. What’s up?”
Dani used to teach kindergarten, but after having the baby, she decided to take a few years off to be at home with the kids. She volunteers in Birdie’s class once a week, and Birdie loves it.
“I need your help,” I tell her.
“Of course, anything you need.”
I fucking love my family.
For the next ten minutes, I brief Dani on what I need her to help with, then I walk up to the front of the restaurant, unlock it, and enter.
Minutes later, my brothers all walk in after me.
“God, this is horrible.” Blake scowls. “We should probably all wear masks. I have some in the car.”
“Of course, you do.” Bridger shakes his head.
“Fuck you, I’m a doctor.” Blake flips Bridger off, then marches back out to get the masks.
“I brought saws,” Beckett announces. “A bunch of other tools, too.”
I don’t say a word until Blake comes back inside. Then I stand in front of my three younger brothers, cross my arms over my chest, and sigh.
“Uh-oh,” Beckett says. “He’s gonna blow.”
“I want to punch the fuck out of Bridger.”
Bridge just smiles, the fucker. “For what? Saving Juliet’s ass the other night? You’re welcome.”
“For not telling me. I should have been your first phone call.”
“Respectfully, that’s bullshit,” Blake says, shaking his head. “You’ve said for years that we should never mention her.”
“Keep her name out of your fucking mouth were your exact words, I believe,” Beckett adds.
“You’ll punch me if I talk about her, and you’ll punch me if I don’t,” Bridge says. “So which is it, Brooks?”
I drag my hands down my face and turn away from them. They’re right. Hell, Jules is right, too.
I can’t have it both ways.
I can’t expect to know anything if I won’t talk about her, and now I know that I can’t stay away from her.
“We talked last night.” I turn around to find them all staring at me in surprise. “A long talk. The kind that clears up a lot of shit.”
“Are you saying that you and Jules are back together?” Blake asks.
“She’s asleep in my bed right now because I refuse to let her stay upstairs. We’re going to try to get to know each other again. Start over.” I shrug, then glance around at the restaurant. “I probably made some rash decisions when I was young and stupid, and she’s been through hell and back. It’s time to move the fuck on.”
“Amen.” Bridger pats me on the shoulder. “Now, let’s get this floor out of here. I called the city, and a dumpster will be dropped off for us later this morning.”
“Excellent. Let’s get started.”
It’s not an easy process. Real wood that’s been soaked and then dried and warped isn’t easy to manipulate. We’re all in masks, sawing, pulling, and hauling all morning.
Around lunchtime, Billie opens the door, but when she starts to step inside, Connor stops her. He steps around her, his brows pulled together in concern.
“What happened here?”
“Flood,” I tell him.
“Wait.” Billie holds up a hand and eyes her husband. “You know, it’s really hard to have a conversation with my brothers when you won’t let me near my brothers.”
“I won’t let you in here,” Connor counters. “That’s different entirely.”
“I’m pregnant, not a freaking invalid.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, Brooks, if you guys are helping Jules, does that mean that you two aren’t enemies anymore?”
I scowl at my baby sister. “We weren’t enemies.”
“Bullshit,” Bridger says, making it sound like a sneeze in his hand, and I reach over and clip the back of his head with my hand. “Ouch. Fucker.”
“We’re working on it,” I reply simply, and Billie hops up and down on the balls of her feet with excitement.
“Thank God. It was so hard not to be extra warm and fuzzy with her because I love her, Brooks. And I want her at book club meetings, and all of the things.”
“I felt guilty as fuck for eating in here,” Blake agrees. “And the food is awesome. My woman craves it every day, and if my pregnant fiancée wants to eat here, she’ll eat here. Still feel guilty for it, though.”
“I love you guys.” I sigh. “And I appreciate the loyalty. I don’t want you to feel any sort of way about being friends with her. I shouldn’t have expected that.”
“I mean, she did leave,” Beckett reminds me. “There’s history there. But, if you’re okay, then we’re okay.”
“Where is she now?” Connor asks.
“At my place, sleeping.”
Billie’s eyebrows climb into her hairline. “WHAT? Jesus, you work fast, big brother.”