Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
I flick my tongue against the seam of her lips, taking a tiny taste before I pull back like it was an accident. My cock says different, but she'll figure that out later. And unlike the last asshole she dated, I don't need her to quit her job at the library or cater to me to have my babies.
I just need her to realize that she's already mine.
Chapter Three
Hattie
"Ihave to tell you something," I announce, dropping my tote on Tye's coffee table. It lands with a thud, making him scowl.
"Jesus Christ, Hattie. How many books do you have in that thing?"
"My books weigh less than your stupid foot," I grumble, staring pointedly at the boot he has propped on the table. "Worry about yourself, Tyler."
His lips twitch into a grin. "You know what they say about big feet."
"Yeah, small brain. Also, gross. How are you possibly getting married?" I prop a hand on my hip, glaring at him. "You have the mentality of a twelve-year-old."
"Vanessa loves me."
I soften when he grins like he won the lottery. Honestly, he probably did. Vanessa is amazing. I love seeing my brother head-over-heels. He annoys me most of the time, but he's not too bad at being in love. It's honestly shocking.
I expected Briggs to get hitched first. He's easy to love. I don't think Harlan will ever get married. He's too set in his ways, and he basically talks to no one ever. Honestly, he might be a bigger grouch than Sidney.
"So…I should get her a sympathy card for the wedding?" I tease Tye.
He just grins at me, his expression soft. "What did you rush over here to tell me?"
My heart leaps into my throat, my anxiety kicking into high gear. "Pinky promise you won't get mad," I say, holding out my pinky to him. He never breaks a pinky promise, so it's better to start there, right? Right. Otherwise, he may rat me out just to ensure I never date. If he had his way, I'd probably die alone.
But there is no way I'm going to his wedding with Cory Jenkins. I'll fake my own death first.
I'm not so sure going with Sidney is such a good idea anymore, either. Without the false bravado that comes with vodka, I've been in my head about it all day. Mostly because he kissed me last night. He pretended it was an accident, but I don't think it was.
I don't know what that means!
Tye leans forward, hooking his pinky through mine, and it's too late to back out. "Spill, Half Pint."
"I hate when you call me that."
"Not my fault you stopped growing when you were twelve," he says with a shrug.
"It's not my fault you, Briggs, and Harlan still haven't stopped growing," I complain. "I mean, honestly. Who needs to be six and a half feet tall? It's so unnecessary."
Tye's lips twitch. "Jealous, aren't you?"
"Shut up."
He's full-out grinning at me now. "What are you trying to avoid telling me, Hattie?"
"That I begged Sidney Hawkes to pretend to date me until after your wedding," I blurt all at once. "And you can't be mad because you already pinky promised not to be."
Tye stares at me levelly.
"Say something."
"I already know."
"What?" I gape at him. "Since when? How?"
"Sidney told me at practice this morning," he mutters. "He figured I should hear it from him." Tye cocks his head to the side, his eyes narrowed on me. "He drove you home last night."
"Yes. He thought I had a concussion."
"What the fuck? Why?"
"Because I asked him to date me?"
"You got a thing for Sid, Hattie?"
"What? No!" I say…maybe a little too quickly. "No. I just really don't want Mom calling in reinforcements. If I have to go to your wedding with Cory Jenkins, I'm running away and joining a convent."
"You'd never survive life in a convent. You like to talk too much. And you aren't dating that little prick," he growls. "I already want to kill him for the shit he said to you."
"Sidney told you?" I gasp, heat climbing into my cheeks.
"Yeah, he told me." My brother glowers at me. "And I'm curious as hell why I heard it from him instead of you."
"Maybe because I didn't want to tell you?"
"Try again."
"Fine." I throw my hands up. "It was humiliating, okay? I knew guys like that existed. I just never thought I'd end up dating one because of my own mother! And maybe I wanted to prove that I could handle it myself instead of having you, Briggs, or Harlan step in like you always try to do. I'm grown now, Tye. I can do grown-up things."
Maybe I make them awkward or uncomfortable. Maybe I'm not outgoing, famous, crazy talented, or wildly popular like my brothers, but I'm not helpless either. Is it really so hard to believe that I can be awkward, a little shy, and maybe even weird and still be a capable, functioning adult?