Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“I think so. When I get paid again, I’ll come back and get those yellow curtains and sheets for my room. I don’t mind waiting. I can make do with what I have now. Yellow would definitely brighten that room, and the length of the curtains can fool others into thinking the window is bigger.”
I nod, not bothering to tell her it is already in another buggy, or to ask how in the hell curtains can make a tiny window appear bigger. For one, she can’t make the latter make sense, and as for the curtains and sheets, that’s the first thing I told the guy to collect. I also told him to pick up the gray thing she called a coverlet and the fluffy pillow covers that had tiny yellow flowers on them. Trust me, it wasn’t easy to explain what I wanted either. I’m pretty sure the guy thought I was insane until I told him I’d pay him two hundred bucks. I figure at that point he knew I was insane, but just didn’t care. “Let’s head on out then. I’m starting to get hungry. We can run by the grocery store, and you can dazzle me with your cooking.”
“I don’t cook a lot,” she warns. “I make some things good, though. Well, at least I think they’re good.”
“I’m sure I will, too, then,” I assure her, making myself a promise that I will eat whatever she fixes and act like I’ve never had anything better. It won’t matter tonight. By the time we get back the crew should be there. Dani texted me and said it was going to be potluck, but that I needed to buy a grill while I was out. She said we needed it for the steaks that Dragon and Crusher were bringing along. “Hey, do you mind if we go back to the outdoor section? There’s something I need, since I’m going to be staying here for a while.”
“You are?” she asks immediately, and I like the happiness I hear in her voice. She doesn’t want me to leave.
“Yeah. It’s a good club. I like the men. Plus, I’d like to be around when jellybean is born. It’s not every day that your best friend brings another person into the world.”
“King …” she whispers, heavy emotion in her voice.
“Friendship is a two-way street, Gabby. If you think I’m your first true friend, you should know you’re mine, too. I’ve allowed you in deeper than anyone I know.”
“That’s sweet. I doubt that, though. You were married. I’m sure Shelby knows things I’ll never uncover.”
I think about that but shake my head. “Oddly enough, not so much. In the beginning, I guess we shared. Now, that I think back, after learning where I came from, it slowly became all about her family. It seemed to be one drama after another that we had to deal with. Which was fine, but I just slowly stopped putting myself out there, you know?”
“Boy, do I,” she jokes, making me smile as I shake off the bitter memories. “What is it you’re going to buy?” she asks, and I know she’s changing the subject for my sake. I take her hand and lean in to kiss her forehead again, letting her know her efforts aren’t unappreciated.
“I need a grill.”
Her face scrunches up and I watch with a smile on her face. “Dude, the clubhouse has like five grills and one huge one with a smoker. I don’t think you need to add another to the mix,” she cautions.
“Did you just call me dude?”
“Eek,” she whispers, as if she just caught it. “It slipped out.”
“Woman, I am not a dude.”
“You kind of are.”
“Gabby—”
Her hand comes up and presses against my chest. “You’re a dude with a big dick. Is that better?” she asks with a grin.
I throw my head back and laugh. “Yeah, sweetheart. That’s better,” I finally answer, looking down at her. Gabby is looking up, staring at me with eyes that seem glued to my face. She’s wearing a wide smile that a man could get lost in. Just like that, Dragon’s words come floating back into my head.
She feeds the man inside so that he’s better because he has her. This woman will give her sweetness, her laughter, and joy, her calm, her temper, and most importantly, her love. Love—that she will give completely in a way that no matter what happens, she won’t take it away. This woman doesn’t mind telling you that and does it in a way that you know if you hurt her, it will fucking destroy her. She’ll have his back and fight a war with him to keep what they have.
Fuck me. He’s right. I can see it in Gabby. How in the hell did this happen?
I push my thoughts aside and we spend the next thirty minutes buying a pellet grill and smoker combo that I told her I’m going to keep at her place. I thought she’d have a cow again. Instead, she just shook her head.