Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 72969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I grin. “I think my sister and Vinnie are right. Go ahead and take a seat at that table there.” I gesture. “Daniela and I will get some ice cream for ourselves.”
Daniela takes only a small dollop of ice cream and doesn’t add anything.
“No sprinkles? Chopped nuts? Oreo crumbles?”
“It’s funny,” she says. “I grew up wanting for nothing, and that includes good food. I love food. I love cooking, which is why I’m going to culinary school. But I’ve always preferred my ice cream plain. I mean, why mess up a good thing?”
I tilt my head, try to read her gorgeous dark eyes.
I get the feeling she’s not telling me the complete truth. But I won’t push it.
“Whatever you prefer,” I say. I grab a waffle cone for my ice cream, fill it up, and then add crumbled Oreos. Cookies and cream is my favorite, and this will be close enough.
I join Belinda and Daniela at the table.
And even though Belinda is with us, I let myself think that Daniela and I are on a date.
I’m not sure why.
I have an actual date later with Grace for coffee.
Grace is warm and bubbly and very pretty.
Daniela is quiet, but very warm with Belinda. But pretty doesn’t do her justice.
Neither does beautiful.
8
DANIELA
It tastes like nothing and everything all at once. Cold, soft, sweet—but not too sweet. Just enough to remind me that it’s a treat. Vanilla soft serve. Plain. No toppings. No drizzle of caramel. No rainbow sprinkles.
That was the rule. No extras. No indulgences.
I was thirteen the first time he pointed at my plate and said, “Do you really need that?” Offhand. Like he was commenting on the weather.
Two years later, I found out why.
He wanted me firm and lean.
The perfect body for the entertainment of his friends and associates.
I grew to like my ice cream plain.
But I still hear his voice in my head.
I told him once that one of the men said I’d be prettier if I put on a few pounds. That he could see me with bigger tits and an even bigger booty.
My father didn’t appreciate my candor, and that particular colleague never came back.
And…
Even though a drizzle of caramel sauce is kind of calling my name, for some reason I don’t want to pig out in front of Hawk.
I’m not sure why.
He would never look my way anyway. I’m just a kid to him.
But my God, he’s handsome.
He probably wouldn’t care if I ate a lot. I’ve seen Raven eat. That woman can pack it away. I know part of the reason is because she just survived cancer and she’s not going to deny herself anything she wants.
But she’s also tall with a gorgeous shape.
All of the Bellamys are tall and muscled—especially the men.
Especially the man sitting next to me.
Why did he choose to sit next to me and not Belinda?
Maybe I should’ve sat down next to Belinda instead of across from her. He probably thinks Belinda wouldn’t be comfortable with a strange man sitting next to her.
He’s no doubt right.
I need to keep that in mind if this ever happens again. I will sit next to Belinda to keep her comfortable.
But truth be told, Belinda looks great. She’s gorging on her bowl of ice cream, and her demeanor has shifted now that we’re here instead of in the hospital corridor.
A moment later, Hawk waves his hand.
I look over my shoulder.
The entire Bellamy family—even Mrs. Bellamy—are walking into the cafeteria.
They all head to the ice cream machine and then come sit at our table with us.
Great minds, I suppose.
Raven takes the seat next to Belinda, and Belinda smiles at her.
“Looks like you had the same idea we did,” Belinda says.
Raven smiles. “Absolutely. Every topping, and double Oreos.”
Belinda laughs and takes another bite.
Vinnie takes a seat on Belinda’s other side, effectively shielding her from anyone else.
What I should’ve done.
Once everyone is seated and eating, Vinnie clears his throat.
“Since everyone is already gathered… Raven and I have some news,” he says.
I kind of already know what’s coming. Raven confided in me, to make sure that I—as Vinnie’s legal wife—didn’t have an issue.
Of course I didn’t.
I don’t. Vinnie is my savior. All I want is his happiness.
“What is it?” Mrs. Bellamy asks.
“Raven and I are officially engaged,” he says.
Mrs. Bellamy clasps her hand to her mouth. “That’s wonderful!”
Falcon gives Vinnie a side hug. “Excited to have another brother, Vinnie.”
Savannah giggles. “He’s already your brother-in-law, at least he will be when we get married.”
“Maybe we could do a double wedding!” Mrs. Bellamy says, grinning ear to ear.
Eagle raises his bowl of ice cream in a pseudo-toast, and Robin has a smile on her face that isn’t quite reaching her eyes as she hugs her twin sister.
Hawk gives Vinnie a fist bump, and I can’t quite read the expression on his face. He’s happy, that much is for sure. But there’s an air of something—is it wistfulness?—in his eyes.