Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“It’s because I’m fun to work with and for,” I tell him, and he groans.
“I’m fun too,” he snaps.
“Dad, you stopped being fun when Mila”—I mention my sister—“started dating one of the workers,” I remind him. “I believe you said, ‘I’m going to bury him under a slab of concrete if he puts one finger on her.’
And what did that do?” I ask.
“Your mother and I had words,” he admits. I may be two states over, but I can feel the glare directed straight at me.
“And…” I egg him on, knowing exactly how this turned out. It’s the single most joked about thing at all our meals together.
“They got married,” he grumbles, “under my protest.”
“You walked her down the aisle.” I laugh. “And they have two kids.” Two children who my father worships. He even took a step back from work to spend time with them while Mila went back to work. He says it keeps him young.
“I have to let you go,” he blusters. “You’re annoying the fuck out of me.”
“Love you, Dad.” I laugh.
“Love you too,” he responds. “Proud of you.”
“Thank you,” I say, and he hangs up. Then I see a text come through from him.
Dad: Call your mom. She’s worried about you.
I roll my eyes as I pull into the parking lot of the ranch. I park and then grab my notepad from the passenger seat before snatching my phone and tucking it in the back pocket of my blue jeans.
Running a hand through my hair reminds me I should get a haircut this weekend. I look over when I hear galloping to see the horses being let out of the barn. Walking toward the glass door and pulling it open, I see Lilah sitting behind the desk. She looks up and smiles at me. The two of us dated a while back. To be honest, dated is a stretch since we technically went out a handful of times. Each time, it felt like I was sitting across the table from a best friend, not someone I wanted to take home and have my way with. In the end, it made sense to just stay friends. Besides, she’s engaged to Emmett now, who she had been secretly in love with. “This is a nice surprise,” she says.
“Hey,” I greet. “I have a meeting with Charlie.” I look over to the side when I hear the sound of boots coming closer to us.
“And me,” Emmett interjects, walking into the room and going straight to Lilah.
“Hey, baby.” He bends, kissing her lips.
“You know I dated her first, right?” I tease him because it’s so easy to do.
“Yeah, but I’m the one she ended up with, so who is the winner?” He puts his hands on his hips.
“Definitely not her.” I motion to Lilah with my chin, who snorts.
“Stop bugging him.” She points at me. “And you.” She points at him. “Did you come in here just because you saw him arrive?”
“Yes.” He doesn’t even care that it’s not the right answer to tell her.
“You are incredible,” she huffs, picking up the phone. Then I hear her voice on the intercom.
“Charlie, Caleb is here and Emmett is also here waiting,” she announces before she hangs it up.
It takes a full thirty seconds before Charlie walks into the room. “Did I miss it?” he asks, and I look over at him, confused. “He goes all barbarian when a man comes in and talks to Lilah.”
“I do not go barbarian,” Emmett scoffs at the accusation. “I’m just making sure she’s safe.”
“Is that what you’re going with?” Charlie asks, trying not to laugh in his face.
“Yup,” Emmett clips. “Should we head over to the new building, or are we just going to stand here discussing shit we shouldn’t be discussing?”
“I vote for discussing when Lilah and Caleb were dating.” Charlie puts his hand up.
“Let’s go.” Emmett doesn’t pay any attention to him before he strides away.
“Sounds good,” I agree and follow them out to the back where the barn is.
“We’ll take the golf cart,” Charlie states. I get in the back and look around as we make our way over to the very far end of the property to a red barn that looks like it’s about to fall down if the wind blows too strong.
“What in the…” I say when I see it even closer up. “Is it even safe to walk into?”
“It just looks bad,” Emmett says. “It’s rough around the edges.”
“Yeah.” Charlie parks and gets out. “Like him.” He points at Emmett, who walks over to the barn door and opens one side before walking over and opening the second. I walk next to Charlie as we step into the darkened barn, and the only light comes from the missing pieces of the roof.
It’s completely empty. The concrete on the floor with caked-on mud has been there for what feels like decades. “So what do you think?” Charlie asks.