Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Made what clear?” Neither of them answered, and the pain in the ass turned and left without another word.
“Brainless jackass!” I marched my way past all of them and out of the room, headed for the stairs that led down to the basement. That’s where we keep all of the good stuff.
I was halfway into my sparring clothes when I realized that my breakup with Dale hadn’t made me as mad as whatever the hell that was upstairs had. Whatever! I fired up old Toby and set him to combat mode. Next time, I’ll make sure to print out an image of Julius’s face to stick onto the robot while I kick his ass.
My heart tripped at the wayward thought of what else I could do with his face. What the hell is wrong with you? Since when do you get wet at the thought of that delinquent? I ignored the voice in my head that whispered since forever. That is so not true.
I may have had a crush on him when I was young and stupid, but that died when he kept treating me like an annoying kid who was always underfoot. I’ve moved on from that, thank you very much, and I would thank my subconscious to remember that shit. All the same, it just spurred me on to kick my sparring partner’s ass, but good.
Each kick was a blow to Julius’ solar plexus; each swing was meant to knock his block off. By the time I was done, I was feeling worlds better, and it was only in the shower after that I realized I hadn’t given Dale or his mother a single thought. “That smarmy bastard better stay out of my head.”
JULIUS
What the hell am I playing at anyway? Why did I even get involved? I ignored the little trip in my heart at the reminder of how she looked when I first saw her tonight. There was sadness and a hint of pain in her eyes that I doubt her family had seen; otherwise, that idiot woman might not have made it back to wherever she came from.
As protective as they are of her, I don’t know why I’ve convinced myself that I can see what they can’t, but it is what it is. I’ve always been able to read that one, and the reasons behind that are better left alone. I told myself a long time ago that she’s not for me, not only because I have a good six years on her and a whole lot more in experience, but because deep down, I know that she could burn me worse than anyone else has ever done.
After the catastrophe of my first failed serious relationship, I’ve made it a point to only date women who pose no danger of my genuinely falling in love with them. I’ve had many flings throughout the years, some lasting longer than others, but always with women who were no danger to me.
It's been hard sometimes, especially when I’m around my kid brother and his wife and kids. Seeing the joy in them, that longing is sometimes too much to bear. But then I remember how close I came to destroying the people I love because I chose the wrong woman. That’s something I can’t and won’t ever forget.
That one, yeah, I don’t see her being anything like Melanie, but I’m still not willing to risk it. I’ve made up my mind not to put myself through that hell again. The hell of sharing my heart with someone not of my blood. I’m an excellent uncle; that’s going to have to be enough for me in this lifetime.
If I knew she was going to be here tonight, I would’ve found another excuse not to show up, just like I have every other time I knew she would be around. I didn’t expect the feelings to be this sharp still after all these years and all the distance I had put between us to make sure we never interacted, not even in a crowd. Now, I’m going to have to start back at square one. Fucking aye!
I’ve known Jessica since she was a kid; I guess you can say I watched her grow up. Her Dad and mine are doctors who move in the same circles, after all, and have had many consultations together, not to mention the long nights spent at each other’s homes brainstorming some new procedure or another.
Though the men are of differing ages, the camaraderie between them is hard to miss, and the professional respect that the two men bear for each other has long since spilled over into their personal lives. This means that our families have spent lots of time together in social settings, even more so when the twins decided to go into medicine. They seem to idolize my brother, the nut, so this new generation has pretty much picked up the baton from our fathers.