Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” I say as he hands me one of the bottles of water he has in his hands.
“You’re welcome. So—” he starts to say.
“You don’t have to sit here with me. These are you friends. Go and enjoy your time with them,” I accidently cut him off. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“No worries. I’m good sitting right where I am, though. I see them all the time. Tell me about yourself.” We get to talking. I tell him about LITHE, he tells me about the practice, how he got started, then moves into his friend group and the family they’ve become. I explain to him that my dad is a worry wart, his kids and wife are his glue, and when one goes down, he doesn’t stop worrying for days after we’re all healed. In the meantime, Sebastian, Winnie and Johnny’s nephew, comes up to Luke, says hello to me but asks to be thrown in the pool. Briar is next up, and that’s when our conversation comes to an end. Briar is older and taller, meaning he needs to stand up to give her the action she wants.
The girls move in, like they’ve been waiting for Luke to move away.
“So, what do we think of McHottie?” Lyric asks, getting right into it.
“Umm, ugh, hmm…” I laugh. Coralynn will absolutely love this shit.
“Well, I think that explains it. I vote we make sure Luke gives her a ride home. I’m going to find my husband. His child is asking for food, and not the snack variety.” Lennie makes her excuse to leave.
“He’s a really good guy.” Kennedy takes Luke’s spot, sitting beside me.
“I’m seeing that.”
“Alright, leave her alone. She’ll tell us more later.” Winnie waves her hand around.
“I vote you take life by the balls and see what happens,” Maci says with a bluntness I didn’t know she had. We all laugh, the subject changes, and we don’t move from our places until Johnny calls for the kids and pregnant women to make their plate. The men in this group are definitely not like the ones I’ve been around before. I take that back. They’re a lot like my dad and Zane, a breath of fresh air when you’re used to a not-so-kind dating pool.
7
LUKE
“You taking her home, or are we?” Jagger asks. I spent the majority of my time with Shae today. The wall I’ve attempted to build crumbled down like a bomb went off. The more I get to know her, the more I want to be around her, and it was damn hard to pull myself away to hang with Briar and Seb.
“I’ll take her home.” I take a sip of the water I’ve been drinking. I’d have much preferred a beer, but since Gallo is out of town and I’m driving, I opted for something non-alcoholic.
“It’s like that, is it?” Tysen says with a smirk.
“Another one bites the dust,” Jude says, tossing a couple of gummy bears in his mouth.
“Falling like dominos, one after the other.” Johnny isn’t wrong. We’ve all lived the single life, became successful in our careers, which meant a good chunk of our personal lives was put on the back burner. Until one by one, we meet the one who has us rethinking a lot of shit. For instance, how money isn’t the end all be all and taking time away from work is a necessity.
“The only problem is she’s technically my patient until Gallo comes back,” I say with a wince. Dabbling in anything could lead to trouble.
“You’re both consenting adults. Fuck the rest,” Matthew answers without any hesitation. He’s normally the one telling us to be careful in circumstances like these.
“Well, if Matthew isn’t worried about it, I’d say go get your woman.” Crew pats me on the back and ambles off toward where the girls are congregating around the dessert table.
“Quit waging a war within yourself. Time is a fuckin’ thief,” Trent mutters.
“My only advice is if you want something, go after it. Gallo will be back this week. He can take over the rest, and if you don’t find someone else to help handle his patients, you’re gonna find yourself in an early grave. None of us are getting any younger, brother. I’m off to get my woman. She won’t listen and refuses to stay off her feet. You all enjoy yourselves. You know where everything is,” Asher advises. The get-together will go on is what he’s saying, but if you don’t see me, don’t look for me, either.
“I’m going to find Shae and take her home. She’s probably due for medicine,” I tell the remainder of the group. I didn’t see her take anything today, which could spell trouble later on. We all realize it’s time to wrap this party up, with most of the women being pregnant and all of us having work tomorrow. We’re lucky to all be together in one location with how hectic shit can get.