Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 39414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Wade jabs a finger toward Wyatt’s chest. “You went behind my back.”
Wyatt catches Wade’s wrist mid-jab, fast as a snap. Not rough—controlled. A boundary.
“Don’t,” Wyatt says.
Wade yanks free, eyes blazing. “Don’t tell me what to do in my own sister’s life.”
Wyatt’s jaw ticks. “She’s my wife.”
Silence drops like a weight.
My pulse is loud in my ears.
Wade’s eyes dart to me again, and I can see the war in his face—anger, loyalty, fear, and that protective brother instinct that’s always been both comforting and suffocating.
I step forward, shoulders squared. “I married him.”
Wade’s mouth opens, closes, opens again. “Why didn’t you call me the second Graham started pulling this?”
A bitter laugh slips out before I can stop it. “Because you were gone.”
“I’m gone all the time,” he snaps, desperation under the anger now. “That doesn’t mean—”
“It meant it this time,” I cut in, voice sharper, hands curling into fists inside Wyatt’s too-big sleeves. “I was standing outside my shop locked out of my own life. My accounts were frozen. I couldn’t get my clothes. I couldn’t get my paperwork. I couldn’t get in to save my inventory. I had nowhere to go except… home.”
Wade stills.
The word home lands between us like a bruise.
“You know what ‘home’ is for me,” I add, quieter now. “It’s my mother telling me I should’ve gone to law school. It’s my father looking at me like I proved him right. It’s them smiling while I fall.”
Wade’s throat works. He looks away for half a second, like he can’t stand the picture.
Wyatt’s voice cuts in, calm and unfiltered. “Look.”
Wade snaps his gaze back to him, still angry. “Don’t—”
Wyatt doesn’t let him interrupt. “You weren’t here. She was in trouble. I stepped up. I protected her. You should be thanking me.”
Wade stares at him, chest heaving.
Then his eyes shift to me again, and something in his expression changes—like the anger finally hits a wall and the truth leaks through.
Guilt.
Real guilt.
His shoulders sag a fraction. “Ellie…”
I blink hard. “Don’t.”
“I knew he was an asshole,” Wade says, voice rougher now. “I knew. And I still left.”
I swallow, throat burning. “You didn’t know it would get this bad.”
“I should’ve,” he says immediately, like he can’t stand hearing himself make excuses. “I told myself you were fine. I told myself you had your shop and your friends and you didn’t need me hovering.”
“Like a brother?” I challenge softly.
Wade’s jaw clenches. “Like a brother.”
Wyatt’s presence at my side stays steady, but he doesn’t speak. He lets Wade have this. For once, he’s not trying to control the room. He’s just there—solid, watching, making sure I don’t crumble.
Wade looks at Wyatt and mutters, begrudging, “You did good.”
Wyatt’s mouth tilts. “I know.”
Wade snorts despite himself, then turns back to me. “I’m sorry.”
The words hit me harder than the fight did.
My throat tightens. “Wade…”
“I’m sorry I left you alone to deal with him,” Wade says, voice cracking just slightly on the last word. “I should’ve been here.”
I don’t let myself hesitate. I step into him and wrap my arms around his chest, because he’s my brother and he’s frustrating and he loves me like a mountain—quiet, constant, too heavy sometimes, but always there when it counts.
Wade hugs me back hard, like he’s trying to make up for two weeks in one squeeze.
Wyatt clears his throat behind me. “Easy. She’s pregnant.”
I jerk back, eyes flashing. “I’m not—”
Wade’s head snaps toward Wyatt. “Don’t fuck with me.”
Wyatt’s grin turns wicked. “Oh, I’m going to.”
Wade’s face goes dead serious like he’s hearing a threat. “Don’t.”
I laugh—an actual laugh this time—even as I swipe at my eyes so neither of them can see.
Wade looks down at my ring again, the anger finally fading into stunned acceptance. “So… courthouse wedding.”
I exhale. “Courthouse wedding.”
Wade shakes his head like he’s trying to reboot. Then he looks at Wyatt, and his voice goes softer. “There’s no better brother-in-law I could ask for than my best friend.”
Wyatt’s expression flickers—something warm, quickly buried. “Yeah?”
Wade points at him. “And obviously you’ve got good taste. You chose me as a best friend all these years.”
I snort. Wyatt actually laughs, low and real.
“That’s what you took from this?” Wyatt asks.
Wade nods solemnly. “It’s important.”
Wyatt claps Wade on the shoulder. “Welcome to the family.”
Wade’s eyes narrow. “Don’t get sentimental.”
Wyatt’s grin goes sharper. “Just wait until you’re an uncle.”
Wade’s face turns even more serious. “Don’t push your luck.”
Wyatt’s arm slides around my waist, pulling me close like it’s instinct now. Like it’s always been.
Wade looks between us for a long beat, the last of his storm draining away. Then he lets out a long breath.
“Okay,” he says.
“Okay?” I repeat.
Wade nods once, still pretending he’s not emotional. “Okay. I’m on board. But if he ever hurts you—”
Wyatt cuts in, calm and absolute. “He won’t.”
Wade holds Wyatt’s gaze, measuring. Then he gives a small, grudging nod. “Good.”