Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
There were alternate ways of fixing this besides demanding that I get my way. Why would she even want to marry me if I’m going to be such a dick about it?
“Have you talked to her since she left?” Mimi asks.
I shake my head.
“You should’ve had your ass over there and been on your knees before she got home,” she says. “Didn’t we just have a conversation about this—about showing her what you mean?”
“You’re really mean today.”
“Somebody has to be. Someone must remind you that you can’t be a brat.”
My face pops up to face hers, my eyes wide. “A brat?”
“A brat.” She crosses her frail little arms over her chest. “You can’t always get what you want.”
“I know that, okay? Chill out.”
“No one says that anymore.”
“How do you … Never mind.” I sigh, my face turning red. “I got scared. That’s the truth of it. I felt rejected. I panicked. I’ve been making all of these plans and all I could see was my whole life falling down—because it started with her. And I hurt her in the process.” I hang my head. “Fuck.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“I gotta fix this.”
“Well, right now, there’s a party going on out there, and a bunch of people traveled a long way to see you. Spend some time with them and then stop pussyfooting around and go get your girl.”
I wipe my hands down my jeans. “Thanks, Mimi. I love you.”
“Aw, Tate. I love you, too. But this round of your bullshit about killed me. You owe me one shirtless trip around the neighborhood next week.”
Laughing, I press a kiss to her cheek. “You got it.”
“Close that door behind you. I’m going to take a little nap.”
“Okay.”
I let myself out of Mimi’s cottage and step into the warm sunlight. My eyes scan the crowd, looking for Aurora in the off chance she shows up. But I don’t see her.
I really don’t expect to.
“There’s my boy,” Mom says, pulling me into a hug. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Mama. I’m glad you came, even if it’s really to see the babies.”
She laughs like I’m kidding.
“You look good,” I say. “You look happy.”
“I am.” She beams. “I really, truly am. And it’s nice to be back home. I miss Nashville.”
There’s a twist in her eye that pulls on my heart. She has too many memories here—both bad and good. She had to give up so much because of Dad.
“Lookie there, Ives.” Ripley stops alongside us, holding Ivy.
“Hey, watch this,” I say, letting Ivy grab my finger. “Ivy, say Tate!”
“Ta!”
“Oh, my goodness,” Mom says, giggling. “That’s so precious.”
I look at Ripley and wink.
His smirk grows deeper than mine. “Watch this.” He bounces Ivy around until she’s facing him. “Ivy, say Rip!”
“Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrip!”
“Sucka,” Ripley says, walking away with the baby and a victory. On my birthday.
“Hey, Tate!” Jason’s wife Chloe yells from the back porch. “Gannon wants to see you in the house.”
Oh, great. This day keeps getting better.
Aurora
Voices and music drift from the back of the massive home with the long driveway. Cars worth more than most people’s gross income line both sides of the street. I’d second-guess this is my destination except there’s a sign on the front lawn that says Happy birthday, Tate!
I’m not sure I should be here. Actually, I’m pretty sure I should go. But this is Tate’s birthday, a day he loves, and I want to wish him a great year.
And hopefully not goodbye.
I should’ve taken his calls last night. But every time the phone rang, my stomach would knot, and I’d convince myself we needed a little breathing room to think. In reality, I was just too nervous to come up with the right words to say.
“Aurora?”
I turn to my left and see Carys standing on the porch. She immediately comes down the stairs and crosses the lawn.
“Hi,” I say, my smile wobbly.
Before I can say anything else, she pulls me in a big hug.
“It’s so good to see you,” she says. “I’m glad you came.”
“I wasn’t sure if I should.”
Her eyes are crystal clear and full of joy. I’m happy for her.
“How have you been?” I ask. “How is your baby?”
“Ivy is her name, and she’s wonderful. Growing so fast. How about you?”
I laugh nervously. “I’m good. Been busy.”
“Tate keeps you hoppin’. There’s no doubt about that.”
My smile falters, and Carys doesn’t miss it.
She stands with me beneath the warm sun, feeling the wind dance across our skin. Neither of us speaks for the longest time. We just exist in the same space, and it’s all I could ask for from her.
“This family is loud,” she says softly. “They’re tactile—definite huggers.”
I grin. “They’re a little overwhelming.”
“Oh, girl, I know. But it’s worth it. Trust me. They will fight for you,” she says. “They will move mountains for you. Because if you’re Gannon’s, or Renn’s, or Chloe’s, or Tate’s—you belong to us all.”