Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“I’m okay.” Fidgeting, I clear my throat. “Thanks for letting me visit.” Unable to stop myself, my gaze drifts over him. “You look good.”
Jesus. The man knows he looks good. You couldn’t think of something else to say?
“You look good too,” he replies, his eyes glued to my face with an intense stare that makes me wish I took time to put on some makeup. The corner of his mouth lifts again. “Wow, you’re all grown up.” He lets out an incredulous-sounding chuckle. “For some reason, I kept picturing the teenage version of you whenever Rachel mentioned your name.”
I smile awkwardly before glancing around the kitchen because it’s too unnerving to keep eye contact with him. “Ah . . . was the flight okay?” I think to ask. “Can I make you some coffee?” Spinning around, I hurry away from him, and not waiting for his reply, I prepare a cup of coffee while rambling, “Rachel and Lainey are still asleep. It’s pretty early, and I don’t know what time they usually get up on a Saturday.”
For the love of all that’s holy, please calm down!
“Lainey won’t wake up until ten,” he murmurs. “Rachel should be up soon, though.”
“Okay.” I take hold of the mug, and turning around, I see Easton has moved closer. He’s leaning back against the island with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes locked on me. The muscles in his biceps strain against the short sleeves of his T-shirt, and even though I’ve sworn off all men, I can’t help but admire how amazing he looks.
When I hand him the coffee, I clear my throat before saying, “I added two sugars. I don’t know if you take it differently now.”
“Still two sugars. Thanks,” he replies before taking a sip. “Is it your truck parked out front?”
I nod, feeling super self-conscious and completely inadequate.
I might be imagining things, but I can swear there’s a flash of concern on his face as he asks, “Was the drive from Verona okay?”
“Yeah,” I reply. “It wasn’t too bad.”
Easton glances toward the stairs before looking at me again. “Do you know what the problem is?”
I nod while my teeth tug at my bottom lip.
“And?” He gives me a questioning look.
“It’s not my place to say.” My voice is hoarse, so I clear my throat again before I add, “It will be better if Rachel tells you.”
His eyes sharpen on me, making me feel even more nervous while familiar apprehensiveness tightens my stomach.
“Is it serious?” he asks.
I nod and lower my gaze to my scuffed shoes while my heart clenches in my chest.
We hear a door open upstairs, and the sound has Easton saying, “Sounds like Rachel is up.”
God. The news is going to devastate Easton and Lainey.
When Rachel comes down the stairs, Easton stares at her. “Hey, Rach.”
“Hey,” she whispers, her face unnaturally pale.
As I watch Easton move closer to her, it feels as if my heart is shattering to smithereens all over again. I know it’s going to kill him to hear Rachel is dying.
Dying.
I lift my palm to my neck, my throat straining as tears burn my eyes.
He presses a quick kiss to her temple, then asks, “What’s the problem?”
Suddenly, she bursts out in tears and slams into Easton’s chest while sobs shudder through her body.
Oh, God.
My hand moves up to cover my mouth, sadness ripping through me like a destructive storm. Unable to stop my tears, they begin to roll down my cheeks, and I quickly wipe them away.
“Christ, are you pregnant again?” he asks as he pulls back from his sister so he can look at her face.
When she doesn’t answer fast enough, his eyes flick to me, and I shake my head while sucking in a shuddering breath.
Noticing I’m crying, Easton’s features grow tenser with worry, and his eyes snap back to Rachel. “What the fuck happened?”
Rachel gasps through her sobs, then she reaches for my arm and yanks me to her side while whimpering, “You tell him.”
Crap.
I glance between them, my tongue darting out to wet my lips. “I think it would be better if he heard it from you.” Hoping to give her strength, I rub my hand over her lower back. “I’m here, Rach. You can do it.”
“Fuck, will someone just tell me what’s going on?” Easton growls as he begins to lose his temper, making fear grip my insides.
Rachel shakes her head but manages to squeeze the words out with a strained voice, “I have cancer.”
A frown forms on Easton’s forehead as he stares at his sister, and a long, tense moment passes before he asks, “Did you see a doctor?”
She nods. “I also got a second opinion. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for sure.”
Easton seems weirdly calm as he asks, “What did the doctors say?”