Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Fuck,” James whispered. “I can’t imagine.”
“That’s why I’ll never fall in love.”
We both looked at Gavin. At some point, he’d finished his conversation with the kid and fallen back into step with us.
“What?” I asked.
“I never want to love someone like that.”
James and I both stopped walking and faced Gavin.
“Nothing says that the woman you fall in love with will get cancer and die, Gavin,” James argued.
He shook his head. “It’s not worth the risk.”
“You don’t think love is worth the risk?” I asked.
“No. All love does is bring you hurt and pain—and you can’t tell me otherwise. I’ve experienced it.”
“That’s not true,” I replied.
“Are you in love?” Gavin asked.
I thought for a moment about Harper and me, and how I felt about her. Then replied, “I am in love. And I’ve been waiting to tell her because, in my mind, I figured it was too soon. But now that you’ve made me think about it, I’ve decided it’s never too soon to tell someone how you feel.”
“Hell no, it’s not!” James said with a slap to my back.
Gavin looked away, but not before I saw his expression. It was a look of hurt…or maybe longing.
“Was it long ago you were in love?” I asked.
He let out a bark of laughter. “Feels like it was forever ago. I vowed never again.”
“Dude, exactly what happened to make you so cynical?” I asked.
Gavin waved off my question. “Listen, if you two want to believe in love, have at it. But for me, it’s not worth it. Besides, why would I tie myself down to just one person? No, thank you.”
“Hey, guys!”
Harper’s voice made my insides zip with an energy I only felt when she was near me. I looked over and saw she was outside the floral shop, watering the plants.
“Hey there,” I said when I reached her, kissing her gently. “I’ve missed you.”
Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. “You just saw me earlier this morning.”
Winking, I lowered my voice. “Then I miss being in bed with you. Naked.”
When she looked away, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Once she recovered, she looked back at the three of us. “Doing your daily Main Street walk, I see. I’ve had a lot of people tell me they love seeing you guys out and about like this.”
“Good,” Gavin replied. “That was the goal. Makes us seem a bit more accessible.”
Harper smiled. “I’ve noticed more people stopping and talking to you, so you’re right about that.”
“Is that…Brystol?” Gavin asked, trying to see around some tourists.
Harper glanced over her shoulder. “Yep. She’s watching Winnie today.”
Brystol came walking up the sidewalk with a sleeping Winnie in her stroller.
“Wow, she’s crashed,” James said, bending down to peek at Winnie.
“I know! I’d barely started our walk and she was out like a light.” Brystol smiled down at Winnie.
“God help you if she poops.”
Brystol shot Harper a dirty look. “Hilarious, Harper.”
“What are you doing with her?” Gavin asked.
Brystol must not have noticed him, or she’d chosen not to pay attention to Gavin when she’d first joined us, but once he spoke, her smile vanished and she stood taller, her shoulders squared off as if she were preparing for a battle.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m helping Liam and Hope by taking Winnie for a few hours.”
“Who’s watching the toy store?” James asked.
“Melanie.”
Melanie was Brystol’s only full-time employee. She also had two part-time girls who worked the weekend.
Harper bent down and brushed back one of Winnie’s curls. “How long are you watching her for?”
“We’re actually on our way back to her house. I just took her for a couple hours to give Liam and Hope some alone time.”
“That was nice of you,” Gavin said.
Brystol snapped her head so hard, I was surprised it didn’t break. “Thank you, but it’s the least I can do.”
“Do you want to come in for a drink before you head back?” Harper asked her.
“No, thanks. I’d better get her back. We’ve been gone for a bit longer than I’d promised, but I had so much fun at the park with her. She loves the swings!”
I couldn’t help but notice how Gavin was staring at Brystol as if seeing her through new eyes. He finally turned away and started to continue on down the sidewalk.
“We should get going. Bye, Harper, Brystol.”
“Bye, James,” both women said in unison.
“Bye, Gavin!” Harper called out. He turned around, smiled, and waved.
I pulled Harper toward me and kissed her a little longer than was publicly decent before drawing back and whispering, “I’ll see you later, baby.”
Those beautiful cheeks turned pink again, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’ll be counting down the hours.”
“Gag me,” Brystol said, as she started to push the stroller with the still-sleeping Winnie inside past us.
James chuckled and hit my chest. “Let’s go, lover boy.”
He and I jogged to catch up to Gavin.