Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
I laugh. “I haven’t.”
“You haven’t what?”
“I haven’t been talking to her. I haven’t seen her. I haven’t kept shit from you. Cotton called me this morning to shoe one of his horses. Did that, came home, and found Laina sitting on the couch in her wedding gown.”
“What did she say?”
“She hasn’t said much, but I haven’t pushed her. I asked why she walked out once, and she gave me a deer-in-the-headlights look, so I changed the subject. It’s not really important now.”
“No, you’re right. Is she okay?”
I take a deep breath and try to settle the whisper of anxiety breezing around my insides.
Gavin’s question and vague insinuation make sense. After all, he knows her. They were once close, too. Our whole family was close to Laina. She might be fun-loving and spontaneous, but she’s not the kind of person to leave her fiancé at the altar. Something big must have happened. I just hope that big event was realizing she wasn’t happy and not something … darker.
My shoulders tense as I push the thought out of my mind. For now.
“She seems fine,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “A little frazzled. But, you know, if she wasn’t sitting in this giant wedding dress, it could’ve easily just been a normal afternoon.” I laugh at the bizarreness of it all. “Well, as normal as finding your ex-girlfriend who’s now a huge pop star in your house on her wedding day.”
I pace again, unable to stand still.
“Hey, Luke. Are you okay?”
“Of course, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Gavin’s voice lowers. “Because the one who got away is suddenly back, and I know you weren’t expecting it.”
I sigh and stop moving, my heart pounding. I’m not sure what to say. He'll know I'm lying if I try to say it’s no big deal. But how do I answer that?
Laina is, without a doubt, the love of my fucking life.
She’s unlike any woman I’ve met—a perfect ten in every way. She’s gorgeous and beautiful, talented and hilarious. Sweet but a spitfire. Predictable yet mischievous. Laina is headstrong and determined, too, but none of those qualities are what I love most about her.
What makes it impossible to move on from her completely is that I like her.
I like her as a person. I respect the hell out of her. I enjoy being with her, even when we aren’t having sex—maybe even more when we aren’t in the bedroom.
That’s great when she’s your girl, but it’s not so great when she’s not, and you can’t have her.
Like now.
Because she left me for bigger—much-deserved—things. A brighter, bolder life. I don’t think Gavin is entirely right. She’s not back. She’s just here … for now.
“She needs my help, Gav. I don’t know why, but it doesn’t matter. If she needs me, I’ll be there.”
“I know you will, buddy.”
My smile is faint. “She wants to stay.”
“For how long?”
I shrug even though he can’t see me.
“Look, I have concerns that this isn’t safe for you,” Gavin says.
“I—”
“But I know you’re going to help her anyway.” He chuckles. “What can I do to help?”
I grin. “Have I ever told you that you’re my favorite brother?”
“Yes. But you usually only say it when you need a favor.”
“Bad idea to mention it now, then, huh?”
He laughs.
I rack my brain for anything that Gavin might be able to do to help. The only thing I can come up with is that Laina mentioned she doesn’t have a phone or clothes. Sure, she can borrow both of mine. But she might feel more comfortable not being dressed in her ex’s clothes while she sorts her life with another man.
“Can you get a prepaid cell phone?” I ask. “She doesn’t have hers, and I’m guessing she’s going to want to make calls and not have them easily traced.”
“Don’t ask questions, but I have a prepaid cell that I haven’t activated yet. You can have that.”
Don’t ask questions? Now, all I want to do is ask questions. What are you up to, Gav?
“Great,” I say instead, staying focused. “And can you grab her a few clothes somewhere?”
“Where do you think I’m going to be able to get women’s clothes?”
I run a hand down the side of my face. “Go to Chase’s and see if Kennedy will let you borrow a few things. She’s a teenager, but I think they’re about the same size.”
“Oh, sure. How should I ask our niece if I can borrow some of her clothes? She’s going to get the wrong impression.”
I laugh. “Make something up. Tell her you have a girl over from out of town or something.”
“That’s not setting a good example.”
“Sure. Worry about that now.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll do it.”
“And, Gav, please don’t mention this to anyone. I don’t want anyone to know Laina is here.”
I can almost hear his smile through the phone. “You got it.”