Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“How’s what’s his name?” Courtlynn asks her, and I have to stifle a laugh.
It’s no secret that none of us are a fan of Todd, Baylor’s boyfriend. He really doesn’t give her enough of his time. I get it. The guy has an intense job, but she’s my sister, and I worry about her spending so much time alone. That can’t be healthy, right?
“He’s great. Working on a couple of big cases. He’s still at the office,” she says.
A glance at the clock tells me it’s half past seven. Not unheard of for an attorney to work that late, but it seems as though it’s every night. I can’t remember the last time I talked to Baylor or video chatted with her and Todd was there in their New York City apartment, which they share. Even when it’s later at night. I’ve mentioned it a few times, and it only upsets her, so I bite my tongue these days.
“Aren’t you lonely?” Leighton asks. Her tender heart can’t stand the thought of Baylor spending so much time alone in a city of millions.
“Nah, I’m usually working, too. Besides, it means I get to have me time.”
“What about together time?” Courtlynn asks. “Do you ever get that? I mean, you’re living together. You should be getting dicked down on the daily, and something tells me that’s not happening.”
“Court!” I scold. Well, I try to scold her, but I’m laughing too hard, so is Leighton, and to my surprise, Baylor.
“Stop.” Baylor chuckles. “I get plenty of the D, little sister. Don’t you worry.”
Courtlynn shrugs. “If you say so. I mean, that’s a perk of living with the guy, but he’s never there.”
“He lives here,” Baylor counters. “All’s good, Court. Trust me.”
“If you say so,” Courtlynn mumbles.
“What about the three of you? If we’re talking about sex lives, let’s dive into yours.” Baylor smirks.
“Dry as a popcorn fart over here,” Courtlynn blurts out.
“Really, Court?” I ask, my mouth hanging open.
“What?” She shrugs. “Would you prefer I say as dry as the Sahara Desert?”
Leighton’s face is red. She’s two years older than Courtlynn, but she’s always been the shy one out of the four of us. “Stop it.” She gently smacks at Courtlynn’s arm.
“We all know Ellie is a born-again virgin, and Lei, from the redness of her cheeks, is not getting any either,” Courtlynn says. “And Bay, I’m calling bullshit because Todd is always ‘working.’” She does air quotes when she says working, and I know I need to step in and shift this conversation before sisters’ night becomes sisters’ fight night.
“Moving on,” I say, trying to change the subject.
“Good idea,” Leighton says. Her cheeks are getting redder by the second.
“What are we watching tonight?” I ask, just as headlights shine through the living room windows.
“Who’s that?” Courtlynn asks.
“I don’t know. We never get visitors.” It’s true. We live on the family’s land, which we call Magnolia Estates. It’s where the inn is and has been in our family for four generations. Guests never stop at our house, especially not this late at night.
“Does someone have a hot date you didn’t tell me about?” Baylor asks through the screen, just as a knock comes at the door.
“I’ll get it.” Courtlynn stands and bounces her way to the front door, not bothering to peer through the window next to it or the peephole before pulling it open. Magnolia Ridge is a safe town, but still. We’re three women alone in our pajamas. She should have looked.
“No dates,” Leighton says, answering Baylor as we watch the front door.
“Turn me so I can see,” Baylor says. Leighton does as she asks and moves the laptop to face the front door, just in time to see Chandler James enter through the front door. My three best guy friends from high school and my best friend, Kinzie, follow him inside.
My heart falls to my feet, and there’s an instant ringing in my ears.
Chandler is here.
That can only mean one thing.
My heart grinds to a halt and then starts back up at a heavy pace. Copeland. Something has happened to Copeland. I worry every single day about him, and this is my greatest fear. He might not be mine, and it’s been years since I’ve seen him, but I need him to be okay. A world without Copeland James, even from afar, is not something I want to think about. But I might not have that option anymore.
Please, God, let him be okay, I silently pray.
Chandler is eight years older than me. We were never close growing up. Plus, he was gone—deployed—the entire time I was dating his brother. His younger brother was my whole world, until he left us all behind.
He joined the military like his big brother. The only difference is that Copeland never came home. He made a career out of it.