Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
That logic was flawed in a seriously large way, but since her sister shut her down every time she tried to actually talk to her, Sloan turned to face the room. When Teague had invited her to the Sheridan residence, at first she’d thought it was going to be just the two of them going over the last details of her extraction. But, no, he’d invited all the O’Malley siblings.
She hadn’t realized when he said all he meant all.
Carrigan caught her eye, and Sloan immediately turned back to Keira. “I can’t believe he invited her.”
“She’s still our sister, even if she’s pretty much a traitor.” Keira swirled her drink, took a sip, and then added more from her flask. “Though Teague obviously doesn’t agree with our parents on that.”
Which was probably why their parents were noticeably absent tonight. She wasn’t sure if they’d gotten an invite or not, but she understood why they’d chosen not to come if they had been invited. She might have done the same if she’d known Carrigan would be here. “She’s with a Halloran. That’s inexcusable.”
“Is it?” Keira shrugged, taking another sip. “It doesn’t make Devlin less dead, either way.”
“Keira.”
“What? It’s the truth, isn’t it? We’re all so damn miserable. What’s wrong with one of us dredging out a little slice of happiness for herself? Maybe that’s why Mother and Father are so pissed—we’re so much easier to maneuver when we’re suffering.”
She was about to tell her sister not to talk like that, but she stopped herself. Wasn’t that part of the reason she was leaving? She was finally taking her future into her own hands and grabbing whatever happiness she could find. She nodded to where Teague stood with his arm around Callie’s waist. “Not all of us are miserable.”
“Well, duh.” Another sip. “You want to know the other thing that stands out with those two lucky little shits? They got out. Oh, not out-out.” Keira waved her hand. “But they aren’t under our parents’ thumbs anymore. Bet that helps with the whole happiness thing.”
It probably does. But she couldn’t say so out loud—not even here. No one could know she was planning on leaving. Their father couldn’t risk forcing Carrigan back into the fold and provoking a true war with James Halloran, but Sloan had no such power in her corner. Teague could get her out, but his first priority would always be Callie and the stability of the Sheridans. “You need to stop talking like that.”
“Why? Who’s going to hear me?” Keira made a show of looking around, her whole body tilting unsteadily with the movement. “It’s just us, Sloan.” Then she frowned. “Where’s Cillian?”
Sloan studied the room, only now realizing she hadn’t seen him. “I don’t know. Surely he was invited?”
“He’s been wearing his cranky pants lately. Maybe Teague decided to leave him out of it.”
She shot her little sister a look. “Because he was worried about you?” Considering her sister was obviously drunk and had decided that a pair of black leggings, combat boots, and an oversized white tank top that showed her black bra was appropriate attire for this dinner, Sloan wasn’t sure she blamed him.
“It’s none of his business. It isn’t anyone’s business.” Keira’s chin came up, a sure sign she was ready to fight. “He sent Liam after me, and I had to deal with a babysitter for the entire night. Talk about a buzzkill.”
Good. She worried about her sister’s nighttime activities enough as it was. It was good that Liam tailed after her when he could. Sloan was about to say as much, but Teague raised his voice. “There is a reason I asked you guys here tonight. If you’ll sit…”
Sloan followed Keira over to the couches situated around the living room, carefully choosing one between her sister and the arm of the couch so she wouldn’t risk sitting next to her other sister. She wasn’t ready to face Carrigan. It didn’t matter if every other one of their siblings seemed willing to forgive and forget—even Aiden from the looks of it. She wasn’t.
Not now. Maybe not ever.
Teague stood behind the overstuffed chair Callie had taken, his hands on her shoulders. “I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye in the past year—some of us more than others.” His gaze temporarily rested on Aiden before he looked at the rest of them. “But I’m hoping that we can set all the baggage aside for a night because I have great news.” His grin was downright blinding. “You’re all about to become aunts and uncles.”
Sloan blinked once, twice, a third time. Her mind churned, trying to make sense of his words, even though her gut already knew what he’d said. “You’re…Callie’s pregnant?”
Callie reached back to cover one of Teague’s hands with her own. “Yes. We’re due January eighth. I’m thirteen weeks pregnant on July fifteenth.”