Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
That does it. Tears stream down Harley’s cheeks and Rowan pushes the gummies across the bar top.
My own tears threaten.
“Oh shit, Willow’s going down. Suck it up, ladies. Tom will never let me have another ladies’ night if he sees this.” Shayla tosses a napkin at me.
Harley swipes at her cheek. “My husband is an overbearing ass. If I knew this was my last night, I’d have invited everyone!” She rips open the candy and tosses a handful into her mouth, moaning.
A few weeks ago, at the cookout, Wyatt shared his gummies with Harley and she couldn’t stop raving. Luckily, I stocked up. Rowan remembered my stash and recommended I bring some tonight.
Now it makes sense.
She knew what was happening.
From the looks of it, Jewls and Shayla knew as well.
Before my mind can wander to all the reasons I didn’t know, Harley picks up on it and stops chewing, pointing at me accusingly. “Why did you have these? Did you know something?”
I shake my head violently, not wanting to be in the line of fire. “Swear, no idea!”
“I asked her to bring them.” Rowan comes to my rescue.
“You knew something?”
“I found out an hour ago.”
“Me too, it was a sneak attack by the men. They waited until you were here and we couldn’t get to you,” Jewls explains.
“Same here, Tom didn’t tell me until you had clocked in. Why do you think he parked his ass up here the last hour, not letting me have any time with you?” Shayla scowls toward the back. “Now he’s hiding like a coward.”
“I know I’m an outsider and have no say, but it’s really romantic.”
All attention swings to Bex, who has a glimmer in her gaze and a dreamy smile.
“You think railroading me out of my job is romantic?” Harley mocks.
“Never mind. It’s not my business,” she backtracks, taking a huge gulp of her drink.
Rowan nudges my thigh and I turn fully to Bex. “You are my best friend and nothing about me is usually off-limits. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Tell all of us,” Shayla urges gently, sensing Bex’s unease.
“Well, these men love you. Like adore, idolize, scorch the earth, touch-her-and-die, love you. It’s what romance novels are made of and most women dream about. There is nothing they won’t do to protect you. Maybe they are all bossy and stuck in the stone age, but do you ever doubt their feelings? Not one of you ever has to question their devotion because they’d die before letting you get hurt.”
Silence fills the air until she shrugs uncomfortably, finishing her drink with a slurp. “Like I said, I’m the outsider and don’t know all the details.”
“You call yourself an outsider again and we will have problems. You don’t want problems with me.” Shayla refills her glass and goes to greet a customer.
“I do have a pretty busy schedule coming up. Maybe I was a little rash in my reaction. These pregnancy hormones are getting to me.” Harley rubs her stomach and glances around the bar. “I’ll tell Tom it’s safe to come out and call Achilles. He’s probably already in the parking lot waiting to hear what crazy pregnant wife he’s getting tonight.” She walks away, then calls over her shoulder, “Shayla is right, Bex. Don’t call yourself an outsider again.”
“Okay, the night can begin.” Rowan raises her glass in a salute. “Jewls?”
“Now that all the melodrama is out of the way, let’s talk schedules.” Jewls pulls out a printed copy of her calendar. “Any questions?”
Bex and I shake our heads. Earlier in the week, Talon warned me to watch for what he referred to as all the ‘fucking social shit’. Jewls sent an email to Bex and me outlining events through the next two months.
Between baby showers, bridal showers, birthdays, and our graduation, the calendar was packed. I asked Talon how my graduation made it onto the list and he speared me with an irritated look, saying, “We celebrate the fucking important shit, Lo.”
It wasn’t what he said, but how he said it that had me attacking him in the middle of his living room. My stomach pitters thinking about it.
“No questions, here,” Bex chirps.
I stare at the calendar, the flutter dying as one date flashes like a beacon, taunting me.
Talon’s birthday… This weekend… The birthday he hasn’t mentioned and I almost missed.
“Talon’s birthday,” Comes out as a squeak, and I clear my throat. “I need help with Talon’s birthday.”
I take a huge gulp of my drink, enjoying the hints of citrus before diving into my problem.
“He didn’t tell me it’s his birthday. I found out when I was reviewing his file. That was two days ago and I’ve been wracking my brain on what to do.”
“He’ll love anything you do,” Rowan encourages.
“It has to be special. Talon has done so much… and he’s… he’s everything.”