Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56278 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56278 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Success!
The nerves hit me from within the moment we landed.
I’d had just enough time to freshen up, pull on a pair of jeans and a hoodie, and strap in.
Daddy had wanted to take care of me earlier, but I felt now wasn’t the best time. After I got off, I seriously wanted a nap, and I had no time for that. But we planned on telling Chris and Dad about us today—and Yaya tomorrow when she came home from Boston—so I wanted to spend the night at Wade’s. Dad would get me tomorrow, and I actually looked forward to that. I’d missed him like crazy, and having Yaya as our neighbor came with serious perks. Plus, I didn’t want to rush things with Wade. Aside from the part where I wanted him to fall for me, of course.
Staying on that topic helped me battle the anxiety about what was to come today.
“Could I maybe have a sleepover with you three times a week?” I asked.
“I think three is an excellent number,” he agreed. “I don’t want to miss out on the stage where I get to pick you up for dates and little adventures.”
I beamed at him. He made me so freaking happy.
He reached across the aisle and squeezed my hand. “I’m also looking forward to those lunch dates you promised me.”
Abso-frickin-lutely. I was gonna visit him at work and stuff. Besides, he was dressed for work now, and it was hot as hell. Like, nice charcoal pants and a white button-down that fit him perfectly.
The pilot’s voice came over the PA system. “Welcome home to DC. The weather outside is gonna be increasingly shitty later today, but Alaska’s worse. Have a fine day. See you at work, Doc.”
I cracked up. Whoever that was clearly had my sense of humor.
Daddy also chuckled.
“Was that the Hyatt guy?” I asked.
He inclined his head. “You’ll get to meet him properly once your education starts. He’s probably our best pilot. He usually flies helicopters, but he’s licensed to fly every aircraft in our fleet.”
Even if said fleet consisted of only two planes, that was impressive.
We taxied into a private hangar, and I looked out the window to see another jet parked there.
A whole new world was opening up to me, and as nerve-racking as it felt, I was so ready. I’d once enlisted because I’d wanted to make a difference, and now I was getting a second chance. Wade believed in me. Chris believed in me. And more than that, I felt deep in my soul that this was where I belonged.
Wade could be funny in the way that he was so set in his line of thinking. That, as the older brother, he knew best. He was the one taking care of things, driving the car—and driving the ATV. But in reality, I should’ve driven the four-wheeler! I’d always been a sponge for learning mechanics, vehicles, and technology.
Rather than telling him, though, I wanted to show him. I wanted to prove to everyone, myself included, that I could do this.
“Chris is here.” Wade was looking out the window on his side, and he undid his seat belt and stood up.
I followed suit and noticed that the door to the cockpit swung open. An older and a younger guy appeared, exchanging quick nods with Wade before they opened the hatch and walked off the plane.
An aura of gravity fell over us, including Wade. He folded up the sleeves of his shirt and went over to the exit, right on time for Chris to climb up and meet him.
Chris was always a presence. Maybe an inch or so shorter than Wade, but fairly muscular and usually dressed in jeans or cargo pants and Henleys.
“If it ain’t my worrywart brother.”
“Greetings, asshole.”
I smiled as they did their thing, touching their foreheads together. No matter how bitchy they could get toward each other, they were the brothers who’d remained solid after losing their parents as well as adoptive parents.
“Why aren’t the dogs greetin’ me?” Chris walked farther in and offered me a grin. “Baby brother. You ready to join us at Hillcroft?”
“Yeah.” I exchanged a quick hug with him, and he pressed a kiss to my temple. “Thanks for kidnapping me, I guess.”
He laughed gruffly and continued farther back into the plane. “I knew it was gonna work.” He was clearly on a mission to open the dogs’ cages. Tundra, Prince, and Cat had done their business on one of those puppy pads, but Atlas refused. He was probably eager to get out.
“There’re my foster babies.” Chris crouched down and greeted all the dogs, and they were excited to see him. “Did Wade keep you locked up all the way, huh? I’ll beat him for you. Yes, I will.”
I snickered. Goodness, they’d only been locked up during takeoff and for the last hour.