Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 551(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 551(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
“Is June safe?”
“June is safe. Dan took her. He and I just got into it before she left.”
I let out a breath of relief. At the same time, my chest tightens with growing anger. Dan took June, but he still obviously fucked up big time.
“You should’ve called me, Ava. You know you can call me, right? Anytime, day or night.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I needed to gather my thoughts and get myself together. Can we go outside? Talk there?”
“Of course.” Glancing over my shoulder, I see that all my brothers have gathered at the bar behind us. I can tell by the way they set down their drinks that they’re ready to leave if I need their help.
My chest swells. My family has always been there for me. But it’s only now that I’m willing to accept that I actually need them.
It’s only now that I’m willing to accept their help.
“Y’all okay?” Cash asks. Luckily the band hasn’t started yet so he doesn’t need to shout, which might draw attention to us.
I nod. “We’re just gonna go talk in my truck. Give us a few.”
“We’ll be here,” Wyatt says, cracking his knuckles. “Been a minute since we’ve had a fight in these parts.”
“That was once,” Cash replies, parroting his wife’s line. “And the other guy started it.”
I don’t love fighting. But if someone hurt my girl—
Yeah, he’s gonna have a date with my right fist.
Putting a hand on the small of Ava’s back, I guide her to the door and open it for her. The air outside is bracing, the darkness not quite complete now that we’re heading into spring.
She’s trembling. I curse, pulling her closer. Something bad definitely happened, and I’m definitely going to crack some skulls if that something was her asshole ex putting his hands on her or being abusive in any other way.
What kind of man makes somebody cry hard enough that her eyes swell up like this?
Makes me feel helpless. And angry. And now I wanna fix this, whatever the problem is, even though I just had a whole conversation with my brother about how harmful my pathological need to fix everything and save everyone has become.
What if—for now—I just make a promise to listen? Because I know Ava, and she doesn’t need me to punch anyone for her. She can hold her own. But she does need a friend. A shoulder to cry on.
I’m your man, Ava.
I open the passenger door for her and give her a hand as she climbs inside. I hustle to the driver’s side and start the ignition, cranking the heat. Luckily the engine is still warm—I was only inside for a little less than an hour—so we get comfortable quickly.
“Your seat warmer is right there.” I nod at the button on her door.
Turning on the warmer with her thumb, she manages a tight smile. “You think of everything.”
“I hate seein’ you like this,” I say softly. “What happened?”
I wanna touch her, put my hand on her thigh like I always do when she’s in my truck. Let her know I’m here.
But I also wanna give her space. She wants physical comfort, I’m in. That’s her call to make, though.
“Dan just lost his mind.” Ava takes off her hat and sets it on the console between us, letting her head fall back on the headrest. “I shouldn’t let him upset me because I know that’s what he wants. But he really got to me today.”
I drop my hand to my side so she can’t see me make a fist. “I’m sorry. Co-parenting is not for the faint of heart.”
“No shit,” she says with a scoff. She looks down at her hands, which are clasped on her lap. Then she looks up at me. “We fought about you, actually.”
My stomach heaves. “Did I do something?”
“No! My God, Sawyer. You’ve done nothing except be awesome.” She elbows her hat out of the way and reaches for my hand, tangling our fingers. “Dan is just jealous. You’re the first guy I’ve really dated since we got divorced, and I think it threw him for a loop.”
“Did you tell him about me?”
“Junie did. She brought you up because … how could she not? You’ve been around so much, and you’ve been just so wonderful to both of us.”
My turn to swallow. “I am pretty great.”
“You’re the best. Truly. And that’s where I made my mistake. I should’ve told him about you earlier—”
“You get to decide these things, Ava,” I reply, my pulse skidding at the idea that she wants to tell her ex about me. That feels like a big step. “This is your life, not his. You tell him when you’re ready.”
Ava’s eyes are glassy when they meet mine. “But it’s all our lives, isn’t it? Because you’re a part of June’s life now, Sawyer.” She squeezes my hand. “I hope a big part. And I should’ve told Dan about us, because he’s going to be seeing a lot of you.”