Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Afterward, I was confused and embarrassed, and I just needed to get the hell out of there. So I said something about her FBI agent not being able to make her come like that, and then I walked out.”
His hands came up, palms out, as he sucked in a breath. “Dude! You did not!”
“I did.”
He turned and started to pace. “What the hell is wrong with you, Gavin?”
“I came in my pants, Declan! I was shook, as the damn kids say. Do they still say that?”
“Who gives a fuck if they say that? Gavin, she is pregnant, probably confused about all kinds of things herself, and then you treat her like that? Holy shit, that is not cool. No wonder you’ve been in a funk. Even you probably realize what an asshole you are.”
I glared at him. “I wasn’t really thinking I was an asshole, more of a dick.”
“Same thing.”
I tossed my hands up. “Anyway, I’ve been avoiding Brystol like the plague, along with Evelyn and Denny. Because it would be my luck to so see them and find Brystol at their place.”
“Gavin, the first thing you need to do is make things right with Brystol.”
“How? I’m sure she hates me.”
He shook his head. “She doesn’t hate you. If she let you do something as intimate as that, she has feelings for you as well.”
“She used to, but I’m not so sure she does now.”
Putting a hand on my shoulder, he squeezed. “Trust me, she has feelings for you. Now, you need to make this right. And don’t avoid Evelyn and Denny. It’s not their fault you acted like a green virgin.”
“I hate you. I’m never going to tell you anything ever again.”
I pushed past him and walked back out toward Main Street. A few kids in costume walked by with their parents on the way to the next store to get candy.
“Gavin?”
The sound of Denny’s voice had me closing my eyes and cursing. I plastered on a smile and turned around.
Evelyn and Denny caught up to us, and she hugged me, then said hello to Declan after he shook hands with Denny.
“What are you guys up to?” Denny asked.
“We were just making our way to Crazy Daisies to help Harper pass out candy,” Declan answered.
Smiling, Evelyn said, “We’re heading to Memory Lane Toys to help Brystol.”
“Speaking of,” Denny said, as we all started walking. “What in the heck did you do to Brystol?”
“Yeah,” Evelyn added. “We went to a boxing class the other day, and she taped a picture of your face to the punching bag.”
Declan started to laugh, then quickly stopped when I shot him a warning look.
“I didn’t do anything,” I replied.
“That’s not entirely true now, is it, Gavin?” Declan prodded.
I was going to kill him.
“What do you mean?” Evelyn asked him.
“Ignore him,” I said, this time shooting him a death glare.
Evelyn sighed. “I know you and Brystol have always had a salty relationship.”
Declan laughed again, and I elbowed him in the gut.
“But, Gavin…I really need you to fix this. This is a very delicate time during her pregnancy, and I don’t want Brystol to be stressed.”
Denny nodded. “I agree. Whatever you did, at least try to make it right, Gav.”
“I’ll fix it.”
“Right now?” Evelyn asked.
“Now? Um, I mean, it’s kind of personal.”
“Then we’ll watch the store while you and Brystol talk.”
Panic started to take over, and I wanted to turn and bolt. I caught Declan looking at me, and he nodded, this time giving me a warning glare.
“Fine. But only if she wants to talk to me. If she doesn’t, then I won’t press the issue.”
Evelyn smiled. “Sounds like a plan!”
Glancing over to Declan, I said, “I’ll meet you at the flower shop.”
He nodded, said his goodbyes to Evelyn and Denny, and continued down the block.
Evelyn wrapped her arm around Denny when we stopped at Memory Lane Toys. I drew in a deep breath and prayed Brystol didn’t have anything sharp in her hands when I stepped through that door.
Brystol
I loved trick-or-treating on Main Street—I always have, and I always will. I adored seeing the kids come in all dressed up. Most years, you couldn’t see what the kiddos were wearing because it was so cold that they had to wear coats over their costumes. But it was unseasonably warm tonight, and most of them only wore light jackets, so I could see their creative getups.
A little girl in a Belle costume walked up to me and held out her bag.
“Why, you look beautiful, Belle.”
She giggled. “I got a book from the bookstore lady. And candy, but she said I needed a book too.”
“Of course you do!”
“I’m going to put it with my other books, and Mommy and Daddy said maybe someday I’ll have enough to have my own library.”
“How wonderful would that be?” I said, as I held out a bowl of candy.