Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 71015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
What I didn’t tell her was that my eyes had stayed locked on Tru as soon as she’d made it through the door. Which had pissed off Molly even more.
Molly had realized that Tru was the woman that had put her hands all over me before the accident, and had let me know just how unhappy she was that she was there.
Tru’s mouth had dropped open during the explanation, and then anger slowly replaced her calm features. “What a bitch.”
I shrugged. Molly was an acquired taste.
She wasn’t that bad once you got to know her. She did, however, take a lot of getting used to.
Cleo loved her, and I had, at one point, thought I loved her.
Now, though, I knew better.
Molly was not for me, and I was not for Molly.
What was for me, was sitting right in front of me pissed off on general principle.
“That’s awful. I’m sorry,” she whispered quietly.
I shrugged, liking the fact that she cared. “It’s all right. I got over it.”
Our food came after that, and topics turned from our social life to politics. Then from politics to the state of the economy. Finally, we switched to my job and my role with The Dixie Wardens.
“I joined The Dixie Wardens when I was fresh out of the fire academy. I was young and hot headed, on the fast track to self-destruction after my mom died. My father was a member of a different chapter out of Tuscaloosa, and recommended The Benton Chapter to me out of desperation. I took to it like it was always a part of my blood, and haven’t looked back since,” I said softly.
“Were you close to your dad?” She asked.
I shook my head. “Yes and no. I am now, but then, not so much. My mom and he divorced when I was young over something that I was never privy to. When she died, I went to live with my grandfather. That’s when I finally got to know my dad.”
“Wow,” she said with a raised eyebrow. “You’re a mess.”
I felt a smirk tip up the corner of my mouth. “You could say that again. I…”
My voice trailed off as a man came into the steakhouse we were eating at. He looked familiar.
Familiar as in, when I looked into the mirror, familiar.
“What the fuck,” I whispered.
The man walked through the door, going straight from the hostess station to the back of the restaurant where I’d seen Cleo sitting when I walked in. We’d exchanged nods, but he’d been in his work clothes, so I hadn’t wanted to interrupt him.
Now, though, I wanted to interrupt him.
By my fist hitting his face.
There was no way on God’s green earth that Cleo hadn’t seen the resemblance between the two of us. No. Fucking. Way.
“Grayson?” Tru called.
And even the sound of her voice, the one that had soothed my aches, pains, and nightmares, couldn’t bring me out.
I saw the moment Cleo realized I knew.
His eyes flared, and he stood, ignoring the insistent voice of his boss, and our president, as he walked slowly outside.
Lucky for him, and for me, he’d gone the back way.
“I’ll be right back,” I said as I stood, not waiting for her reply.
I made it outside within moments after Cleo.
“Let me explain,” he said, but I didn’t wait.
My fist was flying before the words even left his mouth.
I’d known, of course, that I could possibly have a brother out there somewhere.
In fact, everyone had.
I’d been actively looking for him since I’d found out about him four years prior.
My fist, the bad one, hit his face with a sharp crack. He went back on a foot, and lifted his hand to touch the split in his lip gingerly.
“I’ll give you that,” he said darkly. “Now that you’ve got that out of your system, you’ll let me explain.”
I stared at him, darkly, ignoring the burn in my hand as I did.
“I’m eating with my girl, and I have to be at work in an hour and a half, but I’m all yours tomorrow after I get off,” I spat.
He nodded once. “I’ll meet you at your place.”
“You do that.” I hissed at him, then turned to leave.
The good feeling that Tru and I had fizzled out after that.
Sensing my mood, we’d cut lunch short. She left disappointed, I could tell, but I couldn’t be in the same room as my fucking brother and not want to talk to him. I was taking it out on Tru, and she didn’t deserve that.
So after a hug and a kiss on the cheek, she left without looking back, and I sat outside the restaurant and watched my brother through the plate glass window like some adolescent child.
I’d been searching for him so long that it felt almost surreal to know he was there. And one of my best friends had kept his existence from me.
He, unfortunately, had some major explaining to do before I forgave. But I had the feeling that I’d never forget.
Chapter 4
I can’t eat anymore, I’m full.
Do you want dessert?
Yesssssss.
-Tru to Grayson
Tru
“Do you mind taking Rowen Trick-or-Treating?” My sister, Reese, pleaded.
Picking up the pile of clothes I just folded, I walked into my bedroom. “Sure…but do I have to dress up?”
I hoped I didn’t. Reese had started a tradition when Rowen had been born a little over two and a half years ago when it came to holidays.
Her ex had left her when he found out Reese was pregnant. Therefore, Reese had made a promise to herself that she’d go above and beyond for her child since she was going to be the lone parent.
Which turned into huge ordeals when it came to holidays.
For Christmas, she decked her house in boughs of holly, fa la la…blah, blah, blah, blah.
In fact, she decked out everyone’s house, including Iliana’s, and my, apartment.
Then there was Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, and Halloween.
Halloween was at least a fun one to experience. The others were just damn annoying at times.
I’d dress up if I had to, but hopefully I didn’t, because I didn’t like looking like a fool.