Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
I tried to be the kind of guy you really would have married.
And then I’ll stop fucking helping if that’s what you really want.
Of course that was what I wanted! That was exactly what I wanted.
Wasn’t it?
I was still staring at the open doorway Silas had walked through when Natana poked her head in. I wondered if she’d heard our argument. Instead of humiliating myself by asking, I turned back to Bunny with quick, efficient strokes of the brush.
Natana moved inside with Letty and began untacking her a few feet away. We worked side by side in silence for a while before she finally spoke.
“He’s not very nice.”
It took me a minute to make sure I’d heard right. “I beg your pardon?”
“Your husband. He’s kind of an ass, isn’t he?”
I blinked at her, feeling the heat of anger simmer in my gut. “Are you serious? That man?” I asked, pointing in the direction Silas had gone. “That man is one of the most generous people I know, and that’s saying a lot since I also know your brother and… and… Kicky Winshaw.”
She shrugged. “Not sure you can compare a city guy like that to the woman who runs a food bank program and collects old coats for kids in need. And don’t get me started on my brother. My mother thinks he’s a saint.”
“Do you know that Silas gave Kandi Jenks a ride to her dance recital when her car tire picked up a nail on the highway? Or that when he got there and saw the dance moms selling T-shirts to help fund their field trip to the ballet in Cheyenne, he bought ten of them, one for everyone in my family and each of his good friends back home. Those T-shirts are ballet pink and say Dance Majestically on them, Natana. In Papyrus font, for god’s sake.”
Before she could say anything, I continued. “And apparently, he found someone to take your place for roundup, even though it’s only been a few hours since you told me you can’t be there. And when Cara and Hank Pickering threw a barbecue to welcome him to town, Silas rescheduled a conference call with Google—Google!—so he could be there to sample her potato salad. Also? He thinks I don’t know this, but he hung a birdseed ball in a tree behind my house because I mentioned once… once… that I liked watching the birds in the morning when I take my shower. I just happened to come across it when I was…” I noticed she was grinning at me. “What?”
“It’s true. You really are in love with him. ZuZu thought maybe it wasn’t real. I told her no one looks at another person the way that man looks at you when it isn’t real. And now you’re defending him like he’s god’s gift to the people.” She shrugged and stepped closer to pat me on the shoulder. “Sorry for provoking you, but damn, that was kind of amazing.”
I stared at her, ignoring for the moment that my baby sister was onto us. “You baited me on purpose? Why?”
“I heard you fighting and wondered for a split second if ZuZu was right.”
I finally remembered Natana’s words from earlier in the day, talking about how gorgeous Silas was. And how lucky I was. Of course she didn’t think he was an ass. I was so fucking stupid.
“I fell for it.”
She nodded. “It’s sweet, though. I’m happy for you. Not sure you ever felt that way about Eden.”
Her words caught me off guard. “It’s not the same thing.”
“Of course not. Eden was your high school sweetheart, the kind of young love that’s ten percent candy hearts and ninety percent desperation to rub your number two pencil against their Scantron form. Not exactly the stuff a real relationship is built on.”
Her words hit me hard. Eden and I had always been close. Ours hadn’t been a relationship mostly built on lust at all. Had I wanted her physically? Yes. Hell yes. Especially in the beginning. But we’d also grown incredibly close, relied on each other as confidants and…
I realized much of that part of our relationship had come later. After my father’s death and during the time her parents were fighting so hard to keep her from following her dreams. We’d each needed someone to talk to outside of our families because we’d needed to talk about our families to someone who understood the situation.
“I love Eden,” I said, as if defending a position long after I’d held it.
“Sure. She’s a good person,” Natana said. “But I’m glad you didn’t end up with her.”
“I don’t know why you say that. We would have been happy together.”
She pursed her lips. “You would have been happy. Maybe. She would have been miserable.”
I felt the insult like a kick to the chest. “Wow.”