Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
So please don’t. If you tell me my feelings are one-sided, I’ll understand.
But if they’re not, show me.
Love, Gemma
* * *
I hate that I didn’t reply before I left, but I know she wouldn’t have gotten it in time due to where I was stationed. I’m glad to be able to tell her how I feel in person instead. I want to ease her nerves as much as I can. Thinking about Gemma got me through the long ass days and nights. I’ve felt guilty because of her age and because she’s Everleigh’s best friend, but I didn’t plan this. These feelings developed over time and grew stronger over the past year. Knowing she feels the same makes me want to make her mine, and now I can’t stand the idea of not being with her.
Gemma glides across the stage and smiles wide as her dad stands and claps. Her brother, Noah, is next to him cheering loudly. He’s a year older than her, and I didn’t know him well in high school, but Gemma’s told me so much it feels like I do. He’s in love with her other best friend, Katie Walker, but never told her. According to Gemma, by the time she talked Noah into confessing his feelings, their cousin Gabe had moved to town and asked Katie out first. That was two years ago, and they’re still together. I’ve learned more about the people from Lawton Ridge while being away than I did living there for eighteen years. Though I didn’t mind hearing the gossip from Gemma because it meant the letters continued to come.
As Gemma walks off stage, she finds me. There’s no doubt she heard and saw me earlier, and the smile that spreads across her lips confirms she most definitely did.
I smirk, then shoot her a wink, and she licks her lips, then walks back to her seat.
After the ceremony is over, Everleigh rushes toward me and leaps into my arms. “You made it!” she cries.
I tighten my grip and smile. “With minutes to spare even.”
She pulls back and looks me over from head to toe. “No broken bones or bruises?”
“A few bruises from training.” I shrug. “Nothing major.”
“Thank God.”
Though I was honored to serve my country, I want to experience life in other ways too.
Mimi and Pops give Everleigh hugs, then we discuss dinner plans. Of course, Mimi already prepped a home-cooked meal.
“After we eat, I wanna take Tyler to a party,” Everleigh tells them, threading her fingers through her beachy waves once she takes off her cap. Though she’s tall like me, we look completely different. I have dark eyes and hair while Everleigh’s a brunette with blue eyes.
I’m half-listening as I scan the area for Gemma. She’s probably with her family, but I’m dying to see her.
“A party?” I furrow my brows and shove my hands into my pockets. “I’m twenty-two. I’m too old for high school parties.”
Everleigh scoffs, then swats my chest. “Nonsense. We’re technically not in high school anymore, so there.”
I snort. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot that you’re a full-ass adult now.”
“Language, Tyler,” Mimi scolds.
I apologize, and Everleigh laughs.
“Trust me, you want to go. Gemma will be there.” She snickers and waggles her brows. Lord knows what Gemma’s told her or what she knows about our…friendship.
“Gemma Reid? Are y’all dating?” Mimi asks.
“Yes,” Everleigh says at the same time I say, “No.”
Pops chuckles. “Let’s feed you crazy kids so you can go celebrate.”
Everleigh rides with me and talks my ear off about some guy she’s kinda seeing. After five minutes, I already want to punch his face in or turn the radio up so I don’t have to hear about it anymore.
Once we arrive at our grandparents’ house, Mimi serves chicken fried steak with white gravy, cornbread, and mashed potatoes as we sit around the table. She even made a pecan pie, and it was still warm when she sliced it. It was a good old-fashioned Southern meal—something I haven’t eaten in years—and just what I needed to feel at home. I’ll be staying here in my old bedroom, but everyone’s aware it’s only temporary. Before I got here, I told them I wouldn’t be settling in town, and they spent the better half of dinner trying to talk me into staying.
“I’m gonna get ready for the party, then we’ll go, okay?” Everleigh says as she skips toward the staircase.
“You only want me to go so I can drive you there and back.”
“Well, duh!” She laughs as she goes up to her room.
Over an hour later, she finally comes down all dressed up. Her long hair is in curls, and her skirt is too damn short.
“That’s what you’re wearing?” I raise my brows, waiting for Mimi or Pops to say something. She moved out of our mother’s house the year I left and visits sparingly. I don’t blame Everleigh for not wanting to live with her, considering I have no intention of seeing my mom at all. While I was gone, my mother never wrote, called, or reached out to me in any way. She couldn’t care less that I’m home, and I don’t care to waste my time. She’s been toxic my whole life, and it’s obvious that won’t change.