Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 33445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
His dark hair was prematurely graying, and wrinkles had started forming at the corners of his baby blue eyes.
“Davie Masterson, how’ve you been?”
They embraced, mindful of standing in the center of the produce section as people shopped.
“Good, and you? Haven’t seen you in what? Three years?”
She adjusted the little red basket on her arm. “Yeah, long time. How are Dani and the kids?”
“They’re doing real good. Dani is pregnant again.”
“What is that? Number four?”
His cheeks became red, and he broke into a full grin. “Yup, fourth time’s the charm. Three little girls and now we’re finally getting that boy.”
“Congratulations. That’s wonderful, Davie.”
“You know you’re the only one who still calls me that.”
“I guess old habits die hard.” She closed her eyes and instantly regretted her words. She opened them and stared back into his face.
He appeared so serious all of a sudden and ushered her to the side. “So, I assume you’re here for Christian’s funeral? How are you handling everything? Are you doing okay? I know you were close.”
She stared idly at the rows of lettuce. The automatic sprinklers came on, sending a mist into the air. “I could be better.” He wrapped her in another hug, and she sighed, knowing now was not the time to cry.
“Have you seen Tallin and Riley yet?”
“No. I’m headed over there later tonight, after I get settled in.” She pulled away from him and looked into his eyes.
“Have you been keeping contact with them these last three years?” he asked.
“Here and there, but we’ve all been busy.” She swallowed past her emotions. “I just talked to Christian a week ago.”
Empathy covered his face. “I am so sorry.”
She shrugged and steeled her emotions. “That’s life, I guess. Have you seen them? Are they doing okay?”
He ran his hand over his hair and glanced around uneasily. “I haven’t seen them since … well, since the accident. No one has actually. They have been keeping to themselves.”
Tallin and Riley had cabins in the mountains, no more than a mile apart, and she suddenly became so stricken, knowing their emotions must be weighing on them heavily.
Before she had moved to Denver, the four of them had always spent time at Riley’s house. She had so many wonderful memories in that house.
“Well, listen, I have to finish getting supplies for the storm, but we should get together later on, after…”
She knew where they would see each other, Christian’s funeral. She nodded almost absently, and they hugged again.
She watched him walk away, sighing as she continued her shopping and trying to keep her mind on more pleasant things—things that wouldn’t make her break down in the middle of the grocery store.
Chapter Three
The hardest part is coming
After Lilly had gotten a trunk load of supplies, she headed over to Riley’s house. She’d gotten the balls to call him when she’d gotten to her parents’ cabin, and he’d invited her over for dinner.
Tallin would be there, and even though she’d known these men her entire life, seeing them again after three years made this whole situation feel so strange.
The truth was she didn’t know what to say, and even though she’d have to figure that out pretty damn fast given that she would be seeing them shortly, everything in her seemed like it was at a standstill.
Even though the weather forecast hadn’t called for snow for a couple more days, there was a light flurry blowing in the air, covering the ground, and making the visibility sketchy ten feet in front of her.
The higher she drove into the mountains, the more ominous the sky appeared, and the more her nerves rose with the idea that she’d be seeing her guys again.
She just wished they were in different circumstances.
Finally seeing Riley’s massive cabin up ahead, she breathed a content, yet apprehensive sigh. It had been so long since she’d been up here, since she’d seen him.
But seeing the cabin brought back so many wonderful feelings that she couldn’t help but smile at the memories that played through her mind.
She pulled into the driveway and parked next to Tallin’s truck, her heart beating hard and fast and her palms sweating. He had an emblem and insignia of the Marines on the back of his truck, and as she tightened and loosened her hands on the steering wheel, she thought about what she would say to them.
Knowing the boys planned on making dinner and wanting to contribute something, she grabbed the bottle of red wine she’d picked up at the store.
As she made her way toward the door, the wind picked up and blew snow in her direction. She picked up her pace and got to the front door, breathing heavily not because she’d rushed or because of the weather, but because she was so damn nervous.
Once she reached the porch, it shielded her slightly from the weather onslaught.