Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“If they’re helping,” Holden says as he points at the guys, “I’m helping.”
I can’t help the sigh that escapes me.
“You don’t have—” But he glares at me, and I just don’t have it in me to fight with him. If he wants to invest time and energy into moving all of my shit for me, so be it.
It doesn’t mean anything.
“Fine,” Bridger says with a resigned sigh. “Help if you want to help, but lose the fucking attitude.”
Brooks pats Holden on the shoulder as he walks past, headed for the bedroom.
“I just have stuff in the bedroom and in here. Everything is packed up and ready.”
Bridger moves for the box marked Lingerie, but Holden growls and scoops it up before Bridger can get his hands on it.
“I’ll go grab my truck. Be back in ten.”
He stomps out the door, box in hand. I can’t help but smirk. I should probably tell him that there isn’t really lingerie in there, but this is too much fun.
“Why is he such a dick sometimes?” Bridger props his hands on his hips and then frowns at me. “Oh, yeah, because you won’t just talk to him and tell him that you and I are just friends. For fuck’s sake, Millie.”
“It’s none of his business.” I sniff, lifting my nose in the air, and reach for a box as Brooks calls out from the bedroom.
“Bridge! Get your ass in here and help me with this bed.”
It actually went really well. The four of us got all the boxes moved over to my new place in less than an hour. When I told the guys that they could go, they all shook their heads and dug in, opening boxes and helping me get settled.
“So, you bought Polly’s old furniture?” Brooks asks me.
“Yeah, it’s nice stuff. Mine was getting old, and I didn’t want to move it anyway, so I sold it. The beds are both new. Well, the mattresses are, anyway.” I shrug and smile as I look around the place. My brother had the whole thing renovated when he and Polly were still dating, and I absolutely love it.
Holden and Bridger have finished bringing the last of the boxes in from the trucks, and Holden’s holding four cold waters. He tosses one to each of the guys and then crosses over, holding one out for me after he breaks the seal of the lid.
“You need to hydrate.”
I accept the bottle. I want to ask where he found four cold waters, but I don’t. I can’t help but glance at his arm and see the little bit of pink peeking out at the bottom of the sleeve of his black T-shirt.
Goddamn it, it turns me on, and that’s what pisses me off the most.
“I ordered sandwiches from Mama’s Deli,” Holden adds. “They’ll be here in about twenty.”
“I could have done that. You all are doing the hard work. I should buy you lunch.”
His gorgeous blue eyes never leave mine as he smirks, his lips tipping up in a half smile. “No way. You don’t need to buy me shit. Now”—he searches the area and lifts the box marked Lingerie—“I’ll go unpack this one.”
“Help yourself,” I reply with an innocent grin. “It’s the bedroom on the right.”
“I’ll find it,” he says, walking past me.
“Shall we unpack the kitchen?” I ask Brooks, who’s watching me with shrewd brown eyes. Bridger is currently unpacking my bathroom.
“You bet.” He finishes his water, tosses the bottle into an empty box, since I don’t have garbage or recycling set up in here yet, and then grabs two stacked boxes marked Kitchen. Just when I’ve unwrapped some mismatched glasses and started to organize them in a cupboard, Brooks asks, “So, where are your brothers today?”
“They’re busy,” I murmur, feeling an ache in my breastbone. “They all have jobs and families now, with kids and property to take care of. I appreciate that you and Bridger are close by and are willing to sacrifice your morning for me.”
“We’re always happy to help,” Brooks agrees. “Anytime, you know that. But, sweetheart, your brothers will drop whatever they’re doing at a moment’s notice to come help you. You know that, too.”
I feel tears burn the backs of my eyes, so I bite my lip, keeping my eyes down on the Montana State University mug in my hands.
“I know,” I whisper.
The truth is, I miss them all so much. But now that they’re all settled down, doing their own things, I feel like an outsider. I don’t really fit in anywhere, and I don’t want to feel like an obligation or a pain in the ass.
“Where do you want the plates?” he asks with a sweet smile.
“Just right there.” I motion to the cabinet next to the stove. Then the doorbell rings, and Holden comes jogging out of the bedroom.