Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“So, when is Jake coming out of the hospital?” the girl I know now as Zoey asks Maggie
“He’ll be here tomorrow.”
“I haven’t seen him, is he ok?” Zoey asks, and Maggie nods
“Yeah, the doctors wanted to keep an eye on him,” Maggie tells her
“Well, it’s good he’ll be coming home,” she says, and all of the girl’s nod, but I’m a bit nervous about seeing the guy who was the last person to see my brother alive.
*
We sit out most of the night, Lena, and Zoey going to bed, “So how are you really?” Maggie asks me, and I look down at my drink forgetting how many this one is feeling very very relaxed.
“Honestly, I’m still in disbelief, every time my phone rings; I think it’s going to be him, then the reality of it all hits and I burst into tears.”
“Was Chance your only family?” she asks me, and I nod as the room starts to spin
“Yeah, our parents died when we were young in a car crash no less, and Grammy took us in.”
“Right, I remember when she passed away six years ago wasn’t it?” Maggie asks
“Yeah, massive heart attack.”
“Wow, I’m so sorry,” she says, taking my hand giving it a squeeze
“Thanks,” I tell her
“So, what are your plans now?” she asks me my head spinning
“I don’t have any, Brayden was going to get a place we could share, and that’s as far as we planned.”
“So, you were really going to move here,” she asks me a little surprised that I’d give my whole life up to move here
“Yeah, like I said before, I just literally packed the last box as Nash called, god is it hot in here or is it just me.”
“It’s just you, where’s all of your stuff now?” she asks
“Storage, I already gave my lease up, so I was homeless, and I was out of work ready to start my life here.”
“You can still do that,” she tells me, and I look at her
“How Maggie” she takes my hand again
“Your family and we take care of our own,” she says, and all of the women nod in agreement
“I’m tired I’m gonna head up to bed,” I tell them needing to lay down before I pass out
“Ok honey, get some sleep,” she tells me, pulling me in for another hug and I can feel myself losing it, so I head up to Brayden’s room to be alone.
*
When I wake the next morning, my head is pounding from the tequila, I have a quick shower, washing away the fogginess of my brain and head downstairs. Not many people are around, but Maggie and a few women who are in the kitchen the smell of coffee so enticing “Morning honey how’d you sleep” Maggie asks me
“Fine, thank you, Maggie, can I have a cup” I motion to the coffee pot needing a big injection of caffeine and fast
“Sure,” she hands me a cup “cream or sugar?” I shake my head
“No, blacks fine” the stronger this morning, the better, plus I’ve never really been a sugar person, not that you’d know with the size of me “is that the paper?” I ask seeing the paper on the table
“It is.”
“Is it alright if I read it.”
“Go for it” I take the paper and my coffee outside and sit at one of the tables. After a while, I hear the door open and see Niya and Zoey, which I found out are not twins at all
“Morning” Zoey says, smiling and I look up at both of them
“Morning”
“Are you ok Ella?” Zoey asks me, and I smile
“Yeah, just a little hung over,” I tell them and they both smile at me
“Told ya boozies,” Zoey says laughing
“Yeah, I can see that.”
“Did you have fun?” she asks, and I smile nodding
“Yeah, you’re all so welcoming.”
“Well, breakfast is cooking if you’re hungry” I blanch at the thought of food
“I think I’ll pass,” I tell them both and hear the door open again and a guy comes out, and I have to swallow the copious amount of saliva that just flooded my mouth (oh my god). He comes over placing his arm over Zoey’s shoulders (huh is this her boyfriend looks a little bit old for her)
“Morning ladies,” he says, staring at me and I look down at the paper
“Morning,” we all say
“We better go,” Niya says, and I look at both of them not wanting them to leave me alone with this totally gorgeous stranger
“Where are you going?” Mr tall, dark and dangerous asks them
“To Tink’s to get the kids,” Niya tells him
“All right, be careful,” he tells them both
“We will, you look after Ella while we're gone,” she calls out, and he turns looking at me making me blush
“Will do,” he says, and I look at Zoey, and she’s smiling
Chapter Four
Blaze
As I wake I see Lila still asleep, I slap her hard on the ass, and she jumps “Dammit Blaze” he whines rubbin’ her ass