Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Hell yes!” Ryder shouts. He lifts Jordyn into the air and spins her around. When they stop spinning, he kisses her hard.
“Remi? Is Uncle Ryder proposing, and no one told me?” I ask my niece.
“What’s going on?” Maverick calls out. “Should I give Jordyn a hug and a kiss too?” he jokes.
“We do everything together,” Merrick pipes up. “So count me in for a hug and a kiss too.” He winks at Jordyn.
I can’t hear Ryder, but I imagine he’s telling her to ignore his idiot brothers. “Jordyn just got the call she’s been waiting for. We might be here celebrating the Fourth of July, but my girl has something else to celebrate.” His smile is bright and infectious. I find myself leaning forward a little to make sure I don’t miss the announcement. “She got it! Jordyn got the Paris internship.”
Everyone cheers and calls out their congratulations. Maverick and Merrick both pick her up, spin her around, and kiss her cheek. Ryder just smiles. He knows they’re not trying to take his girl. They’re accepting her into our family. Besides, we all like to give each other shit.
Jade and Kennedy pull Jordyn to them. I can only imagine they’re asking her about her internship. I don’t know much about it, just what Alyssa told me. It’s in Paris, and if I remember right, she’s going to be gone for a while. Ryder is a lineman. He works for the local power company. I assume they need linemen in Paris too. I don’t know if that’s something that he’s considered or not. They’re going to have a lot to talk about, that’s for sure.
Selfishly, I don’t want my little brother to move to Paris, but if that were Alyssa, I would follow her there. Hell, I was a moody asshole when she was spending time with her parents and told me she’d just meet me here. I can’t imagine her living in a different country.
There’s your answer, asshole.
“Hand her over,” Orrin says, taking the seat next to mine. “I need practice.”
“We got plenty of practice with Blakely,” I remind him.
“Yeah, but that was forever ago. Come on, let me hold her.”
“Nope. Brooks said I was the only one allowed to hold her.”
“Right,” he scoffs. “Palmer! Sterling won’t let me hold the baby,” he calls out. My family cracks up laughing, because we may be adults, some of us married with kids, but we will always be the little boys who grew up together. We will never grow out of that, no matter how old we are.
“Sterling,” Palmer calls back. “Play nice.”
“Yeah, Sterling,” Ramsey chimes in.
“Mom taught you better,” Declan tells me.
“Stop fighting over my daughter,” Brooks says, heading toward us.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Palmer manages to cut him off, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Let them have some time with her. Relax, pappa bear.” I hear her tell him.
“Sterling, I need you,” Alyssa calls out.
My head snaps to where she’s sitting on the edge of the pool next to Piper. “Unless you want me to let one of the twins help me?” she asks.
I stand, hand Remi to Orrin, and make my way toward her. I sit next to her on the side of the pool, placing my hand on her thigh. “What’s up, Tink?”
“Payback on Rush.” She nods to where Rushton is floating on a raft. He has sunglasses on, but you can tell from how relaxed his body is, he’s asleep or well on his way. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough to dump him off on my own.”
“I see how it is. Using me for all of your dirty work.” I tap the end of her nose with my index finger.
“She’s tiny,” Piper defends. “She calls you Tank for a reason.”
“What she said.” Alyssa points at Piper.
“I’m just giving you shit, Tink. You know if it’s in my power, I’ll give you anything you ask for.” I don’t stick around to give her a chance to reply, but I do hear her quick intake of breath as I drop down into the pool.
The water is warm. I hold my finger up to Blakely, telling her to be quiet where she sits on the steps. She giggles and covers her mouth with her hand, and nods.
As quietly as possible, I walk to the back of the raft that Rushton is floating on. His chest rises and falls with ease, and I know he’s out. Moving to the side, I gently guide the raft away from the steps and tip him. He comes up, sputtering and shaking his head. Everyone laughs, but the only laughter I hear is hers. Alyssa has her head tilted back, and her happiness has my heart tripping over in my chest.
“You.” Rushton points at me, and I shrug.
“My girl wanted you dunked.” I realize what I said as soon as the words are out of my mouth. Rushton smirks and moves toward Alyssa. “Tink!” I call out, and she turns to see my brother headed her way.