Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“I know,” Big Dick said. “Hunter told us all more than once.”
“I bet that pleased you.”
“I don’t mind Hunter. He is a dick, but at least he takes care of you.”
Harlow smiled. “He does.”
“You don’t want to kick my ass right now?”
Harlow sighed. “I spoke to Carlos.”
“What is it with everyone speaking to Carlos?”
“You mean you haven’t?” Harlow asked.
“That’s not the point,” he said.
“So you have spoken to Carlos.”
“Yeah, I spoke to him.”
“And you don’t believe him?” Harlow asked.
“You’re asking a lot of questions.”
“You’re my big brother, and I hate to say this, but it seems you’ve got your head right up your ass about this.”
He sighed. “I’m not getting into this.”
“You’re in love with Larissa,” Harlow said.
Big Dick turned to look at his sister. He didn’t say a word.
“That’s okay. It can suck a little when you realize you’re in love with someone who might not love you back.” Harlow sighed.
“You’re not being very comforting right now.” Big Dick spotted a couple of old plastic chairs. They had once been white but were covered in a layer of dirt. He wiped off some old leaves and placed one for Harlow to sit.
“Thanks,” Harlow said. “You don’t need me to be comforting. That is not who you are, George. You need me to be real with you.”
He pulled up another chair and took a seat. Larissa was going to get as big as his sister one day. This pregnancy was scaring the crap out of him. Running a hand down his face, he couldn’t help but feel that pull of wanting his woman. Larissa was his, even if right now she didn’t know it yet.
“Here’s the thing, George, Larissa loves you.”
He turned his head to look at his sister. “No, she doesn’t.”
“Ugh, you men are a pain in the ass. Why do you think it hurts her so much? Why do you think she is cutting you out of her life, or attempting to? Because it hurts. She loves you, and regardless of the truth of that damn bet, it hurt her. Just like when Hunter broke up with me, it shattered me. I loved him so much, which is why it hurt. If I had absolutely no feelings for him, it wouldn’t have mattered. Think about it, she loves you, and she couldn’t even imagine you hurting her like that, so when it happened, she couldn’t handle it.”
“What do you suggest I do?” Big Dick asked.
“Keep trying. Keep being there. Keep fighting. It is all you can do.” Harlow reached out and put a hand on his thigh. “It’s not for nothing. She’s the mother of your child, George. Don’t lose hope.”
“Since when are you the voice of reason?” Big Dick asked.
Harlow put her hand on her stomach. “Have you not heard? This is like a magic spell. I’m all great and knowing now. Mothers know best and I am going to enjoy every single second of it.” She winked at him. “Just as I know that I’m getting cold and I need to go and warm up. Talk to you soon?”
“Yeah.” She kissed his cheek and he watched as she walked away.
He felt the cold, but right now, he wasn’t interested in making his way inside. He just needed to sit and process everything. Was it possible that Larissa might still love him? Could he even get his hopes up to wish for something as magical as that? He wanted to.
“You all right?” Erick asked, coming toward him.
Now, this did surprise him. Out of all his brothers and even Harlow, Erick rarely came down to the tree house. Most of the time, he figured it was because Erick felt like he was too good for all of them.
“What are you doing here?” Big Dick asked.
Erick held his hand up and then sighed. “I saw you leave and then Harlow, then Harlow come back.” He shrugged. “I figured you needed some air.”
“You actually thought right.”
He watched Erick as his brother looked up toward the tree house. “You know, I always wanted to be part of this. I wanted to try and get inside that damn tree house.”
Big Dick frowned. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Erick laughed. “I guess you don’t know this, but I’m afraid of heights.”
“Wait? What?”
That laughter turned nervous as Big Dick got to his feet.
“You’re kidding me right now?” he asked.
“No. I tried when no one was around to get up into the tree, but yeah, it scared me.” Erick pressed his hands together and then let them go.
“You never said anything.”
“You were never around and neither was Harlow. There was no way I was going to tell you all that I was shitting myself about climbing up the tree.”
Big Dick looked at Erick, and then felt like a shitty big brother. “You think Harlow wasn’t a little afraid? Nor Jude? Trust me, we were all a little afraid.”