Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 114068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Duke opens my door and holds out his hand. Taking it, I am brimming with a profound sense of gratitude. Who knew coming to a small town in the middle of nowhere would broaden my horizons in such an epic way? There’s a whole universe outside the place I’m from and the people I grew up with.
A whole different way of life that isn’t objectively any better or worse than how I grew up. It’s just different.
The kind of different I’m really starting to like.
“Thank you.” Holding on to Duke’s hand, I step onto the cracked pavement. Beside us, Ava and Sawyer are unloading the kids from his black Silverado.
Ella and Junie scream when they see us.
“Uncle D!” Ella makes a beeline for him, wrapping her arms around his legs. “You’re here! Daddy said you were coming.”
Junie eyes me. “Mommy didn’t say Miss Wheeler was coming too.”
Sawyer shuts the car door and grins. “We didn’t want to jinx it. So happy you made it, Wheeler.” He comes over and wraps me in a hug. “Thank you for coming. Means a lot.”
I give him a squeeze. “Thank you for having me. I’m so excited to see this art I’ve been hearing so much about.” I let go of Sawyer and hold out my hands to the girls. “Y’all wanna show me what you made?”
Junie and Ella bounce on their toes, all smiles. Junie takes my right hand, and Ella takes my left.
“I love your beautiful shoes,” she says.
“And your jewels,” Junie says, staring at my earrings. “Can I wear those?”
Ava laughs and starts walking beside us. “Those are for pierced ears, Bug. When you’re a little older, we’ll get yours pierced, and then you can wear any earrings you want.”
I give Junie’s hand a squeeze. “How fun is that gonna be? I’ll save all my favorite earrings for you.”
“I love you, Miss Wheeler.” She beams at me.
I burst out laughing. “That’s all it takes, huh?”
“She’s got a big heart,” Ava says.
Sawyer chuckles. “And expensive taste.”
“You’re in trouble, brother.” Duke claps Sawyer on the shoulder. “You lucky bast—bum. You lucky bum.”
The girls see a friend, so they drop my hands and take off running. The guys hang by the open doors at the front of the school where several teachers are handing out paddles for bidding.
Ava nudges me with her elbow. “I love your outfit.”
“Thanks. Duke and I are heading to dinner after this, so figured I’d put some real clothes on.”
She grins. “I heard y’all are going on a date. I’m happy for you guys.”
For a split second, I think about keeping up the pretense that she doesn’t know I’m pregnant. It’s easier that way. Less awkward if we stick to polite topics of conversation. I’m still getting used to the fact that all Duke’s family will probably know all our business for, well, ever.
But all of a sudden, the idea of pretending makes me feel suffocated. I’m not going to get anywhere in any area of my life if I don’t talk about anything real. Look how far Duke and I have come in such a short amount of time, largely because I’ve tried my best to be open and honest with him.
Something tells me Ava doesn’t mind real. She was a single mom before she moved in with Sawyer, and I’ve seen firsthand just how much she appreciates honesty and authenticity. She loves to cut loose at the Rattler every so often. Last time we were there, seemingly ages ago, she and I shut the place down, Tallulah shaking her head at us as we worked the dance floor despite us being the only people left in the bar.
So what if Ava judges me for whatever choice Duke and I end up making? Maybe she’ll think less of me if I get an abortion. Or maybe she’ll understand and offer some crucial insight into parenthood and kids and pregnancy and relationships and—well—everything.
Because the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced I want this baby.
I keep my voice low. “I’m sure you’ve heard I’m pregnant?”
“I have.” Ava’s grin doesn’t waver, and a sense of calm comes over me. She’s not freaking out, so why should I? “How are you feeling?”
I seesaw my hand. “I feel pretty good right now. But the morning sickness hit me hard pretty early. When it happens, it’s awful.”
“Truly the worst. I never threw up, but I felt like I had the worst hangover of my life for ten straight weeks.”
“Yes! That’s exactly how it feels—like a bad hangover. The exhaustion, the headaches, the brain fog.”
Ava nods at Duke, who’s chatting happily with an older woman wearing a name tag. Mrs. Hobson. “How’s he doing? Ryder told me he caught him whistling the other day while they tacked up their horses. Mind you, it was five a.m. Ryder couldn’t believe how chipper Duke was.”