Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“So I was right!”
“Yeah, you were.”
“I can’t imagine losing a sibling,” she said with a sympathetic frown. “I mean, I literally can’t because I’m an only child, but I don’t know what I’d do if we lost one of my cousins.”
“You lost your mother,” I replied softly.
She smiled halfheartedly. “Yeah, that was bad.”
“I bet.”
“She was sick for a lot of my childhood, but it was still a shock once she was gone. Like, what do you mean I can’t go tell her about my day? What do you mean I broke my arm, and she’s not there to cuddle with? Who the hell am I going to talk to when I’m happy or sad or mad or overwhelmed? My dad did his best, but it obviously wasn’t the same. She was the frigging sun, you know?”
“Yeah, I know.”
“She’s been gone for almost half my life now. It’s weird.”
“How old were you when you lost her?”
“Twelve.” She grimaced. “That was a hard year for me. I was taller and bigger than all the boys in my class. Chubby. I hadn’t figured out how to wear my hair yet, everyone was experimenting with makeup, and I wasn’t really interested, hadn’t started my period, the whole shebang. Then on top of that, my mom died, which just made me even more of an outsider and someone to talk about.”
“That sounds miserable.”
“I was miserable. It’s pretty hard to articulate all the things that are wrong at that age. I was sad and angry and frustrated with the world. It got better, though. Easier to manage. Aunt Halle helped.”
“I’m sorry you went through that.”
“Me too,” she replied simply. She lowered her voice. “Honestly? I’m not even sure who I would be right now if she’d lived. Life would look so different. It’s hard to even imagine. Does that sound bad? I don’t mean that I’m glad she’s gone. If I could choose, she would still be here.”
I reached out and gave her thigh a squeeze. “Of course you would. I didn’t think that’s what you meant. If my brother Zeke wouldn’t have died, I wouldn’t have found you the way I did. The sequence of events that led up to finding you in that garage would’ve never happened. Doesn’t mean I would ever wish for him to be gone.”
Rosemary let out a breath of relief. Reaching back, she pulled her long mass of hair over her shoulder and braided it into a loose rope.
I’d seen plenty of women get ready. I’d showered with them. Watched them put on their clothes and makeup. But nothing had ever felt as intimate as sitting in that dim room watching Rosemary in her pajamas braiding her hair.
“This is kind of weird, right?” she announced with a sweet smile. “Like, oh, here’s your mate. You just met, but fall into bed anyway and complete the bond.”
“Can I be honest?” I asked slowly.
“Always.”
“I’ve wanted to fuck you since the moment I saw you.”
“Bullshit,” she argued, her eyes twinkling. “My hair was one huge knot, my clothes were filthy, I stunk, and I was threatening you with a broken beer bottle.”
“Didn’t matter,” I said, smiling back. “Instant attraction.”
“Well, I guess that’s comforting.” Her lips twitched as she tried to hide her smile. “At least I know you’ll still find me attractive when I’m huge, pregnant, and don’t feel like showering or getting off the couch.”
The last words were nearly indecipherable as she realized what she was saying.
“I don’t think it’s possible to find you unattractive.”
“Thank you, mating bond.”
I let out a laugh, and she shushed me, glancing at the door.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with the mating bond,” I argued, lowering my voice. “You’re fucking gorgeous.”
“I wasn’t then.”
“Sure, you were. I knew it was there under the grime.”
She widened her eyes at me and shoved my shoulder.
The room was quiet as we looked at each other. She was outspoken and so sure of herself since the moment we’d met, but there was a vulnerability there too. She was showing it to me. It felt like a privilege that not many others received.
“So…you want kids?” she asked softly.
“Yeah.” The word came out rough. I cleared my throat. “Yeah, I’d like a couple. You?”
“I’ve always wanted a big family,” she replied. “Growing up as a single child was fine—I had my cousins to play with and stuff—but I always thought if I had kids I’d have at least two so they’d have a built-in best friend.”
“I liked growing up in a big family,” I replied, leaning down on my elbow so I could prop my head in my hand. “There was always someone around to hang with.”
“Yeah, exactly!”
“I can continue taking the pills if you want to wait a while, though.”
“You’re already taking them?”
“When I realized that my brothers seemed to be finding their mates in rapid succession, I figured it would be smart,” I confirmed. I’d felt like an idiot doing it, but now I was relieved I had.