Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
"And don't do anything without me."
"You got married without me!"
"I said sorry. How long are you going to keep harping on it?”
"Fine, I won't break into town hall without you."
"Thank you," I sigh. "Was that so hard?"
"Kinda." She shouts after me, but I'm already heading out the door to face my parents. What do I tell them? I glance down at my ring. I might have to take this off. When I get to the house, I shove my left hand into my pocket as I enter through the front door.
"I'm—" The word "home" dies on my lips when I see Pierce sitting in the living room with my father, my mom bringing him a mug and plate of cookies.
"It's about time you got here." Mom gives me a bright smile. "Don't even think about it," she warns when I lift one foot. "You're not going anywhere."
I puff out a breath. I'm starting to think it's Pierce messing with me and not the other way around. I'm not so sure how much I like it when the shoe is on the other foot. I'll need to step up my game.
Chapter Fourteen
PIERCE
When Tinsley’s father knocked on my door, I didn’t think I’d be returning with him to his home. Especially with his daughter's heels and dress still on the floor of the hotel room. The pile of tulle and sparkly shoes was unmissable. Tinsley has a way of leaving her touch everywhere she goes. Even the bed had specks of glitter from the body spray she was wearing.
Her dad entered my room and glanced around before telling me that I needed to come and meet his wife. That had been all he said. A man of few words with a daughter that has so many of them. Tinsley must take after her mother.
“Thank you,” I tell Piper, taking a sip of the coffee she brought me. She had insisted I call her by her first name, saying Mrs. Blake made her feel old.
I wouldn't have guessed her to be over forty, with blond hair, the same as Tinsley. They bear a striking resemblance, and it’s a peek into my future. As for her father, he's a big man with dark hair and eyes, with a full beard that has some gray in it.
“So, Pierce.” Piper sits down on the couch next to her husband. His attention is on the television, watching a football game. The season is over, but New Hope didn’t get the memo, or they don’t give a shit. They really do march to a beat of their own. One that us common folks can’t hear. “Any family?”
“Just me.” Piper’s face falls at my response.
“I see.” She dips her head, trying to hide a smile that I’d swear is knowing. I’ve gotten more than a few of those. “New Hope has a way of luring in people who are alone in the world.”
“I’ve heard people say there’s magic here.”
“Only if you’re to become one of us.” She gives me a serious look. Yeah. Tinsley definitely gets her humor from her mom.
“You make it sound like he’s getting abducted by aliens.” Buck finally speaks, not that his quietness bothered me. I used to enjoy the quiet. Not so much anymore. I look forward to Tinsley rambling on and on.
“I mean, that would account for all the strangely interesting people I’ve met here.”
“Oh, you met Mittens.”
“Can’t say I have.” That one's not ringing a bell.
“Oh, well, if you’re here and she’s missing, ignore it. She always turns up.” I don’t ask. “But you must have met Gertrude, then. She is, uh, yeah. You know.”
“I don’t have—I haven't met her either. Should I have?”
“I’m not going to ruin that for you.” Piper pats my knee. “You don’t have to share, but—”
“He’ll share,” Buck grunts, his attention never leaving the television, letting me know I’ll be telling her my life story if she wants to know it.
I have learned fast in my line of work when to push back and when not to. I won’t be pushing back with Piper on this one, but that doesn’t mean when it comes to Tinsley that I won’t.
"My memories of my mother are hazy, but when I was about eight, I was dropped off at a police station, and that was that." There's not much more you can say. I’m not a person that usually opens up to others, but Buck and Piper are family now. They’ll be the grandparents to my kids, so they are entitled to know about me.
"Oh my goodness, honey. I'm sorry." I can see genuine sadness in her eyes.
"It doesn’t matter. What I can recall is the foster system was no better or worse than when I was with her." I swear I have vague memories of more family at one time, but I don't know if they’re real memories or ones I'd made up or possibly gotten people confused. There was a lot of shuffling around even when I was with my mother.