Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 133655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“Maybe you should talk to Julia,” my mom suggests lightly, but her eyes are far too knowing. “If you’re not ready to talk to us.”
I snort. “Yeah, Julia is the last person I’m ready to talk to about this.”
“I knew it!” my dad yells, snapping his fingers and playfully shoving my mom before pretending to motorboat her boobs.
My head falls back on a grimace.
“You love her, don’t you?” My dad claps with glee. “You love a little Brooks girl, and I’m going to get to rub this in Kline’s big dick and face for the rest of our lives, aren’t I? Tell me, son. Tell me you’re going to marry her, and Kline is going to have to officially call us family. Make your daddy’s day.”
I hate that he knows. But according to Blake, everyone but me knew for a long fucking time.
“Everything feels so fucked.” I let out a deep sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know how I didn’t realize it sooner.”
Thatch jumps up from his seat and thrusts his arms in the air, spinning in a circle. “Yes! Fuck yes! All my dreams are coming true! My manifestation journal is working!”
My mom laughs. “Great. You’ve done it now. Now we’ll never get rid of that fucking journal.”
“I am wealthy. I am worthy. I am horny.” He flashes my mom with a wink. “Can you help me with any of those, honey?”
“I’m currently indisposed, Thatcher,” she retorts. “And frankly, the fact that it took you this long to figure out your son is in love with Julia makes me wonder if I married below my IQ level,” my mom adds on a sigh. “Ace has been in love with Julia since before he could even write his name.”
Apparently, Blake was right.
“I knew,” my dad refutes. “Of course I knew.” He moves his eyes back to me. “On a side note, Acer, it was wild how long it took you to figure out how to write your name. I mean, it’s three fucking letters, you know? Your mother and I were worried there for a bit.”
“Jeez. Thanks for that. You’re really helping boost the confidence.” I groan, but I also laugh. For as wild as my parents both are, I’m still thankful they’re my parents. “Just forget I said anything, guys.”
“No, no. Now, Ace of Base. There’s no need to be insecure. You can spell your name and even tell time now and shit. We didn’t think you’d make it past second grade, and you’re in college, buddy! You’re doing the damn thing!” He pumps a celebratory fist in the air.
“Wow,” I deadpan. “Thanks.”
“Though,” he adds with a shrug, “you clearly have some work to do if you don’t want Chad edging in on your tail.”
“I’m going to tell Kline you called his daughter tail,” my mom mutters, which makes my dad pinch her nipple and rip the bag of peas from her vageen.
Never mind, I take it back. I regret that these two are supposed to be my guides in life.
“Acer, what you need to do is prove to Julia that you’re more than the man she knows,” my dad continues trying to give me advice. “You’re more than the funny, plucky friend. You are a strong force of safety and love, do you hear me?”
I roll my eyes and climb from the couch to start collecting cups again. Suddenly, that sounds like the better option.
“You are a wildflower, just waiting to sow your seed!” my dad shouts, well after I’m out of sight. “Be the wind, son! The wind beneath her wings!”
“Dad! Just let it go!” I call back. “Seriously. And do not try to intervene! I will handle this myself!”
You’d think I wouldn’t need to say that, but this is Thatch and Cassie we’re talking about. If I left them to their own devices, they’d end up outside Julia’s window serenading her with fucking Air Supply songs on behalf of me.
“You can do it, Acer! You’re a Kelly, son! And Kelly men have a long-standing track record of proving they’re worthy of only the best women!”
I roll my eyes. Though, for all the bullshit he’s spouting, some of it is producing a by-product of sense.
Maybe…maybe he’s onto something.
Maybe I just need to prove that I’m love-worthy to Julia.
And how in the hell do I do that? By showing her how great I can be. By proving to her that I’m the man she needs. Then when I finally tell her I love her, there’ll be no chance she’ll reject me.
If I’m the perfect guy, she’ll have no option but to love me back.
I start by texting her dad some very important information. In with him, in with her. The Brooks family is a package deal, and I’m shipping myself overnight, next day air if I have to so I can be part of it too.