Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
While I take a moment to pull a brush through my hair, my thoughts turn to the beautiful fireworks earlier.
It’s hard to accept Rachel is gone.
A lump forms in my throat, and it takes a minute or so for me to fight back the urge to cry. Sucking in a deep breath, I leave the bathroom only to come to a stop right outside the door.
Easton’s sitting on the edge of the bed, and when he looks at me, there’s a sad pull around his mouth. He’s only wearing sweatpants, which makes it really hard for me to focus on anything.
Unable to stop myself, my gaze drifts over his bare chest, and my abdomen clenches at the sight of all his tanned skin and muscles.
“Mind if I sleep here as well?”
I somehow manage to walk toward the bed as I whisper, “Not at all. Get in.”
I hope I don’t have a nightmare tonight. The last thing I want to do is upset Lainey and Easton.
“You take the middle,” he says, and as I crawl onto the mattress, he switches off the light.
I lie down facing Lainey, and my muscles are tense as I listen to Easton coming closer. The bed dips beneath his weight, and then my eyes go wide as saucers when he wraps his arms around me. His chest presses against my back, and I feel his breath stir in my hair every time he exhales.
“You okay?” he whispers.
“Uh-huh. You?”
His body presses harder against mine, and his arms tighten around me, then he lets out a sigh and replies, “Yes.”
He’s only holding you for comfort. Don’t overthink things.
Lainey turns on her side and snuggles closer to me, and once again, I end up being sandwiched between them.
I lie awake for a long while before exhaustion finally drags me into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter 19
Easton
Over the past week, we’ve fallen into a routine where we all snuggle together while watching one movie after the other. I know things need to change, and we have to move forward, but fuck, it’s hard.
Poor Nova hasn’t had her bed to herself since Rachel’s memorial service. Lainey and I never give her a moment’s peace, but she hasn’t complained once.
You’re becoming a needy bastard.
Chastising myself doesn’t work because I’m already using all my self-restraint not to do all the things I want to do to Nova. Every night, when I feel her body pressing against mine, my control slips more and more, and the only thing keeping me from crossing the line is the fact that I don’t want to scare her off.
There are moments when I’m sure Nova’s interested in me, but most of the time, she treats me like a friend.
I’m one hundred percent certain I want more with Nova, but if I make my move and she just sees me as a brother, it will fuck things up badly.
My phone rings, pulling me out of my thoughts, where I’m sitting at the island with my smoothie forgotten in front of me.
I pull the device out of my pocket, and seeing Sylvia’s name on the screen, I answer, “Hi, how are you?”
“I’m good. How are you all doing?” she asks.
“We’re managing,” I reply. “What’s up?”
“I hate to do this to you, but we need to have a press conference. Rumors are spreading, and there are all kinds of articles being printed.”
Nova and Lainey come down the stairs, and I watch as Nova toasts a few slices of bread.
“What kind of rumors?” I ask. When Nova points at the toaster, giving me a questioning look, I nod.
Lainey climbs onto the stool beside me while Sylvia mutters, “There are photos of you with your hands on Nova’s hips, so everyone is speculating that you’re dating.”
“Don’t worry about those,” I tell her.
“There are also photos and videos of you carrying Rachel out of the hospital,” she informs me.
I let out a sigh. “I’m not doing a press conference, but I’ll meet with one reporter. What do you want me to say during the interview?”
“You need to tell everyone Rachel has passed away and that Nova is nothing more than a close family friend and Lainey’s godmother.”
I climb to my feet and walk toward the sliding doors as I say, “I’m fine with the first part but not the last bit.” Only when I’m outside do I add, “She is more than a friend.”
“Oh.” Sylvia’s quiet for a moment, then she asks, “Are the two of you dating?”
“Not yet.” I keep glancing at the doors to make sure I’m alone. “I’m giving Nova time to get used to me before I begin a relationship with her.”
“Okay . . . um . . . then we’ll just tell the public what I said. There’s no need to give them something more to speculate about.”
“Fine.”
“But you need to let me know the moment you start dating. I want to be prepared for the shitstorm the news will unleash.”