Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Why does that sound like he’s talking about a lot more than my crash-and-burn attempt at not hurting Charlene’s feelings? Still, I scoff. “Pedestal? I smashed that thing to fucking ruins a long time ago. You know that.”
Winston sighs. “Yeah, guess you did.”
Charlene runs by, dropping off our beers and blowing me a kiss as she scoots on her way, catching up on serving her other tables after hanging out at ours for so long.
I take a big swig, not even tasting it as I swallow but needing the liquid courage. “Alright, back to business. What the hell is going on around here?”
Winston takes a healthy drink of his own before asking, “You want the good, the bad, or the ugly first?”
I shrug. Doesn’t matter, I need all of it. Let Winston tell it however the hell he wants.
He hums, and takes another sip. “Let’s go chronological, I guess, starting when you left. After that, I went to school, got my architecture degree. Did my internships with Uncle Jed, of course.”
“Of course,” I agree, not surprised.
“While I was at school, I met Avery. She’s actually from Cold Springs, but she’s a little younger than me, more Wren’s age, so we’d never met before, though she knew exactly who I was. She was taking nursing classes and wouldn’t give me the time of day, no matter how hard I tried. But eventually, I won her over. Fuck, it was hard, but she’s worth it.”
I’m surprised at the soft tone in my brother’s voice and the sparkle in his eyes. “So she’s the one?”
The very idea is foreign, especially for the Winston I know. That Winston tried to fuck his way through the girls’ soccer team, or at least date his way through them. But maybe I don’t know him so well anymore, I realize.
The idea is uncomfortable. I’ve certainly changed while I’ve been gone, but in my mind, everyone else stayed exactly the same, frozen in time. But maybe we’ve all changed?
“The one and only,” he says emphatically. “We’re getting married, rain or shine, hell or high water.” His eyes go wide, as if he’s being hit by the idea for the first time. “Fuck. I’m getting married, Wyatt.”
I reach over to place a hand on his shoulder, patting him comfortingly. “It sounds like she’s either a psycho or an angel. I’m betting the second. Especially if she’s putting up with you, so don’t fuck it up, bro,” I tease. He answers with a big grin, and I consider whether maybe he’s not surprised so much as he is excited about the idea of marrying Avery.
“I can’t wait to meet the magical woman who’s turned you into a blubbering romantic, waxing poetic about her awesomeness and admitting your unworthiness.”
He ignores the playful jab. “I can’t wait for you to meet her. You’re going to love her. She’s . . . different than us, Wyatt. That’s what I love about her.”
He glances down to his still-empty ring finger as though imagining the wedding band that will soon be there. “Funny thing is, the day I met her, I was talking shit like usual, and then she walked in the room. I was blown away, but knew she’d smell the douchery on me. I had to grow up a fuckton before she’d even give me a chance, but I’m so glad she did. So fucking glad.” His eyes clear as his mind returns to the here and now, and our discussion of me meeting Avery. “We’ll have to see when we can get that to happen because she’s really busy with wedding stuff, plus she takes care of her grandpa.”
“Shit. That’s a lot to handle,” I say, stating the obvious because I don’t know what else to say.
Thankfully, Charlene drops off our burgers, saving me. “I put a little extra sweetness in yours, honey-baby.” That sounds sketchy, so I hesitate to taste my food, but Winston does so easily. Slowly, I pick up the delicious-looking burger and take a tentative bite.
“Damn, this is good,” I tell Winston. “Whatever ‘extra sweetness’ Charlene added to mine, do not tell me, please, because I really want to keep eating this.”
My brother laughs, choking on his mouthful of burger, which serves him right. Looking to turn the conversation back toward more productive avenues, I ask, “So Avery takes care of her family?”
“Yeah, and she does it with a smile. Her grandpa lives with her, but he has an aide come in to help with some of his personal care. He says he doesn’t want Avery seeing his frank ’n’ beans—that’s what he calls them.” Winston laughs and I chuckle along. “And she works shifts at the nursing home when they need her. PRN, they call it, but basically it means that when someone calls in sick or needs a vacation day, they call her. So she might work days on end or not at all for weeks. Could be day shift or night shift, or even a long weekend double.”