Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
"Hey, you okay?" I answer the phone when I see Kaitlyn's name on the screen.
"Yeah, fine. Headin’ to the B&B for a late breakfast. Wanna meet me there? Figured we could get the gossip out of the way."
I chuckle. "Sure, I can be there in fifteen."
"Perfect. See ya soon."
Since I skipped breakfast and have been dealing with grumpy-ass horses all morning, I'm extra hungry and ready for a break. I hop in my truck and drive down to the pasture where Kane and Knox are working.
"Headin' to the B&B. Be back in a half hour."
"Sweet, I'll come with ya," Kane says.
"Me too." Knox follows, and they jump in my truck, uninvited.
"So when were you gonna tell us you shacked up with our sister?" Knox blurts out a minute later.
"Yeah, when are y’all gettin’ married?" Kane smacks me on the shoulder. "We've helped out with our fair share of weddings 'round here, so we can help plan it if ya want."
I snort at the idea of the twins helpin' me organize anything.
Shaking my head, I turn onto the gravel road that leads to the B&B. "We're just friends and roommates."
"You're feedin’ lies to two guys who were once just friends with a girl, so stop your bullshittin'."
"Believe whatever ya want, but I'm tellin' the truth. I fell for someone I worked with years ago and swore off datin' coworkers after she broke my heart. It made everything awkward as fuck, and I don't need that in my life again."
"Oh, so instead, you have her move in so y’all can play house. Makes perfect sense," Knox muses.
Locking my jaw, I resist the urge to tell him to shut the hell up because he has no clue what’s really going on.
Considering my underlying feelings for Kaitlyn, I know what I'm doing is stupid, but I couldn’t let her get away.
We can be friends who share a child while also keeping it platonic.
At least that's what I'm telling myself.
As soon as we walk into the B&B, I see Kaitlyn chatting with Maize, Hadleigh, and Harper. Knox grabs his wife and pulls her in for an inappropriate kiss with tongue and all. I wish I could do the same with Kaitlyn.
"Hey, Payton," Maize greets with a warm smile. She's the only one who knows our master plan, but I act indifferently and simply nod before greeting her.
I grab a plate and fill it full, then wait for Kaitlyn so we can sit together. Her brothers sit across from us while Maize chats with the other girls next to her.
"So you finally moved out of Mom and Dad's, huh?" Knox doesn't waste a minute before he starts teasing his sister. "You two gonna admit being together now?"
Kaitlyn shoots him a death glare. "Why don't you mind your own damn business?"
"As your big brothers, you are our business," Kane offers. "We thought you'd live at home until you got married."
"Which at this rate...you'll be fifty," Knox bellows.
Kaitlyn kicks him with her boot underneath the table.
He loudly hisses. "That was my fuckin' shin."
I enjoy watching her get even with them when they push her too far.
"How do you expect me to take dating seriously if I have to tell guys I still live at home?" she fires back. The thought of her bringing someone home has me stabbing a piece of sausage with my fork.
"Pretty sure they're not gonna like you livin' with another man, either," Kane interjects.
Kaitlyn rolls her eyes. "You two look like y'all have been bathin’ in horse shit all day and still managed to find wives, so I'd say my chances are about the same."
We haven't talked about the possibility of one of us dating other people after the baby, but I have no desire to be with anyone other than Kaitlyn, and she’s not interested. I came to terms with that fact a long-ass time ago.
Kaitlyn: GET YOUR ASS HOME NOW! IT'S O-TIME!!!!
I swallow down the lump in my throat as I re-read her text.
Holy shit, this is really happening.
I've been on high alert ever since she told me her cycle started. Over the past couple of weeks, we've formed a nice routine.
We briefly see each other in the mornings while getting ready for work and making coffee. Sometimes we meet at the B&B for brunch, and then once we're home, we eat dinner together and hang out. Now that the paperwork and permits have been filed for the horse rescue, it’s been the center of our conversations. Jackson's already got the blueprints for the stables being drawn, too, so they can start building soon. We still watch our shows every Wednesday, but now we've started two new series on Mondays and Thursdays.
I look back down at my phone and send her a response.
Payton: On my way.
After I’ve replied, I try to think of an excuse to send Knox for my abrupt departure. He's on the other side of the barn, so I get in my truck before texting him.