Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 122219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“That’s not much of a best friend,” I muttered.
“You’re telling me,” Easton said, snatching a piece of bacon from my plate. “Can you believe that she had enough nerve to walk in here? With his whole family around?”
“Knowing Sarah, I’m not that shocked. Tact wasn’t her middle name,” Nathan said as he pushed himself up from sitting. “They are right outside?”
“Yeah. He’s trying to get Sarah to leave, but she’s having a full-blown freak-out,” Easton explained. “Evan said he’d get rid of her, but you know Evan…”
“Yeah, I know. It would make a bigger scene if he handled it. Don’t worry. I got it.” Nathan glanced my way and gave me a small grin. “I’ll see you later, Coach.”
I stood from the table and shook my head. “Wait. Let me handle Sarah.”
The guys looked at one another, then at me.
Easton grimaced. “You don’t know Sarah, Avery.”
“Exactly. And she doesn’t know that River and I are so in love,” I stated, placing my hands on my hips, batting my eyelashes toward the guys.
Easton’s grin stretched as he realized my plan. Nathan frowned.
“No way.”
“Yes!”
They both said it at the same time, but I went with Easton’s “yes” instead of Nathan’s “no way.”
“All right, Avery.” Easton patted me on the back before he rubbed his hands together in bliss. “Batter up.”
24
NATHAN
Ihated this plan.
But dammit, it was a good plan. A great plan, even.
Sarah was the definition of a bad ex-girlfriend. Ever since River found out about her hooking up with his best friend, she’d been trying to get back with him on an unnatural level. Even with him blocking her number, he’d get calls from random phone numbers, only to find Sarah was trying to weasel her way back into his life.
I followed Easton to the front of the barn and peered out of the window as we spied on Avery walking out to where River and Sarah stood. Sarah, of course, was in a fit of emotions, tears streaming down her face, and poor River stood there looking as if he’d kicked a puppy. I knew whatever crap Sarah was feeding him was making him feel guilty, and that infuriated me. The poor guy had a heart of gold, and it made me angry that Sarah was manipulating his emotions post-breakup the same way she had during said “relationship.”
Before Avery walked over to the two, she pulled her high ponytail out and raked her hands through her long hair, allowing it to fall past her shoulders. She then pushed out her chest and headed straight to River.
“Hey, babe. The food is getting cold and”—Avery’s eyes moved to Sarah—“Oh, hi there.” Without a moment of hesitation, Avery wrapped her arm around River’s waist and slipped beneath his arm, forcing River to place his arm around her shoulders. “Who’s this?” she asked with the sweetest voice I’d ever heard.
I wish she used that voice on me more often.
For a moment, River hesitated. The swirl of confusion sitting in his bent brow almost made me burst out in laughter. Then realization settled in, and he pulled Avery closer to him. My chest tightened from their proximity to one another. I knew they were acting, but still, a sting of jealousy slapped me hard.
“Oh, this is just someone I used to know, babe,” River said, rubbing Avery’s shoulder in a circular motion.
Sarah’s eyes danced up and down Avery with a look of disgust. She wiped away her crocodile tears and huffed. “Who’s this?” she demanded.
“This is Avery. My girlfriend,” River said proudly as he puffed out his chest.
“Since when do you have a girlfriend?” Sarah barked with a disgusted tone, letting her true colors show.
“We’re new,” Avery mentioned as she stared at River with lovey-dovey eyes. “But I’m pretty sure we’re going the distance.” Avery stood on her tiptoes and kissed River’s cheek.
I wanted to slug my brother in the jawline for getting that kiss on the cheek.
It’s fake, it’s fake, it’s fucking fake, Nathan. Chill out.
“You moved on?” Sarah questioned, those fake tears falling from her eyes. Or maybe they were real tears from the realization that River was not wrapped around her finger anymore.
“Yeah,” he said with a confidence that made me proud of the fucker. “I suggest you do the same.”
With that, he pulled Avery in closer to him, turned around with her, and headed back inside to the barn. Sarah stood there with a look of shock for a second before walking back to her car and driving away.
And that, my friends, was what one called a mic drop.
The second Sarah was gone, Easton and Grant began jumping up and down all over River and Avery, celebrating the epic scene that just unfolded before us. Even Evan had a small smirk on his face as he stood there with his arms crossed.
“Not bad, Kingsley,” Evan stated, giving Avery a slight nod. That was the biggest compliment in the world from Mr. Grump.