An empty bottle of whiskey lies on the floor, cap missing. My clothes are scattered around the room, and there are chip crumbs all over the couch. I get busy cleaning in the hope of keeping her off my mind. The only thing she asked for was time. I want to respect her wishes, but why couldn’t she have asked for something easier?
By 2 p.m., I’m pacing back and forth, nearly wearing the varnish off the hardwood. I need to talk to her, see her, touch her. I try calling her cell, but it goes straight to voicemail. I give in and call the old house phone. I’ve known the number by heart since I was 16.
“Hello?” Mrs. Parker answers.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Parker. It’s Wyatt. By any chance, is Destiny there?”
“Hello, Wyatt. How are you doing, hon?”
I let out a long breath. “Not great. I’m afraid Destiny is mad at me. Is she there?”
“She is, but she’s out in the field. Danny wanted to take a ride on his horse, and of course, he couldn’t go alone. I can give her your message when they return,” she offers.
“That’d be great, Mrs. Parker. Work on her for me, would ya?”
She laughs. “What’s the problem this time? You didn’t get drunk and kiss the wrong girl again, did you?” I had no idea she even knew about that.
“Not exactly,” I mumble. “There was some pretty convincing evidence placed on my phone without my knowledge. The girl who did it told Destiny right where to find it. She’s now convinced I’ve been unfaithful to her. You know more than anyone how much I love her.”
“I do,” she agrees. “Who was it that did all this?”
I laugh. “I’m sure you don’t know her, Mrs. Parker.”
“I bet it was that Ashely Smithston, wasn’t it? This is so like that girl. She’s no better than that gold-digger mother of hers.”
“Whoa, Mrs. Parker!” I think my eyes double in size as my mouth is left hanging open.
“Well, I’m sorry, but it’s the truth and we all know it. You know I once caught that woman trying to steal Danny? Right under my nose, too!”
I shake my head. “I didn’t know that, Mrs. Parker.”
“Well, it’s true. That whole family is a damn mess. It’d be nice if a single one of them wasn’t a whore, thief, or drunk.”
I laugh. “Okay, Mrs. Parker, I think I should go now.”
“Oh, of course, dear. I’ll tell Des that you called. Buh-bye,” she hangs up sounding just as cheery as she did when she answered. Even with my shitty mood, I can’t help but laugh at the things she said about Ashely and her family.
Twenty-Two
Destiny
As I ride behind Daddy, I can’t help but space out, getting lost in my own head. I’m wrapped up in thoughts of Wyatt and the things that happened between us. Something deep inside me doesn’t want to believe what Ashely said. I can’t. It’s just . . . it’s all so perfect. I’m sure that’s what she thought, too: it’s a perfect plan. But it’s too perfect. If Wyatt did those things, I think I would’ve known. I would’ve felt a difference between us that next day—or any day thereafter—when we got close. He never let on, which means it probably didn’t happen.
But at the same time, what if it did? I was afraid that Wyatt was just attached to the idea of us being together, getting married, and having kids. But every moment between us felt real. I could feel his love and passion. He wasn’t acting. I know him well enough to know when he says something he doesn’t mean. It doesn’t happen often, but there’s been a time or two when I’ve seen him do it with others. He can’t lie to save his life. Every word he’s ever said to me has been truthful. Why should now be any different?
He tried to explain the whole thing to me yesterday, however, I was too angry to hear it. I know I said we’re repeating the same mistakes. But maybe the mistake I keep repeating is not listening to him—not trusting him.
“Dad?”
“Hmm?’” he asks, glancing over his shoulder at me from the back of his horse.
“What do you really think of Wyatt?”
He lets out a chuckle. “Really? After all this time, you’re asking now?”
I smile. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
He’s quiet for a moment as he thinks over his response. “Well, Wyatt is a good man. He comes from a line of hard workers. I know his family isn’t the most popular in this town, but I’ve never had a problem with the Slades. In fact, there have been a few times when his dad has helped me out.”
“Really? When?” I ask, getting off-topic.
“One time, my car was broken down on the side of the road. This was long before cell phones. It was cold and pouring down rain. He picked me up and gave me a ride home. That was the first time I met him. There’ve been other instances over time too, but that one sticks out.”
“So . . . Wyatt?”
“Let me put it this way: I could never even imagine giving my only daughter away, but the other day, when he asked for permission to marry you, I couldn’t imagine giving you to anyone else. Wyatt is a good man. He’s a hard worker. He loves you. And I know he’ll make a good provider for you and my grandchildren. You’ve got yourself a winner there.”
I smile with his words. “Thanks, Daddy.”
A little while later, we’re riding back up to the house. I hop off, then Daddy follows and hands over the reins to put the horse up. He heads inside and I lead the horse into the barn, finding Wyatt. When I see him, I offer a small smile.
“I tried giving you time, Des. I did. But the more time that passed, the more scared I got,” he admits.
I get the horse settled for the night, then I take his hand in mine and lead him up to the loft for some privacy. I turn on the small lamp beside the bed and grab the new bottle of whiskey I’d placed nearby—handing it over to him as I sit on the edge of the bed. He uncaps it, takes a sip, and tries handing it over. I wave it off and his brows draw together in confusion.
“I believe you,” I breathe out, and it’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
“You do?” he asks, sounding scared, nervous, and most of all, relieved.
I nod. “I do. I did yesterday, too. I was just mad at the whole situation: Ashely and how she always gets in our way. That party and the fact I couldn’t go. If I had, all of this could’ve been avoided. You, a little bit, for drinking so much. Me, for putting myself in this position again. I thought we were just making all the same mistakes, but then I realized my only mistake was not trusting you the first time. I didn’t want to do that again.”
He doesn’t reply—he just pulls me in for a long, lip-crushing kiss that steals the air from my lungs and makes my heart double its pace.
He pulls away, resting his forehead against mine. “God, you have no idea how badly I’ve been needing that. All night, I couldn’t think of anything but how I’d never get the chance to kiss you again, touch you, taste you.” He presses his lips to mine briefly. “All I need in this world is you, Destiny. That’s it.”
I nod, pulling him closer, needing to feel him inside me. For a brief moment, I’d felt the same way. I was grieving the loss of our relationship. I thought I’d never talk to him again—never touch him or kiss him. Now, I need it all. I need to remind myself that together, we’re strong. No one can break us. Not even Ashely.
I lie back, pulling him with me until his body is resting against mine. I kiss him slowly. He doesn’t push to go faster. Instead, he takes things at my speed, savoring every touch. I place my hands on his sides, working his shirt up his chest until he pulls back and yanks it off completely. The second it’s on the floor, his mouth is right back on mine.
His hot lips trail across my jaw and down to my neck while his hands unfasten my jeans and push them down my hips. When he frees himself from his jeans, he brushes against me and my body bursts into flames. I no longer want to go slow. I want to go faster. I want to feel his length inside me—stretching me, filling me completely. His tip glides between my slick folds before pushing in. The moment we’re
connected as one, we both let out a relieved moan.
“Fuck, Des. You’re so fucking perfect. You know that?” he asks, thrusting into me.
“Never leave me,” I plead, never wanting to separate. This is how I want to live from now on. Always connected as one.
“Never,” he promises, kissing me as his hands tour my body, caressing my breasts.
“I don’t want there to ever be anything between us again,” I whisper, feeling my body begin to tighten in anticipation.
“There won’t be. It’s just us. Nothing else,” he says, grabbing my hips as his pick up speed.
My nails dig into his back when he hits that spot inside me that has me panting, needing more. His hips jerk and buck against me, pushing me closer as he races toward his own release.
“You feel too good, baby. I can’t hold it back.”
I lift my head to whisper in his ear. “Show me how much you love me.”
His hips work faster, harder, and with this comes my own earth-shattering orgasm. When my cries get too loud, he places his hand over my mouth to quiet them, but his hips never stop. His forehead rests against mine as he lets out a loud moan of his own as he spills his seed inside me.
When our releases end, his hips stop as he collapses on top of me, both of us working to catch our breath.
I lace my fingers into his hair. “Wyatt?”
“Hmm?” he asks, not bothering to lift his head, or not having the energy to.
“I have to tell you something.”
“What?” he asks, sliding to my side and holding me close.
“I might be pregnant,” I confess.
“What? Like right now?”
I laugh. “My period is two days late.”
“But . . . how? I thought you just stopped the pill.”
“I did. But it wouldn’t be the first time my birth control failed,” I confess.
A knowing look spreads across his face. “What do you mean?”
I take a deep breath and prepare myself to release this secret—a secret I’ve never told anyone, not even Mama. “I was pregnant at prom. That’s why I wasn’t drinking that night.”
He freezes as he thinks back, probably looking for signs. But there weren’t any. At the time, I’d only just found out. I couldn’t have been more than four to six weeks along.
I see all the questions written across his face, so I go into more detail.
“I was going to tell you on prom night, after the dance, when we were alone at the afterparty. But we never made it that far. I think that’s part of the reason why I acted the way I did. I was just scared. And I thought Julie and you had a thing for each other. I thought I’d end up raising a child on my own—that I’d never get a chance to live my own life. Before prom, I thought you’d be happy with the news. You always seemed like you wanted to settle down here. But then after prom, I was suddenly scared I didn’t know you as well as I thought. I figured maybe you’d changed your mind—that you didn’t want marriage and kids anymore—and I couldn’t stand the thought of you walking away. But then I miscarried.” Tears form in my eyes and start rolling down my cheeks.
“I was all alone. I hadn’t told anyone—not you, not Mama. I didn’t know what was happening, so I drove myself to the hospital. After that, I couldn’t stay here anymore. I couldn’t look at you knowing I was keeping that secret. So I left for college. I chose to run and never look back.”
Thinking back on that time makes me feel like I’m reliving it. I feel the fear and sadness that were all-consuming. Here I was just getting used to the fact that I’d be raising a little baby all on my own, and then it was all ripped away from me. I couldn’t stay and continue to lie to everyone in my life. Going to college was my only out. It was the only way I could move on with my life without feeling guilty whenever I looked at my parents or Wyatt. I’d kept this huge secret from them—the people I loved the most. Even if I wanted to be with Wyatt, I couldn’t. Not unless I was willing to confess the truth. At that time, I couldn’t even imagine saying those words out loud. My only choice, in order to keep myself sane, was to pretend it didn’t happen. I know it wasn’t the right choice, but it felt like my best choice at the time. I couldn’t deal with the heartbreak brought on by losing our child.
He doesn’t reply to that news. He just listens to my story and pulls me close to his chest, whispering loving words as I cry about the child we never got the chance to meet. I don’t know if he’s upset, sad, angry, or confused. Probably all of those things, but he doesn’t show any of it. Instead, he just holds me, tells me he loves me, and says that everything will be okay now. We’re back on track. Finally picking up where we left off.
Twenty-Three
Wyatt
I’m not sure how to take this news. I think back—looking for any signs I could’ve missed, but I’m grasping at straws. I don’t ever remember seeing her sick. I mean, isn’t that the first sign of pregnancy? Morning sickness? I do remember the way her skin was glowing on prom night, the way her blue eyes shone, and how pink her lips and cheeks were. If she’d told me she was pregnant, there’s nothing she would’ve been able to do to stop me from proposing right then and there. I’d already been wanting to do it, but I’d convinced myself graduation day would be best.
Then I think about how she miscarried without anyone to comfort her. How she had to drive herself to the hospital, talk to the doctors alone, get examined alone. I should’ve been there for all of that. Anger swells in my chest, but I don’t let it show. She doesn’t need my anger right now. She needs my love, understanding, and strength.
“This time will be different,” I tell her, pressing a kiss to her head. “I’m here this time. I won’t leave your side, even if you try pushing me away.” I squeeze her a little tighter.
She nods. “I’ve been so scared. I thought that with everything going on, you’d run off again. That I’d be left do this all over again—all on my own.”
I roll back on top of her so she has no choice but to look at me. “This time will be different,” I tell her again, wanting to make sure she not only hears me, but that she believes me. I press my lips to hers. “We’re going to get married.” I kiss her again, this time on her jaw. “And we’re going to have a baby.” I kiss her neck. “We’re going to have so many babies,” I promise her, kissing the swell of her breast. “We’re going to make up for lost time,” I assure her, sliding back into her and causing her to let out a whimper. “I’m never leaving, Destiny.” Her muscles tighten up around me, pushing me to move.
I move softly and slowly, showing her I love her more than anything else in the world. I touch every spot on her body, kiss every inch. When her moans and whimpers increase, I kiss her hard, silencing her while losing myself in her completely. A place in my chest hurts for the child I never got the chance to meet, but a warmth spreads throughout my whole body, knowing we’re getting the chance to do everything over again—a chance to make things right.
I pump my release into her with slow, steady thrusts before resting my head against her chest and listening to the way her heart beats for me. I listen to the way her lungs take in oxygen. I let her warmth sink into me, her scent wash over me. This is home. She is home.
In the morning, we wake with our hot, sweaty bodies stuck to each other. The heat of the morning is exacerbated by the uninsulated barn. I look up to find Destiny still asleep, blonde hair clinging to her sweaty red cheeks. I brush the hair away and her blue eyes pop open. She offers me a small smile before attempting to peel herself off of me.
“Oh my God, I’m so hot and sweaty,” she says, sitting and pulling her shirt over her head. “I don’t know how any of Daddy’s workers ever stayed here.”
I move to the edge of the bed and grab my jeans off the floor. “I’m think I’m going to run home and shower. Shall I stop by the store and grab you a test on my way back?” I ask, looking up at her.
“Are you sure you want to know right now?” she asks, fear filling her blue eyes.
“You don’t?”
She shrugs. “It’s just that I find a little bit of peace in not knowing. I mean, right now, nothing has to change. We’re still together, we’re still getting married. But if we know, then everything changes.”
“Nothing is going to change. We’re still going to be together, we’re still going to get married. The only thing this test will change is how soon I need to turn the guest bedroom into a nursery.” I offer her a smile as I raise my hand to cup her cheek. “I have to know, Destiny. I wasn’t there the last time. Let me be here this time.”
She pulls her eyes from mine but nods her head. “Okay, I’ll take a test,” she agrees.
I lean in and kiss her in a way that’s both hard and messy, causing a giggle to escape her lips. When I pull away, I take her hand in mine and pull her to her feet, and we both finish getting dressed. We walk out of the barn together. Stopping for a kiss, we each go our separate ways. She heads to the house and I head for the car.
As I’m driving through the country, my phone rings and I quickly pull it out. “Hello?”
“You’re about to be an uncle again!” Colton says, excitement in his voice.
“Brennan’s in labor?” I ask, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
“We’re on our way to the hospital now. I’ll send you a pic when the newest Slade boy arrives.”
“Good luck, man,” I say, hanging up the phone.
I can’t wait until I get to call my brothers with the same news. Just thinking about it has me stepping on the gas a little harder. I make it to my house a little while later and waste no time in getting cleaned up. I’m walking back out 20 minutes later with one goal in mind: get the test.
The Slade Brothers: A Complete Small Town Contemporary Romance Collection Page 73
