Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
She wiggled around on the booth, placing a knee on the cushion and the other on the floor so she could awkwardly stand.
From where he was sitting next to her, Otto wrapped himself around her waist, all smirks and smiles and fucking obsessed as hell.
I finally understood the affliction.
Raven lifted her drink. “When I was nine years old, I found myself living with this group of four strangers. These guys who were little more than boys. They took me and River in as if we were blood. Protected us. Watched over us and taught us how to survive when our circumstances were so messed up.”
Her voice shook a little, moisture blearing her eyes that were as dark as midnight.
“You’re the only family I’ve ever known,” she murmured, emotion thick in her words. “The only one I’ve ever needed. The only one I want. I just wanted to say how happy it makes me to see it growing.”
A soft smile kissed her red-stained lips. “Nolan was a shock when he came into our lives, and then Charleigh found us. Charleigh who needed us just as badly as we needed her.”
She inhaled an affected breath, joy prancing all over her pretty face that she then turned toward Emery. “And now Emery and Maci. Honestly, my heart feels like it could explode. It’s the most beautiful thing watching it happen.”
Emotion flooded from Emery, and she shifted so she fully faced Raven, placing her hands over her chest in her own show of affection for Raven.
The one who’d become her friend. Her sister. Someone I doubted Emery very much expected. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Emery said.
“Well, that is a very good thing because if you even tried to leave, I would hunt you down.” Raven’s words shifted into a tease.
“I would bring the rope and tape.” Giggling, Charleigh lifted her glass.
“Good lord, what have we turned you into?” River’s voice was soft with amusement, and he looped an arm around his fiancée’s shoulders. “Apparently, we really are terrible influences.”
Charleigh shrugged. “I kind of like what you’ve done to me.”
“That’s right,” Raven agreed. “I needed a partner in crime, and now I have two.”
She gave Emery an unhinged smile.
Emery laughed and lifted her own glass. “I’m ready for whatever antics and adventures you have in store for me.”
Fuck, I loved the way that sounded. The permanence of it.
“That’s what I like to hear,” Raven continued, “because Otto and I have a brand-new adventure in store for you all.”
The look she sent him spilled over with adoration, the same as what was coming from him.
Anticipation filled the air when she looked back at us.
“Because we’re adding another cutie pie to this family, and I know it’s going to be the most amazing sort of adventure.” The last word cracked with the joy that locked in her throat.
“We’re having a little one!” Otto shouted it with a fist pump over his head.
Pride streaming out.
And every single one of us were feeling that joy, too.
The way it radiated over all of us. Wrapping us whole.
Emery glanced up at me. Awe on her beautiful face.
I gave her a tender, knowing nod.
It was good. It was good.
“A baby!” Charleigh couldn’t contain her excitement, and she scrambled over River and Cash to get out of the booth. Raven did the same on the other side, and the two were laughing and crying and hugging each other like mad.
Everyone poured out of the booth behind them, wrapping Raven and Otto in their love and support.
River held her the longest. Hugging her and hugging her as he murmured something in her ear that none of us could hear, but I could tell from the way he hugged Otto after that there was no longer any question or anger over the two of them hooking up.
Because this was right.
Nothing had ever felt quite this perfect before.
“I think this really calls for a celebration,” I said, and I sauntered behind the long bar and snagged our best bottle of tequila and a bunch of shot glasses.
I returned to our table, poured the silver liquor into the glasses, and passed them out, save for Raven, of course, who I realized had been drinking club soda all night.
I looped an arm around Emery’s waist, and I lifted my glass toward the rest of our group. “To this family. Our greatest gift and my only treasure. May it remain strong and unshakable. And may it grow forever.”
“To this family!” everyone shouted as they clinked their glasses together and tossed their shots down their throats.
I didn’t throw mine back, though. I turned to Emery, a smirk taking over my entire face as I edged up close to her. “You want to drink tequila with me, baby? You know you should never drink tequila alone.”
Coyness played at the edge of her delicious mouth, and she swayed from side to side to the rhythm of the music that pounded through the air. “Is that so?”