Wright Together, page 25
“So…what happened with Dad?” Jordan asked once they were gone and we moved to unload.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s been texting us nonstop,” Julian said as he hopped into the bed of the truck.
“Has he?”
“Hasn’t he been messaging you?” West asked.
I blinked. The conversation with Dad had completely slipped my mind. This morning felt like a lifetime ago. “I blocked his number.”
They all gaped at me, Eve included.
“Since when?” Jordan demanded.
“Since this morning, when he showed up, uninvited, to my house, and I told him I wasn’t interested in seeing him again. That he only wanted to be a part of our lives to assuage his own guilt.”
Jaws dropped. West’s eyes rounded. Jordan and Julian shot each other looks. But Eve clapped.
“That’s amazing!”
“It felt good,” I admitted.
“And then you blocked his number,” Julian said, as if in awe. “Why didn’t we think of that?”
Jordan sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“Well, I decided that it wasn’t. He doesn’t deserve the relationships he wants from us now. I like the relationship I have here with all of y’all. The one we built rather than the one he demands.”
They were all silent for a moment, surprised by my change of heart. The one that Eve and Bailey and Colton had solidified in me over the past couple of months. Family was what you made of it. And I was building a new one here.
“Well, good,” West said at last. “Harley will be happy.”
“I bet she will,” I said with a laugh.
And then we all went back to unloading. Dad was forgotten in the physical exertion. It wasn’t until Bailey’s stuff was deposited into her room and my siblings left that Eve left Bailey to unpack and drew me into my bedroom.
“So, that’s some big news about your dad. How do you feel about it?”
“How do you feel, having Bailey in Lubbock with you?”
“Amazing.”
“That’s how I feel, too,” I told her. “I’m tired of reaching for scraps. I want what I have here with you and Bailey and Colton and my siblings. I don’t want the fake relationship he’s always offered.”
“I’m proud of you.”
I guffawed. “Look at how you stood up to your dad. I’m proud of you. You saved your sister.”
“I hope she’s happy here,” she said, worrying her lip.
“It’ll take time, but she’ll figure it out.”
“And you really think we can live here?” She glanced up at me with that same hope in her eyes. Then a mischievous glint. “I can stay in the other guest bedroom.”
I snagged her around the waist, lifting her over my shoulder, like I’d imagined earlier. She shrieked as I tossed her back on the bed and growled, “Don’t you dare.”
She giggled, stretching her arms above her head. “I’ll pay rent. I have a fancy new job now.”
“If you like,” I told her. I didn’t care one way or another. My lips came to the sliver of skin that was exposed near her belly button.
“I’m not paying in sex,” she teased.
I snorted. “I accept Venmo.”
It was her time to laugh. “God, I can’t believe this is real. When do I wake up from the fairy tale?”
I slid up her body, covering her with my own and pressing another kiss to her lips. “You’re awake. This is real.”
Her hand cupped my cheek. “I thought you were too good to be true.”
I melted at her words. Affectionate and real. “I love you.”
Her eyes rounded, and a small gasp escaped her lips.
“You don’t have to say it back, but I’ve known for ages. I love everything about you. I wanted to tell you, but I was worried that it would drive you away. That you’d realize I was all in and it would scare you. But I don’t know how much more all in I can be with you moving in. I love you. I love you so fucking much.”
A tear came to her eye, and she smiled, soft and dreamy. “I love you, too, Whitton Wright.”
Then, our lips touched, and the world was forgotten.
We’d come this far.
We had forever to go.
But at least we were going together.
Wright together.
Epilogue
Eve
Two Months Later
“The tallies are in!” a woman said enthusiastically into the microphone. “Your new mayor of Lubbock is…Jensen Wright!”
Jensen strode onto the stage in a black suit with a blue tie and crisp white button-up. He smiled his perfect politician smile and waved enthusiastically. He was forever a man of the people. Despite being the former CEO of Wright Construction, the new head of Wright Architecture, and a fucking billionaire to boot, he was just a normal guy. And now, the mayor, too.
So many people said that money and his name were buying this position for him. But anyone who had met him knew that he’d do a great job.
“Lubbock! Thank you so much! I stand before you now as your mayor, happy, humbled, and altogether honored to be the next mayor of this great city,” Jensen said, beaming.
His wife, Emery, along with their two kids, Robin and Logan, and of course, Colton stood off to the side, watching with pride on their faces. Even Colton’s, to his credit.
“Think he’s going to do something stupid?” I asked Whitt, who stood with his arm around my waist.
“Jensen? Nah, he’s a professional.”
I shot him a look, and he laughed. Then, he turned his phone toward me. On it was a picture of Colton flipping him off from backstage.
I snorted. “Typical.”
“I told him to behave.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll listen,” I said sarcastically.
“About as well as Bailey.”
My eyes found my sister in the crowd in front of us. She was with a group of her volleyball girlfriends, chatting through the whole thing. Her eyes were bright, and her heart was full.
After we’d enrolled her at Lubbock High, Emery—who was a government teacher at the high school—had spoken with the volleyball coach on her behalf. And then Bailey got a tryout…and made it! After that, she’d found a group of girlfriends that I’d wished so desperately to have all through high school. People to rely on and have slumber parties with and do makeovers. She had that and more. I was so proud.
Bailey waved when she saw me watching. I waved back, but she was already turning around. I loved her, but she was still a teenager.
“No, he is definitely worse than Bailey,” I told him.
“To be fair, he was raised by a breed of humans who eat their own.”
I laughed and covered my mouth when the people in front of us looked back at us. Whitt smothered a smirk and apologized profusely.
Thankfully, Colton was also doing well even if he was a sullen mess about it. He’d remained on the Tacos and taken us to a rec title. Now, he was on the varsity team at the high school. I was terrified that he’d be running the entire place if he stayed more than this year. Only time would tell.
Jensen finished up his speech, and we stepped up to offer our congratulations.
I pushed Whitt toward the line. “I’m going to use the restroom first.”
He frowned. “It won’t take that long.”
I laughed and gestured to the hundred people in front of him. “Yeah, right.”
He rolled his eyes and then tugged me in for a kiss. “Get us drinks while you’re at it.”
“Done.”
This whole song and dance was too much for me. I couldn’t handle the political theatrics, as I still maintained that no politician was out for anyone but himself. Jensen Wright included.
So, I left my boyfriend to find a restroom. Miraculously, the line was short, and I made it in and out in a matter of minutes. I was heading back to the drink line, which I could already spot was not a short line on the other side of the room, when I saw Harley’s latest platinum-blonde dye job. I’d recognize it anywhere with the bob and bangs she’d dramatically cut.
I opened my mouth to say hi, only to see Chase Sinclair grasp her by the back of her head and smash their mouths together. My eyes widened in alarm. Chase was…what? Ten years older than her? At least. And she’d assured me that Chase wasn’t interested. Even though I could see with my own two eyes that he was very much interested.
I was frozen mid-step, uncertain whether to say something in her defense or walk away. I certainly couldn’t tell Whitt.
But I didn’t have to do anything.
Harley wrenched her head back away from him. I couldn’t see her expression, but I didn’t need to. The crack of her hand across his face was enough to know exactly what she was thinking.
Chase slowly turned back to look at her. There was fire in his eyes. Intense, demanding desire in every single inch of his demeanor. He was a caged lion who had picked the lock and was barely holding himself back.
“You were the one who said to wait,” she snarled. “Fuck you.”
Then, she pushed out of his embrace and dashed in the other direction. I wanted to run after her. To comfort her. But if it were me, I wouldn’t want anyone to know that it had ever happened. I bit my lip and was just about to go after her when Chase decided for us both, jogging out of the hotel ballroom in her direction.
Good luck with that, buddy.
I went in search of drinks. I got us our usual and then found Whitt at the head of the line. He said his congratulations to Jensen, ruffled Colton’s unruly hair, and then found me with a smile.
I passed him a bourbon and Coke, and we left the bustle of the election-night win to the rest of the Wrights. We stepped out onto the open-air balcony overlooking the lit-up Texas Tech campus. Whitt leaned against the railing and watched me with intense eyes.
“What?” I asked with a disarming laugh.
“Just can’t believe this is my life.”
“Compared to what?”
“Seattle,” he said evenly with a shrug. “I dated, but nothing ever went anywhere. I had a job, but no one respected me or cared about my ideas. I had friends, but I haven’t spoken to a single one since I moved.”
“I know what you mean. My life is completely different from just a year ago…let alone what it was like when I lived in Midland.”
“And so much of it is because of you.”
I leaned into his chest. “All of it is because of you.”
He laughed, a rumble against me. “Your job and friends and Bailey and the soccer team are all because of you, love.”
“Fine. Then, you make it all come together.”
“I accept this.”
He tipped my chin up to look into his eyes, and there was something deep and probing there.
“What?” I whispered breathlessly.
“I want to marry you.”
I laughed as shock took root in my body. “You what?”
“I want to marry you,” he repeated.
“Like today?” I joked.
He shook his head and took another sip of his bourbon. “No, not today. You’re not ready.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know and love you, Eve Houston.”
I huffed. My insides were squirming at the words. Oh, how I wanted it to be true. To see a forever future with him. And how scared I was to commit to anything, even when it felt perfect in every way.
“So, what do you say?”
“To marrying you?” I gasped.
“Yes. Someday.”
I swallowed and then really thought about it. Wouldn’t it be a dream? To have the man of my dreams and not to have to ever worry about the state of us again? Wasn’t that what I wanted after all?
“I might say…yes,” I offered.
He plucked the words out of thin air and put his hand into his pocket. “I’ll tuck that away for later.”
I laughed. “So, you’re not going to do it?”
“What? Right now? I don’t have a ring,” he said, offended. As if he’d propose without a diamond.
“Well, I guess we can’t do it without a ring then.”
He slipped his hand into my hair and pulled me close again. “One day, I’m going to propose to you. You’ll never see it coming, love. It’ll be so romantic that you’ll be weak in the knees and barely able to get words out.”
My heart hammered in my chest. I wanted that. Fuck, I wanted it.
“But not tonight,” he finished, pulling my lips to his. “Tonight, you’re just mine. But one day, you’ll be mine forever.”
“Forever,” I whispered throatily. “I like the sound of that.”
“Good. I intend to keep that promise.”
Forever was a promise worth keeping. One I planned to hold him to. But right now, I was happy with living in the moment with him. As long as we were doing it together.
Thank you so much for reading WRIGHT TOGETHER! I loved writing Whitt & Eve’s very sexy story. I could not keep these two off of each other, and I’m not upset about it
* * *
Want more Whitt & Eve? I have a special Bonus Epilogue just for you.
Grab it for FREE here!
Ready for more Wrights? Try WRIGHT KIND OF TROUBLE featuring Harley Wright & Chase Sinclair in an enemy’s little sister age gap!
* * *
“He didn’t know I was ten years younger.
I didn’t know he was a Sinclair.
He didn’t care that I was a Wright.
I knew exactly what I wanted.
It’s only after our mind-blowing night that it sinks in.
Our families hate each other. No one can know what we did. Everyone—especially my two older brothers—will run him out of town if they find out.
* * *
And still…I want him.”
TURN THE PAGE TO READ A SNEAK PEEK OF MY NEXT BOOK WRIGHT KIND OF TROUBLE NOW!
Wright Kind of Trouble
Chapter One - Harley
“You look like you’re going to a funeral.”
I blinked at my brother and then gestured to my black lace dress. “Excuse me?”
Whitton shook his head as he squared off his perfectly knotted silk tie. “I know that you wanted to be Wynona Ryder growing up, but don’t you think this is taking it a little too far. You look like that girl from Beetlejuice.”
“Should I be insulted or flattered that you think I look like Lydia?” I asked with a tilt of my head.
He laughed. “Only you, Harley.”
“Black is fine for a wedding. It’s a neutral color. You’re going in a black suit!”
“I could wear charcoal,” he said with a shrug.
I turned back to the living room mirror to check out the waves I’d put into my long blonde hair. “Don’t be pedantic.”
“Oh no, Harley is using her advanced vocabulary. You must have upset her,” Whitton’s twin, Weston, said as he strode out of the kitchen with a coffee in hand.
My brothers couldn’t be more opposites. If they didn’t look exactly alike, no one would have guessed they were twins. West was a laid back musician with a go with the flow vibe and Whitt was all five year plans, business suits, and strict schedules. The one thing they always agree on was ganging up on me. But I could give as good as I could take.
“You’re not even wearing a suit coat,” I said then pointed at his feet. “And you’re in Chucks.”
Whitt winced as he looked at West’s attire. “She has a point.”
West raised his coffee to us. “Still wearing them.”
“We could put you in a suit.”
I grinned, having sufficiently distracted Whitt. And he was wrong anyway. I looked nothing like Lydia, as much as it dismayed me. I’d even forgone my normal Doc Martens for a pair of black heels that made my already long legs look miles long. I’d contemplated a pair of white sneakers, but no way would Whitt have let me out of the house. Boy didn’t understand fashion.
I slung my black bag over my shoulder and dug out my phone. I shot off a text to Mom.
Wedding bound. Make the boys stop arguing.
A second later, in lieu of a return text, Mom’s face appeared on my screen. I clicked open on the video call.
“Hey, Mom.”
Both of my brothers stopped talking and looked over at me. Well, mission accomplished.
“Hey, sweetie. Are you excited for Jordan’s wedding?”
I shrugged. “Sure.”
My mom shot me a quintessential mom look, her short blonde hair falling into her round face that was my mirror plus twenty-five years. “So eloquent my little scholar.”
“You should have come in for it.”
It was her turn to be dismissive. “I don’t know what Jordan would have thought about that.”
Which was fair.
Our family was…complicated.
To say the least.
See, our dad was a cheating bastard. In fact, he had a whole other family in Vancouver for years before he’d ever found our mom on a business trip in Seattle for Wright Construction, our family’s namesake. Jordan and his younger brother Julian were his kids from his “real” family, and Whitt, West, and I were his dirty little secret. We’d all discovered it a few years ago and confronted Dad about it. I never wanted to talk to his lying face ever again. The boys were more conflicted. Though I didn’t see what was conflicting about it. I’d never let someone treat me the way Owen Wright treated my mom.
As luck would have it, Jordan and Julian had moved out of Vancouver to dry, dusty Lubbock, Texas, where the headquarters for the family business were located. West had followed while pursuing his music. Then I’d gotten a full ride scholarship to Texas Tech University and with the prospect of me leaving, Whitt had agreed to come too.
I’d felt bad leaving Mom behind in Seattle. We’d even tried to convince her to come with, but her job and friends and aging parents still lived in town. She’d spent her whole life there. Even if she wanted to move for us, she couldn’t. Not yet at least.
