Page 111 of When Hearts Awaken

Ryland

I seem to recall someone sending a text last year complainingheis in this text group, even though he isn’t an Anderson. Look how the mighty have fallen, dipshit.

Lana

Oooh! I am changing the chat name! “Charles is whipped.” Simple and to the point. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

Rex

This is why I love you, Lana. You’re my favorite—always know exactly what I’m thinking.

Grace

Hey! I thought I was your favorite! And Tay, I’ve been fielding messages from the other girls. You and I need to have a nice looooong chat when you get back.

Taylor snorts next to me, and I see her typing away on her phone.

Taylor

You’re in deep shit, Rex, because you told me I was your favorite sister.

Rex

Well, well, well, look who’s resurfacing from her love nest? Shit. Don’t tell me. I don’t need that image in my head.

I growl and add my two cents to this ridiculous conversation.

Charles

No one is imagining anything about Taylor. Unless they want to die a painful death.

Maxwell

You haven’t answered my question, Vaughn.

Shaking my head, I set the phone on the nightstand as it continues to buzz.

“What are you thinking?” she asks as I stare at the sea of white outside the window.

While my heart is filled to the brim for this woman next to me, reality is knocking on our door, begging to be let in. I take Taylor’s hand in mine and kiss her fingertips. “I need to talk to your family first. They deserve that. Everything else can come second.”

“What are you going to tell them?” she whispers and I hear a twinge of fear in her voice.That fucker Camden really did a number on her.

Frowning, I turn toward her and answer, “That I’m head over heels crazy about a ball busting woman and with or without their blessing, I’m having her by my side.”

Taylor swallows, her eyes misting again. “I…I really like you. You’ve no idea what you’ve given me.”

My heart pounds at her admission because I know this is an enormous leap for her and I’m going to try my damned best not to let her down because the men in her life before she met her brothers have been sacks of shit.

Then a small kernel of disappointment surfaces. She likes me. That sounds so trivial compared to how I feel about her.What are you disappointed about, when you can’t even say the four-letter word yourself yet?

I want to take the final leap with her, to have what my friends have with their wives and girlfriends. I want her to know my world and my history.

“When we get back, can I take you to see Firefly?” And Liam, if he’ll return my calls.

“Your sister?” Taylor’s eyes widen. “Yes…of course. I’d love to meet her, even if she’s…”

In a perpetual sleep.

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