American library books Β» Other Β» Fall Guy (A Youngblood Book) by Reinhardt, Liz (knowledgeable books to read TXT) πŸ“•

Read book online Β«Fall Guy (A Youngblood Book) by Reinhardt, Liz (knowledgeable books to read TXT) πŸ“•Β».   Author   -   Reinhardt, Liz



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my mouth shut while Winchester's mom does her damnedest to make me feel like an intruding outsider. She goes on and on about Lala, who, I assume from the look of pure horror on Winch's face, is his ex. She talks about family and how everyone has to work together and be together and eat together and give up their dreams together.

Ugh!

Not only did she warp every fairytale image I had of big families and their cheerful camaraderie and overabundance of love, she made it clear to me why Winchester Youngblood has been so reluctant to take even a baby step forward in our relationship.

And, for the first time since I met him, I feel a sinking sense that maybe he and I really aren't meant to be. Maybe our relationship is being blocked by obstacles neither one of us have any hope of overcoming. And maybe, for the first time in my entire life, I see all the distinct warning signs and can get out of this before I get myself into a mess I can't rebound from.

For the first time, I cannot say I didn’t see it coming, because this is clearly a train-wreck just waiting to happen, and even I'm not that blind.

Defeat buckles me right between the shoulders. I have never felt so sapped of strength or will. I'm sitting on the wide, open front porch of the Youngblood's palatial house wondering if I will be able to deal with walking away from Winch and leaving him here, without me, for good.

"Would you mind if I tossed a few passes with Colt?" Winch asks, rubbing my hand in his. He's all apology tonight, and I feel miserable for it. I feel miserable for everything that's happened on this sticky, messy foul of an evening. "You could go in the kitchen with Mama and Benelli," he offers.

I stifle a sigh and give him a sensible glare. "Really, Winch? I'm just as willing as you to pretend tonight wasn't as horrific as it actually was, but sit in the kitchen alone with them? I don't have a death wish, thank you very much."

He puts an arm around my shoulders and leans his head on mine. I turn my face so my nose brushes his cheek, and I can smell the clean clover smell that always seems to cling to his skin. "I knew we should have waited to do dinner."

I pull back and raise my eyebrows. "Waited for what exactly? It was inevitable that your family would hate me--"

"They don't hate you," he interrupts, but his words are so unsteady, he can't even convince himself he means them.

"No, you're right." His eyes snap to attention, bright with hope. "If I thought they hated me, I'd be implying that they actually worried that I pose some kind of threat. I'm something nasty they stepped in on the way to better things. They're just going to wipe me off the bottom of their shoe and never give me a second thought."

His eyes go brighter, but it's not hope this time. Not at all. This time, they're wild with rage.

"Don't you dare say that about yourself," he snarls, his hands digging into my shoulders. "You hear me?" I know my eyes have gone wide with shock, and that may be what makes him loosen this hold, and what extinguishes the rageful look in his eyes, replacing it with something so promising, it makes my entire body tremble. "You are the most goddamn amazing person I've ever met. And my family is just gonna have to learn to love you as much as I do, because I'm not letting you go. Ever. No matter what anyone thinks. You're worth fighting for. Okay?"

He looks so sweetly sure, his battered, purple-bruised face still heart-stoppingly handsome. I trace my fingers very gently around the damaged skin of his eye and the slight swell of his nose.

"I don't like the idea of you fighting about anything anymore." He starts to protest, but I put a finger over his lips, gently, because they're broken up, too. "Winch, I almost threw up watching that today. I've never seen anything so horrifying and brutal in my life. And it tore me up that it was you. That you were hurting. And then tonight--" I drop my voice and look over my shoulder, just to be sure no one from his family is nearby. "Tonight it was like no one cared. No one even asked about what happened. That whole awkward dinner where everyone got lectured about how amazing family is, but no one thought to ask how you got your face bashed in or if you need medical attention?" My voice goes thick and I take a few long, deep breaths.

Winch wraps his arms around me and smoothes my hair with his hands.

"It's okay. It's all over. And I promise, I'm getting away from all that. I am. I'm sorry you had to see what you did today. That's why I didn't want to take you. That's why I told you to stay by the car."

I throw my hands up.

"Seriously? Seriously, just stop and listen to yourself. My being there saved your ass. You could have been arrested or trampled by the crowd. And my not being there wouldn't mean it never happened. I'm glad I witnessed it, because I knew exactly how horrible it all was, and I'm hellbent on making sure that never, ever happens again to you. Okay? And I may be the only person in your life who can give you some perspective. What happened to you was scary and terrible. I am freaked out about it, and I'm even more freaked out that no one else if freaking out with me. This isn't normal, Winch."

I snap my mouth closed when I realize how loud my last words were. I have no idea who heard, and, right now, I just don't care. Someone has to stand up to all this strange denial before Winch winds

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