All I Need: Rod & Daisy (All Of Me Duet Book 2) A.D. Justice (short novels to read TXT) 📖

the table. Everyone we know loves Juliana more than either of us. That’s a given.

“I’m just glad you all realize Brian and I have adopted you as our own kids. That makes it a little less awkward when we introduce you as our daughter or son. Or when we have to scold you for being bad.” Chelle winks in jest, but I sense an underlying hint of truth to her words. She’ll put us in our place if needed, but she’ll do it with all the love she has inside her.

It’s a good feeling, belonging to a family that cares enough to set me straight when I need it. When I glance at Juliana, I see the same desire to belong shining in her eyes. The family we’ve missed out on all these years surrounds us. I don’t think either of us could walk away from Daisy or her family now.

Strange how a short time with the right person so quickly changed the perspective I’ve held on to for most of my life.

One look at Daisy as she helps Landen and Isabelle with their plates, and I know she has my heart. The difference now is my feelings for her don’t make me want to run away. If anything, I only want to run to her even more. Something is holding me back from verbalizing my feelings though. I haven’t quite put my finger on what that reason is yet, but my hesitancy to speak the words is troubling.

“When are you going to tell her?” Juliana keeps her voice low as she nudges me with her elbow.

“Tell who what?” My obvious confusion only makes her roll her eyes.

“When are you going to tell Daisy you love her?”

Even though she’s whispering in a room full of loud and boisterous people, I feel as if a spotlight is shining directly down on me. I glance around the room and note the multiple conversations occurring at once. A nervous twitch settles in my eye and swallowing suddenly becomes a challenge. No one is paying the least bit of attention to me… except my little sister.

“Um… I, uh… What?”

“You’re not fooling me, Rod. I know you a hundred times better than you think I do.” She reaches for the scrambled eggs and scoops some onto her plate as if we’re having a normal conversation. “If you don’t move past what Dad did to us all those years ago, you’ll never be happy.”

The anvil dropping on the coyote’s head couldn’t be a more perfect analogy of how her words struck me out of the blue. My silence only confirms her assumption is correct, and she knows it. She arches one eyebrow when she meets my dumbfounded expression, then a smug grin covers her face.

It’s good to see her smiling, even if it’s at my expense and regarding a topic I’d rather not discuss. Ever.

But I can’t deny she’s hit the nail on the head.

Chris Stone caused so much pain and suffering when I was a young teenager, I’ve actively and aggressively avoided forming attachments with anyone outside of my little family. When he walked out on us forever after taking the time to say those three words to each of us, love became a fairytale and life molded me into too much of a realist.

Until a beautiful blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty caught me in her spell. She makes me want to believe in the fantasy world.

We’ve both suffered at the hands of others, but her inner strength amazes me. She’s been honest and shared information with me others would’ve kept to themselves. Her generosity and fortitude push me to share with her what I haven’t given another living soul outside of my close-knit group.

My trust.

My respect.

My love.

There it is, on the tip of my tongue, daring me to blurt it out in front of everyone. The image of her deer-in-the-headlights reaction nearly makes me laugh out loud. I know her feelings for me are strong or she wouldn’t have forgiven all my idiotic mistakes. She has a generous nature, a loving heart, and a kind spirit. She’s the only woman I can see spending the rest of my life with, and that’s something I’ve never even considered before now.

Before her.

Chris Stone has been standing in the way of my happiness, in more than one way, for far too long. He stole my childhood, deserted my mom and sister when they needed him most, and left us all to navigate life’s rough roads alone. But as I glance around the table, listening to the people I love the most talking and laughing, an unsettling truth about myself hits me.

Something I’ve strived to prevent has happened, despite my best attempts otherwise. I’ve become my father. Maybe not in the same light I usually paint him in, but in many other ways every bit as detrimental. I’ve kept everyone at arm’s length to protect my feelings. In doing that, I’ve missed so many beautiful moments in my life. That era has come to an end.

My best friend will be a father in a matter of months. He and Tracy are starting a life I never imagined wanting before Daisy turned my world inside out. Of course, she did that in the best way possible. The same way Tracy turned Kevin’s world upside down and he’s loving every minute of it. My gaze lingers when Kevin leans toward Tracy, his lips skim across hers, and their eyes lock for a second longer than normal.

Their silent conversation is intimate and cozy, as two lovers who share a secret from the rest of the world. In their case, I suppose they do. Despite the bumpy road they’ve had recently with their family race tensions, they seem closer than ever. Watching them only strengthens my resolve to commit fully to Daisy and Landen.

“Are you okay?” Daisy reaches around from behind me, placing a hot cup of coffee beside my plate. Her voice is barely above a whisper, but it’s full of concern for