Total pages in book: 198
Estimated words: 186242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 931(@200wpm)___ 745(@250wpm)___ 621(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 931(@200wpm)___ 745(@250wpm)___ 621(@300wpm)
It was cozy and homey and nice.
I really liked it.
I guess in a way it reminded me of people and things that had brought me comfort. And love. Because the two were basically the same, or at least they should be.
“Aurora, right?” the Johnny guy asked, making me look over at him.
“Yeah,” I confirmed. “Ora if you want.”
He flashed me a white smile that was . . . It was something. “Thanks for calling about Am,” he said as he pointed through the living area and toward another short hall. There were three doors. Through one, I could hear a washing machine going. On the other side was another cracked doorway that was too dark.
“Thank you for letting me in. I was worried about him. I waited around at the hospital as long as I could, but I didn’t see you or Mr. Rhodes again after you went down there to get him, and I went home.” I’d been there until nine.
We stopped outside another cracked door. “He’s awake. I was just in here.”
Johnny knocked, and a raspy “What?” came through the door.
I tried not to snort at the warm greeting as his uncle rolled his eyes and pushed the door open.
I peeked my head inside and found Amos on the bed in boxers and a deep green T-shirt that said “Ghost Orchid” on the front of it. He glanced up from the game console he was holding in his hands and yelped before throwing his hands over his crotch, his face going red.
“Nobody cares what you got under there but you, Am.” Johnny chuckled even as he picked up a pillow I hadn’t seen on the floor and tossed it. The kid dropped it over his lap, eyes wide.
I smiled at him. “I really don’t care, but I can cover my eyes if it’ll make you feel better.” I took a single step inside and didn’t move closer. “I just wanted to check on you. You okay?”
The boy lowered his game console to rest it on top of the pillow. His features still showed his surprise as he muttered in that quiet, shy voice I figured was just part of him, “Yeah.”
“Was it your appendix?”
“Yeah.” His gaze moved to his uncle before returning to me.
“I’m sorry. I’d hoped it was just really bad gas after all.”
He made a face, but he muttered, “I had it removed yesterday.”
“Yesterday?” I turned to look at the uncle who was still standing there, and he tipped his head to the side, like it didn’t make sense to him either that he was free. “And they let you out already? Is that safe?”
The kid shrugged.
“Huh. I’d be wrapped up in a blanket crying if I’d just had surgery and was out.”
His mouth went a little flat. He really was an adorable kid. I’d bet he was going to be a real good-looking man someday.
Well, with a dad that looked the way his did, of course he would.
“I brought you some chicken noodle soup. I figure your uncle or your dad can warm it up for you. Unless you’re vegan. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, I’ll bring you something else.”
“I’m not,” he pretty much whispered, moving his attention over my shoulder briefly.
“Oh, good. I’ve got your phone too, by the way. It’s dead now.” I took a step and set it on the dresser next to me, right beside a mound of loose guitar picks and a few packs of strings. “Well, if you need anything, you know where I am. Just yell really loud. I’ll be home the rest of the day, and tomorrow I’m gone from nine to six.” He was still looking at me with these big, round eyes. “I’ll let you rest. Hope you feel better!”
His “bye” was muttered, but hey, it was better than nothing. According to one of my cousins, one of his sons had gone through a one-month-long phase of not answering with anything more than grunts and nods, so I imagined this was normal.
Figuring my job was done, I took a step back and almost ran into Johnny.
He smiled down at me when I glanced up and gestured toward the hall. Johnny followed, so close to my elbow, it kept brushing his upper body. “You said you were a neighbor?” he asked suddenly.
“Something like that,” I told him. “I’m staying in the garage apartment.”
The way he asked “What?” made me peek at him.
He looked confused as hell, that notch back between his eyebrows. “It’s a long story that Amos can probably explain better.”
“He won’t. He says about ten words a day if we’re lucky.”
Fair enough. I laughed. “To make a long story short, he put it up for rent behind his dad’s back, and I reserved it. Mr. Rhodes found out and wasn’t happy, but he still let me stay when I offered to pay extra.” That was a lot quicker than I expected. “I’ll be here about another two weeks.”