Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
*
“You okay?” Kenton asks, and I look from the house in front of us over to him and nod before I start to open the door to his car. “Wait here while I come around,” he says, unfolding his large body from behind the driver’s seat.
I watch him walk around to the passenger’s side of the car. Watching him move is fascinating to me. He reminds me of a lion or a bear, his movements fluid, even with his large mass.
He opens my door and I get out, running my sweaty palms down the front of my shorts as I stand. As soon as I clear the door of the car, his hand goes to the small of my back and he leads me up the front porch. He doesn’t even knock or ring the bell; he just opens the screen door and walks us into the house.
My feet stop inside the front door. I didn’t tell Viv that Kenton was going to be bringing me, and I don’t want her to think that I’m rude, even if they are family.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, his eyebrows coming together.
“I feel bad. I should have called and told Viv what was going on. I don’t like springing this on her,” I tell him, fidgeting with the ends of my sweater.
“I called her this morning and told her I was coming,” he assures me.
“Oh.”
“It’s all good. Come on.” He grabs my hand, pulling me along with him.
When we clear the front hall, we walk into the large living room, where more than a dozen people turn to look at us.
“Crap,” I whisper and then glare at Kenton when he starts to laugh.
“Autumn, you’re here! And look! You brought the ass,” Viv says, walking towards us.
I feel my eyes go wide at the word ‘ass’ and start shaking my head at her.
“Oh, honey, trust me. I know this one’s an ass.” She pats Kenton’s cheek, smiling up at him.
“Thanks, Aunt Viv.” He laughs, kissing her cheek.
When she comes to me, her hands go to my face, her eyes look me over, and she smiles, shaking her head. I have the urge to bite my lip. I know what she’s thinking, and she is oh-so wrong.
“Is Mom here?” Kenton asks her, and I look over at him, feeling suddenly like I might be sick.
“Yep. She’s outside with your uncle.”
“I’m gonna go get my mom, baby. I’ll be right back,” he tells me and starts to move away.
“No! I mean…don’t do that. I…um, I need to go back to the house,” I say quickly, trying to plan my escape. “You guys have a nice dinner and I’ll just reschedule.”
“Oh, nonsense,” Viv says, waving her hand around.
No way do I want to meet Kenton’s mom, and there is nothing anyone can say that will convince me differently, I think, feeling the panic rise.
“Honey, I’m so glad you’re here,” a woman says, walking into the room.
I take her in. Her dark hair is shorter than Kenton’s. She’s petite; I would guess close to five one. She’s wearing a long, flowing dress and a blue jean vest with a wide belt wrapped around her waist. My eyes close and my head falls forward. Now I have no way to get out of this without looking like an ass.
“I thought Aunt Viv filled you in on what was goin’ on,” Kenton says as he picks the woman up off the floor, giving her a hug.
“She did. Well, kinda. She said you were bringing someone to dinner, and I told her if it was Cassie, I was not going to be happy,” she says, and Kenton chuckles as he sets her on her feet.
“I didn’t come with him,” I blurt like an idiot, causing the woman’s eyes to come to me. “I mean…we drove together, but we didn’t come together.” I lower my head and shake it back and forth. “I mean, we’re not together. Viv asked me to dinner a few weeks ago, and I’ve been coming every Sunday since.” Shut up! Shut up, you idiot, I tell myself. Sadly, I don’t even listen to my own warnings. “Kenton and I just live together. That’s all.”
Viv gives my arm a squeeze and Kenton’s mom looks like her eyes are going to pop out of her head. When I look at Kenton, his eyes are soft as he smiles and shakes his head.
“Mom, this is Autumn. Autumn, this is my mom, Nancy.”
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you,” I tell her, sticking out my hand. Nope, this isn’t awkward at all.
“You too, honey.” She pulls me in for a hug then looks over at Viv and smiles. Viv smiles back, and I can see the wheels in her head are turning.
“I’m gonna grab a beer and go outside with Uncle Maz.”
“Sure, honey. Go on,” Kenton’s mom says.