Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 61542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Sawyer looks out the window into the distance. “I think she may have had some questionable jobs, like working as a sexy waitress or something. But The Succubus . . . That’s something else.”
“If it makes you feel better, it was probably not as bad as you think. Also, I suspect she only worked there for less than a week.”
Sawyer nods. “Thanks, man. I know you’re trying to make me feel better, and I appreciate that.
“Sometimes, I can’t help but feel guilty over how Katie’s life’s turned out. I mean, yeah, she has a good job, and she’s making good money. But she’s also struggling because she’s on her own.
“I try to help out when I can, but it’s not enough. It’s too little, too late. I should’ve taken better care of her when she was younger.”
“For what it’s worth,” I say, “I think she’s doing great on her own. And I’m sure it has something to do with how you raised her to be hard-working and resilient.”
Sawyer laughs. “Now you’re just bullshitting me. You don’t even know how I raised her.”
“No, but I know you, and I’m sure she learned a lot from your example.”
Sawyer falls silent. He looks straight at me and gives me a small smile. “Thanks for saying that. You don’t know how much that means to me. Katie keeps telling me William needs a ‘male role model’ in his life, and I can’t help but worry that I’ll fall short, you know?”
“Yeah,” I say. I’ve actually been impatiently waiting for Sawyer to stop chattering about the past so I can ask him about the future, and he’s just given me a good opener. “Speaking of William, has he ever asked about his father?”
“Not yet. He’s way too young for that.” Sawyer shakes his head. Then, he chuckles. “Katie plans on faking amnesia when he does ask.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, I laugh. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s going to fly.”
“I think it’s going to be fine, at least until he’s older,” says a female voice that surprises both Sawyer and me into silence.
“Hey, little man,” Sawyer says as he picks up his nephew—who could also be my son.
I stare at William’s dark, curly hair and his clear, green eyes. Katie has dark hair, too . . . and brown eyes— just like Sawyer.
And the way he smiles kind of makes him look like my mom . . .
He’s adorable. But more than that, he feels familiar.
“Aww . . . You guys haven’t eaten at all?” Katie asks as she takes her seat. “Now the food’s all cold.”
Sawyer and I give each other a look.
I nod at him.
He nods back at me.
“Hey, where are you going?” Katie asks as Sawyer gets up from his chair, taking William with him.
“William just told me he wants to eat in the living room, so that’s where I’m taking him. You want to go sit on the couch, William?” Sawyer asks the toddler in his arm. “Yeah, you do. You want to watch TV, don’t you?”
“TV!” William exclaims happily.
Katie sighs in defeat as Sawyer lifts William up onto his shoulders goes into the living room.
“I’d tell Sawyer William’s spent too much time in front of the TV already, but he knows I’ll basically let him do anything as long as it gives me some time to myself,” Katie says.
“It must be hard on you, raising a child on your own,” I say.
“Yeah, well, like anything else in life, you get used to it,” she says matter-of-factly.
“That’s true.” My heart’s jumps up to my throat, making it hard for me to speak.
How do I even start this conversation? I can’t just go, “Hey, guess what? I’m your son’s father.”
But I also can’t afford to skirt around the issue. That two-year-old is a wild card; he could start crying while we’re having a conversation, at which point Katie would probably go and tend to him.
“Katie, you said you heard my conversation with Sawyer earlier,” I start. I can feel the throbbing of my heart in my throat.
“Yeah, just a little bit. What was that about? Me?” Katie grins as she picks up a piece of chicken. She adds, “Not that you have to tell me. It just sounded interesting.”
“It was about you,” I admit.
“Really? I thought I was just being presumptuous.” Katie stares at me like she didn’t expect my answer. “Or, more precisely, I didn’t think you were just going to admit it.”
“I’ve been looking for you. I’ve searched everywhere.”
“You’ve been . . . looking for me? Are you sure it’s me?” Katie tilts her head in delightful way while she maintains eye contact.
I remember those big, brown eyes. I’d recognize them anywhere.
I’ve already started telling her. May as well go for broke.
“Yes,” I say with certainty. “You’re the one I’ve been looking for.”