Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Sighing, I shoot a quick text back.
Me: All good here. You?
Shelley: I’m in Charleston. Was hoping maybe you’d come visit?
I stare at the screen for a long moment. For weeks, she has been insisting she’s reformed. New leaf and all that. Her last message said she wants a chance at reconciliation, but the amount of chances this woman has gotten from us is comical at this point. There were times Cooper and I needed a mother when we were kids. Now, we get along just fine without one. Hell, we get along better. Life’s much less stressful without a person that blows into town every few months or years to spin some bullshit about a big opportunity and getting her life together, and all she needs is a place to stay and a few bucks, yada yada. Until we wake up one morning and she’s gone again. The coffee can above the fridge empty. Cooper’s room ransacked. Or whatever new low Shelley decides to sink to.
When I don’t respond right away, another message pops up.
Shelley: Please? We could start off easy. Coffee? A walk? Whatever you want.
My hesitation earns me another message.
Shelley: I miss my sons, Evan. Please.
I grit my teeth. Thing is, I didn’t pack for a guilt trip. She can’t play the mom card after years of negligence.
Her next message names a time and place. Because she knows I’m the soft one when it comes to her, and I always have been. She wouldn’t dare come at Cooper like this. Which is all the more conniving and unfair.
Still, even understanding all this, a part of me wants to believe her, to give her a chance to prove she can be a decent person. If to no one else, then to us.
Me: I’ll think about it and get back to you.
But reconciliation is a stretch goal. Coop is intent on taking this grudge to the grave. I’m sure he’d be happier if he never had to think about her again. For me, well, if I’m honest with myself, I guess I’m still raw about the whole thing. Last time she was here, she put on a good act, her best performance yet. She had me most of the way to believing she’d stick around and give it a try. Be a real mom. As much as she could be to two grown men who barely know her.
Needless to say, it blew up in my face with Coop getting in another I told you so.
And since I’m not in the mood for a repeat when I sit down for dinner later, I keep the news of Shelley being in Charleston to myself. She’s the least of my concerns, anyway. The thoughts of Gen on her date scream much, much louder in my head.
While Mac is passing me the mashed potatoes, I’m imagining Gen laughing over salads and appetizers with some asshole. Cooper’s talking shop, but I’m picturing this dude sizing up how to get Gen back to his place tonight. He’s thinking about what she looks like naked, and will some steak and lobster buy him a blowjob on a first date?
My jaw’s so tight I can barely eat.
Then, as we’re clearing the table, a bug crawls in my ear asking, what if Gen actually likes this bastard? What if she’s falling for his bullshit, eating his game with a spoon? Maybe she wore some sexy outfit with the intentions of leaving it on his bedroom floor. Maybe later tonight, she’ll be dragging her nails down his back.
I nearly put my fist through the wall, curling both hands over the countertop as I help Mac load the dishwasher.
And what happens if Gen and this guy get together for real? It’s one thing if she dated someone in Charleston, because I wouldn’t have to see it. But she’s home now. If she finds a new guy, I’ll be forced to watch them walk around, rubbing it in my face while I’m at work, fixing up her dad’s house? Walking in on them in the kitchen suddenly trying to act chill with that flush on her face that says she just had his fingers inside her? Oh, hell no. I’d end up taking a hammer to his hand.
“We’re going for a walk on the beach with Daisy,” Mac says, neatly folding the dishcloth and placing it next to the sink. “Wanna come?”
“Nah. I’m good.”
I’m not good. I’m not good in the slightest.
The moment Cooper and Mac exit onto the back deck, I grab my keys and head to the front door.
In no time at all, I’m riding into town on my motorcycle to see for myself. Damned if I’m going to be made the cuck.
CHAPTER 11
GENEVIEVE
“I think I screwed up,” I whisper to Harrison as the waiter in a white dress shirt and black vest lays the linen napkin in my lap. There are already three sets of glasses on the table and we haven’t even ordered anything yet. When the waiter offered us still or sparkling water, I asked for the free kind. “I had no idea this place was so fancy.”