Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
12
Summer
“Are you doing okay? You’re quiet,” Eden asks me as she steals a fry off my plate.
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t bullshit me.” She calls me out. “Is there more going on at your new job than you’re telling me?” She knows me too well.
“No.” I pick up my burger, taking a giant bite so I don’t have to talk. That’s the problem. Nothing else has happened and I still don’t understand what happened the other night. I feel out of sorts. It didn't stop me from once again leaving him food and talking to him while I cleaned as if he could hear me. I made sure to do it when Colby wasn't in earshot.
“How is Colby liking it out there?”
“He seems okay. I think the kitten helps, but he needs to be around someone else besides me sometimes.”
“I’m sure he’ll be peopled out by the time you pick him up from my sister’s. You know she’s knocked up again, right?”
“I’m more surprised when your sister isn't pregnant.” I smile, knowing Colby will have fun over there for a few hours but then he’ll be ready to go.
“She’s building an army over there.”
“It’s sweet.” Eden’s much older sister Cana married her high school sweetheart. They started popping out kids pretty quickly. She and Dean are madly in love. I don’t think I could handle five kids, but watching them together always makes me smile. It reminds me of how my parents used to be before my dad died.
“Speaking of sweet, I hear Colten is sweet on you?”
“As in my old boss?” I grab my purse and find my phone.
“Yep. He keeps asking me about you.”
“He texted me.” I hand her my phone.
“Wait, you’re meeting up with him tonight?” She glares at me. “You have a date with Colten!”
“Can you say it louder? Jeez. I don’t think the table in the back heard you.” I snatch my phone from her. “No, it’s not a date by the way.” I look around the diner and people are glancing our way. She’s going to start gossip.
My mom moved us to Smithville when she lost our childhood home. If there is one thing I learned since living here it’s that news travels fast. This small town loves them some gossip. They haven’t had much since Khloe and the chief finally got together. So I’m sure they’re chomping at the bit for something new.
“I’m sure it’s about the store or something.”
“Then why not call and ask?” I look down at the text. They look innocent enough. Though I think I might have a problem reading men. Based off my interaction with Kale.
“Should I tell him something came up?” I start to panic. I can’t date Colten, he's my old boss. Oh, but you tried to give your current boss a blow job. What is wrong with me? That house is making me crazy. That has to be it because I am still shocked I’d done that. Yet, I know given the opportunity, I’d do it again.
“Why? You can go on a date. You’re allowed to have a life, Summer. You’re only going to be young once. Nothing wrong with having a little fun.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. I toss a french fry at her.
“Hey. Don’t waste those.”
“I can’t go on dates and have fun. I have Colby. He’s had enough instability in his life.”
“People date while raising kids.” She has a point, but I’m already texting Colten that I can’t make it tonight. “Hey Colt.” I jerk my head up sure Eden is messing with me. Nope. There stands Colten next to our table. Which is just my luck. Great.
“Hey Eden. How are things?” he asks her, but he’s staring down at me.
“Same ole same. You want to join us?”
I’m going to murder her. I kick her under the table.
“Sorry, I was about to text you.”
“That’s okay.” He gives me a smile as his phone starts to ring. “It’s the store. I’ve got to get this.” Then he winks at me before walking away, killing any hope that he had something to ask me about the store. It was stupid of me to think it was that to begin with.
“I want to murder you.”
“Yeah, I got that. Your whole face went pale. I don’t get it. He’s so handsome.”
“My hands are full.”
Eden’s eyes soften. “I know that, but you gotta have some you time. Go out and have fun.”
I think about Kale. As thrown off as I was in the kitchen the other night, it had all been a rush. I never felt so alive. Yet as fast as it was there it was gone again.
“I have fun with you.” I pick up a fry. I should be having more fun, but I keep thinking about what Kale might be doing. Will he notice that I left him dinner before I left? Not that he eats them anyway. Maybe he’ll miss that I’m not roaming the halls of his home rambling on or singing?