Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“It was a while after that I gave up on trying to make Hazel and me work, but I know we were both relieved when things finally came to an end, and we got back to just being friends—something that had always been easy for us.”
His eyes search mine for a moment, then he says quietly, “I guess the point of that long story is sometimes a therapist is just there to reassure you there is nothing wrong with the way you’re feeling. To tell you there is nothing wrong with you.”
“I’ll talk to someone,” I whisper, and his face gentles.
“You can always talk to me too. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Tears fill my eyes. “Thank you.”
He leans in and softly presses his lips to mine, then whispers there, “You make me so happy, Em. So fucking happy. And I know Win feels the same way.”
I don’t reply. I can’t—not with my throat clogged.
“Come here.” He wraps his arms around me and cocoons me against his chest. Safe. Always safe when I’m with him.
I close my eyes, then hear him curse right before a tiny, fluffy body shoves its way between us. I open my eyes and smile as Dolly starts frantically licking both of us, then feel my heart melt when Winter climbs up from the end of the bed and cuddles between us, facing toward me.
“Do I have school today?” she asks softly, resting her hand on my cheek.
“Yeah.”
Her bottom lip pops out. “Can we go to the zoo again when I don’t?”
“Absolutely,” I reply, and she smiles while I fight the urge to cry again as I let my eyes roam over her adorable face, something Miles said last night coming back to me.
“You won’t because you know what it feels like to be left. Because you remember what you felt when you found your mom like that, and you’d never want anyone you love or care about to experience that kind of pain.”
He’s right. Even if I struggled to get through each day, I would fight. I wouldn’t give up. I would never allow Win or anyone else to experience the pain I felt even as an adult.
“Can I have bacon and a bagel for breakfast?” she asks, squishing her forehead against mine.
“I’ll make it for you while you go brush your teeth,” Miles tells her, and she looks at him over her shoulder, then turns to face him, and gives him a hug before she climbs over his body and gets out of bed, calling Dolly to follow her.
“You doing okay?” he asks.
“Yeah.” I drag in a breath as his eyes roam over my face.
“Coffee?” His hand squeezes my hip.
“Please.”
“In the bathroom while you get ready, or are you coming out?”
“I’ll come out.”
In one smooth move, he gets out of bed, and then I watch him put on a shirt. “I was thinking about going to see my sister next weekend in Florida. It’s a seven-hour drive to where she lives.” He focuses on me, and I rub my lips together, then ask, “Do you and Winter want to come with me, maybe Friday to Monday?”
His answer is immediate. “Yeah, I’ll request the days off and let Win’s school know.”
“Okay,” I say, and he rests a fist on the bed close to me and leans over to touch his mouth to mine.
“Come have some coffee when you’re ready.” He stands, then leaves the room. I lie there for a long time, feeling content just listening to him moving around the kitchen and then the sound of Winter’s voice when she joins him.
When my stomach grumbles from the smell of bacon and coffee, I finally get out of bed. It’s early, way earlier than we’re normally up even on a school day, so the three off us sit at the table and eat without hurry.
When Winter is done, she goes back to her room to finish getting ready, while I go to Miles’s room and get dressed for the day. He joins me after taking Dolly out, then Winter comes in to hang with us as I do my makeup and her dad gets dressed.
“Are you picking me up today?” she asks, sitting on the counter next to me.
I pause with my mascara an inch from my eye and look over at her. “I think Karen is picking you up.” I glance at Miles when he walks into the bathroom.
“Karen is getting you today,” he confirms, coming to stand behind me as he buttons his shirt.
“Ugh,” she groans. “Why?”
“You love Miss Karen,” I remind her, and she rolls her eyes.
“I know, but I love you more.”
Darn.
“I’ll try to be home early.”
“Okay.” She sighs, hopping off the counter. “I’m going to find Dolly.”
“Make sure your books and your computer are in your bag,” Miles tells her, and her reply is a groan as she leaves.