Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
“It’s okay,” she smiles and looks at Andy, who’s still ogling her. “Hi, I’m Renee.”
“Andy. I work with Kane,” he says, shaking her hand.
“Andy was just leaving. Goodbye, Andy,” I grit my teeth at him.
“I’m waiting for my food.”
“Wait at the bar.” I flash a warning glare at him, and he finally takes the hint.
Renee sits down across from me as Andy walks away.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I say, lightly touching her fingertips.
She bites her bottom lip. “I miss you.”
“Miss you, too. I have one more thing to wrap up at work after lunch. If you wait around, I can give you a ride home,” I wink.
“That would be nice,” she says, lacing her fingers through mine.
Just then, Kayla comes over to take our order, and we immediately pull our hands apart. After ordering our food, I pull over the pile of brochures.
“I’ve been doing some research on schools with good art programs,” I explain.
Renee tucks her hair behind her ear as she looks from the brochures to my face.
“When did you have time to do this?”
“I always make time for you.”
She bats her eyes at me as she blushes and pulls the brochures over to her. As she skims through them, she frowns.
“What’s wrong?”
“Most of these schools are halfway across the country.”
“So?”
“So? You want me to go away?” She looks hurt, so I take her hand in mine, not caring if anyone sees at that moment.
“No, but… maybe it would be good for you. To get away from Tarrytown. You always complain about this small town. Besides, I know how much you worry about your father. I think it would be good for the both of you if you gained some independence from each other.”
I don’t add that I think it would be better for her if she was far away from me, too, but that’s part of it. Renee deserves a full life, one where she can fall in love with a boy her own age, and they can get married and have kids. I don’t want to hold her back from anything.
“These are also four-year colleges,” she sighs. “And require a ton of academic credits.”
“Rey, I’m trying to please you and your father here… I’m trying to help.”
“I know that, and I appreciate it, but no one asks what I really want. And if they do, they don’t like my answer.”
“What do you really want, Rey? To get a job illustrating for Marvel Comics right out of high school? You need to be realistic.”
Letting out a groan, she looks up at the ceiling.
“Those graphic novels are just for fun. I don’t even know what area of art I want to go into! I’m not ready to make these decisions for my future. I’m only eighteen,” she says, exasperated.
I look into her worried eyes and realize I can’t keep doing this with her. She has too much on her plate with graduation and college, and I’m only adding to her stress. Besides, what kind of real relationship could we ever have? Are we going to sneak around for the rest of our lives? Telling Colt is not an option—we’d both lose him.
I know I have to end things with Renee soon. I’m just not ready to let her go yet.
I get up and move to the other side of the booth, skooching next to Renee. Rubbing her back soothingly, I push the brochures away from her.
“Look, I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I just want you to weigh all of your options,” I tell her as she looks at me with frustrated brown eyes.
“I know. I just feel so much pressure from Dad… and you.”
“Sweetie, I never meant to add to the pressure.”
“It’s not your fault, Kane,” she says. “I don’t want you to be disappointed in me, that’s all.”
“Rey, I could never be disappointed in you, whether you go to college or not. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
A blushing smile comes over her face, and I can tell she wants to kiss me. I become well-aware of where we are, though, and I quickly move back to the other side of the table. Kayla and some of the other wait staff are looking on curiously. Renee sighs, and I give her an apologetic smile.
Kayla comes over to take our order, smiling at us.
“Who is this pretty young lady?” she asks in a patronizing tone.
“This is my goddaughter, Renee. Renee, this is Kayla,” I introduce them.
“Hello,” Renee says blandly.
“How sweet that you guys have lunch together. How old are you, Renee? Sixteen?” Kayla asks, shooting a side glance to me like she knows something is going on between Renee and me.
“I’m eighteen, actually,” Renee says, sitting up taller. “Can we order now? I’m pretty hungry.”
“I’ll bet you are,” Kayla says. “You’re a growing girl.”
“You know, Rey, the food here kind of sucks. Want to go someplace else?” I ask.