Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Tip for what? We didn’t get table service. Rather than drag things on more, I reach in my purse, grabbing my wallet, and tossing down a five-dollar bill. Then he guides me out and to his car.
“Would you like to walk on the beach? It’s free parking after dark.”
“As nice as that sounds, I have to work in the morning. I’m opening the office.” He doesn’t seem disappointed, just nods as we take off.
Pulling into the parking lot of the condo complex, I resist the urge to jump from the car. When he comes around and opens the door to let me out, he only gives me enough room to stand. Pinned between him and the car, I feel the panic rising.
“I had a good time,” he says barely above a whisper.
I nod but don’t speak.
Is he going to kiss me? This is the worst first date in the history of my first dates. I don’t want to kiss him. I want to forget he exists. The thoughts about getting inside race as his head dips closer to me.
Turning, I give him my cheek.
“Can I take you out again sometime?” he asks.
Before I can reply, I hear footsteps. I look over to see Anna coming with Hollis at her heels.
“Maritza, thank God! I tried to call. I can’t do it. I have the biggest headache. I need you to take him.”
Using this chance, I press my hands to Johnathon’s chest pushing him away to get space. Having the reprieve, I make my way to little Hollis who now takes off in a run to me. “Zizi,” he calls out with his hands in the air for me to swing him around. We’ve done this since he started walking.
“What’s wrong, Anna?” I ask, “where is Dillon?”
She looks to the sky. “He’s on a run, he says. Who knows. He left me to raise our kid alone. I can’t get Hollis to stop running around the house making messes and I have a headache. I need a break.” She’s speaking out of breath with a frustrated tone that tells me she is at her wits end.
I nod, “okay, Anna, calm down. I got him.”
I look over my shoulder to Johnathon. “Have a goodnight, I have to get him inside and to bed.”
Anna looks to my date and back to me, “not at all who I expected to see take you out,” she mutters to no one in particular.
I don’t know what the hell that means. I don’t care either. Never did I think I would use a kid as an escape from a man, but here we are. I’m grateful for Anna’s headache, or temper tantrum, or whatever else this is.
“He’s welcome to stay with me until Dillon gets back, Anna,” I inform her watching Johnathon get back into his car.
“Thank you,” she says before taking off almost running to her car while I have a wiggling toddler in my arms.
I wave as first Johnathon pulls away and then Anna.
“You’re better company than either of them,” I tell Hollis as I carry him to my condo. “I’ll keep you safe from facials tonight, buddy. And we aren’t having ice-cream, but definitely, I need to eat, and you probably do too.”
He doesn’t say anything as I place him down inside the doorway. My sister and Dia are in her room, I can hear them as I go to the kitchen to get something for Hollis and myself to eat.
“Yes, definitely much better company with you,” I tell him as he smiles at me.
“My Zizi,” he mumbles as I get the mac and cheese in the microwave.
I look over to him, “my Hollis.”
Even if he isn’t mine, he’s, my Hollis. Always and forever, this little boy has a piece of my heart.
FOUR
DILLON
The house is dark when I pull in. It’s late, I expect Anna and Hollis to be asleep, therefore, I enter making sure to be quiet. Being on the road for the last twelve hours, doing a transport, I’m wiped out. I don’t mind these runs, it’s a side business the club has. I even went to the local community college to obtain my CDL endorsement so I can drive the trucks for some of these. It means a few days away from home, sometimes a week at the most. Tripp makes sure no matter who is on a transport we get extra pay. The money is enticing, but also, I love to travel and see new places. It’s one of the reasons why I joined the Marines. I didn’t get to see nearly as much as I wanted. The Hellions give me a second chance at that.
Honestly, I think Anna has this love/hate relationship with the runs. She seems to do better when I’m away, as far as her temperament goes. Her mood is lighter. Sure, Anna still gives me shit about everything, it’s become her normal, but it’s not nearly like it is when I’m home. She wouldn’t know how to have a good, peaceful day with me if her life depended on it. Most of what she says and does I ignore. It’s the best way for me to get by. We don’t have a marriage anymore. We haven’t for a long damn time. I don’t even remember the last time I kissed her, or she even had something nice to say to me.