Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Fuck… why does it feel like something just stabbed me through the heart?
I brush the feeling aside. I’ve survived the last few months keeping shit like that at bay by simply ignoring it.
“Well, okay… I’m in,” I say with a smile. I pick up another slice of bacon and bite into it.
Something flickers over her face, an emotion I can’t quite place, but it’s gone before I can study it. Tillie smiles in return. “We have a game plan.” She holds her coffee cup out in toast and I take mine to tap against hers. “To great sex and a clean break at the end.”
Another stabbing cramp in my chest, but I maintain my smile. “I’ll drink to that.”
We sip our coffees and return to breakfast. But I need to clarify something. “Is this only sex?”
Tillie’s eyebrows rise. “You know… I’m not sure. I mean, I had fun at the music festival last night.”
“And breakfast together is nice,” I point out.
“And we’ve learned to be civil to each other,” she deadpans. “I suppose it could be a tiny bit more than just sex.”
Chuckling, I bump my knee against hers under the table. “I have an idea… you said you wanted to put some of your mother’s art out on the trails. I’d be glad to help you do that if you want.”
Her eyes light up, and she beams, loosening my chest a bit. “Really?”
“Yes, really. As long as we can have sex after so we keep this focused more on the sex than the friendship.”
Tillie snickers.
“Want to do it today?” I ask.
“We can get started.” She picks up another piece of bacon and waves it. “I have a lot of her pieces, and some need to be anchored. I’ll need to make a trip to the hardware store.”
“I happen to have a truck,” I point out, and she laughs.
She has an amazing laugh, and it makes me smile.
Nothing has made me feel so light in so fucking long, and the thought of losing it already bothers me.
CHAPTER 18
Tillie
“Are you sure?” I ask Teddy as I pace my hallway.
“I’m sure,” he replies. “The easement language is not exclusive to the type of zoning, which means there’s a presumption it’s inclusive of everything.”
“Which means I’ll be able to have my driveway,” I breathe out.
“Again, I can’t guarantee anything, but Tillie… I really think we’re going to win this.”
Strange how this should be a relief, but all I feel is stressed by this knowledge, because I think some crazy part of me was hoping Coen and I truly wouldn’t have an expiration date. If I win this, it means he loses, and we’re definitely done.
Just as we’d be done if he won.
Ugh, there’s no winning for anyone.
“Thanks for calling, Teddy,” I say. “I appreciate the work.”
“You don’t sound overly happy,” he says tentatively. “I swear I researched this and crossed all my t’s and dotted my i’s.”
“I’m happy. It’s great news.”
“Just making sure,” he says. “You threatened me with malpractice.”
“I was upset,” I assure him. “Truthfully… I’m happy.”
A horn honks from my driveway, and a tremor of excitement runs through me. “Listen, Teddy… I have to go. Thank you so much for calling.”
“Sure.”
“Okay, bye,” I say even as I’m disconnecting the call.
I run to my door and open it. Holding up my index finger, I silently tell Coen to wait a sec and then turn to run back inside.
This is me… often late, usually running around trying to grab all my stuff, and forever making people wait on me.
We’re headed to the county fair.
As friends, of course, and this is most certainly not a date. Just something fun to do on a weekend, but it won’t be as fun as what we’ll do at my house after the fair tonight.
It’s been a week since we agreed to have a fun, no-strings involvement until the court date.
I thought it might mean we’d hook up a few times, but in actuality, we’ve been together every night since then. Always at my house.
We’ve spent time together out of bed, him helping me set up my mom’s sculptures along the trails. But for the most part, our days are our own. My painting pretty much follows a standard work week between completing the actual art, scanning high-resolution images, using digital methods of touch-up, and then uploading to retail sites for purchase. I also have to do some social media marketing and administrative work keeping track of sales. On top of that, I always have at least one commission going, which takes far longer than the art I sell online.
And once a week, I teach painting in the dance hall portion of the VFW to anyone who wants to attend. It’s a free class and I provide the supplies, but I love helping people tap into their artistic abilities.