Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 47200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
My new place.
“I’ll pick up my bags later,” I tell Steve, and moving to get out of the car, he asks me what the hell I’m talking about.
“This is me,” I tell him, leaning in the passenger side before I close it, thumbing to the house behind me.
I did buy the house next door, and before turning to go inside my new place, I shoot May a look with a wink that I pray she understands.
I don’t want her spending another night without me, and at this point, I really couldn’t care less if her dad finds out about us or not.
May knows where I’ll be. She’s a smart girl.
She’ll know where to go when she needs what I have for her as much as I need to give it.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
May
Dad’s quick to catch up with me, hugging me and apologizing for what he just said.
But what really hurts is his reaction to Brandon’s news.
It makes me realize that this is all gonna be a lot harder than I thought if dad’s already acting like this.
How’s he gonna take the news about Brandon and me?
I can see now why Brandon was so firm about taking things slow and secret.
At least where my dad’s concerned, even though neither of us likes to hide anything from him. Maybe he just knows without knowing. I mean, he was fine.
“I didn’t mean to snap at you, honey,” my dad says soothingly.
I forgive him instantly, believing him when he tells me he’s just overtired and that today’s only made him realize how much he’s really struggling.
“What do you mean, Dad?” I ask. “I thought you said things were picking up.”
He doesn’t have to go into details. I can see at a glance that dad’s just been telling me that for ages so I don’t worry.
“C’mon, let’s just go, can we?” my dad asks, and once we’re all back in the car, I think it’s wiser if I keep my opinions to myself and my eyes forward, as best I can anyway.
I can’t take my eyes off Brandon, even in a mini-crisis.
But my tear-stained eyes grow wide, and my jaw drops once Brandon lets us all know that he has bought the house next door, and by the look of things, he’s moving in.
Tonight.
If it wasn’t for the little wink he gives me, I’d have no idea what to do next. But stepping away from the car and fishing for the key in his pocket, I can see that Brandon knows exactly what he’s doing.
And when the time’s right, I’m sure he’ll make sure we both pick up right where we left off.
Watching him head inside his new house, I realize how quiet my dad is now.
He looks just as stunned as I do, but without a word, he pulls into the drive of our house and acts as if nothing happened.
“I’m sorry it wasn’t a more fun dinner,” he groans, pulling up but leaving the motor running.
“Look, May? I’m gonna just go drive for a while, get some air, and…I dunno, just drive, I guess,” he says, apologizing again before I tell him it’s okay.
Dad’s thing when he’s upset or worried. He likes to drive, not like a maniac or anything. He just likes the open road with the wind in his hair. And always by himself if he’s in the kind of mood he’s in tonight.
“I’m heading straight to bed,” I let him know. “Unless you want me to wait up if you wanna talk, I mean.”
But dad just pats my knee.
“Thanks, sweetie, but you go on ahead and get some rest. Everything will be fine, you’ll see,” he smiles, putting on a brave face for my benefit.
Dad waits until I get inside before he drives off again, and I’m instantly torn between doing what I said I would and going to bed or doing what every cell in my body is screaming to do.
Go visit my new neighbor.
It’s a no-brainer, really, and dad’s little drives? They’re a couple of hours, minimum. The bigger his issue, the longer the drive. So I think it’s safe to say I have at least one hour to do what I want.
Maybe I can get some more sense out of Brandon about what he and dad did talk about earlier today.
I don’t waste a minute getting myself next door, hefting one of his bags as I go. This gives me the perfect excuse to pay a visit, and I already feel the thrill of having Brandon as our new neighbor.
Before I even ring the bell, the front door of the old place swings open.
Brandon fills the doorway with the soft light of a lampshade behind him.
Just him in his jeans and white t-shirt, his ripped and tanned body tense underneath, and I shiver as it hits me again.
He’s all mine…I’m all his, and he actually wants me.