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)
Over dinner, I can tell dad’s still mulling things over in his mind.
Seems I’m not the only one who noticed Brandon was looking at me the way he did, even if he is like that with every girl.
Which I hope he’s not.
“Y’know,” Dad says, mopping up the last of his spaghetti sauce with a hunk of bread. “I can put off things tomorrow. Maybe I should go pick Brandon up instead,” he offers.
I feel my belly tense with emotion, but I don’t want to be as transparent as I was dressing up and putting on make-up for Brandon.
“Sure. If you want,” I shrug, pretending not to be annoyed by the news. Fighting hard not to let my emotions show.
Having Brandon all to myself, even for just a few hours to talk, that’s what I wanted.
How else could I know if I’m only imagining things? Not like I could just come right out and ask him if he’s into younger, heavy-set girls.
I know once dad gets his schedule clear, he’s going to want to spend all of the time with his best friend. Catching up on old times, going fishing or kicking tires, and talking about the weather.
Whatever kind of stuff regular guys do when they haven’t seen each other for ages.
Kinda leaves me as a bit of a third wheel, though, but if I’m gonna get to know Brandon as an adult, I have to act like one.
And not having a tantrum just because I can’t go pick him up is a good place to start.
Dad seems happier than ever at my reply.
“That’s settled then, I’ll shift my appointment for tomorrow, and once Big B is settled in here, maybe we can all go out to dinner tomorrow night?” he suggests.
I feel myself nod and give a positive reply, but really all dad’s done is remind me that Brandon’s not just coming over for five minutes.
He’ll be in the house.
The spare room is right next to mine if he doesn’t take the couch.
“You sure you’re okay with that?” Dad asks me, studying my reaction to the realization I’ve just had.
“It’s fine, Dad,” I squeak, clearing my throat and then gulping hard, struggling to finish my dinner, which never happens.
Worrying about how I’m gonna be with a man like Brandon living and breathing only feet away from me twenty-four seven for a few days, let alone worrying about what I look like.
“Did Brandon text you yet?” I ask my dad, wondering if he got Brandon’s flight details.
“Not yet,” my dad says, making me wonder if Brandon really was planning to come out tomorrow, or if it was a decision he made when he was on his video call with dad.
Hmmm.
“He’ll probably just let me know when he’s boarding. There are hours between him and us,” my dad reasons aloud, thinking nothing of it.
“If you’re free, why don’t we both go to meet him at the airport?” Dad suggests.
A perfectly logical, normal suggestion. Best friend takes his daughter to pick up his best friend from the airport.
Simple.
But the part nobody knows is that daughter is a simmering pot of desire whenever that certain best friend’s name is even mentioned.
So how would me being there with dad make it any easier?
“Sure,” I clip, getting better at hiding my true feelings about it all, which I hate doing.
Dad and me? We never keep anything from one another.
But if Dad suspected I was even close to being serious about my crush on his bestie I don’t think either Brandon’s life or mine would be worth living.
“Then that’s settled,” Dad sighs with contentment, lifting himself up and stacking our plates by the sink. “I’ll wash them, Dad,” I say, “And thanks for dinner. It was yummy.”
“Alright, thanks, sweetie. I gotta make some calls anyway. Rearrange the next few days in case Big B’s staying for a bit.”
My smile fades once he leaves the kitchen.
I love my dad, I really do, but the thought of him rescheduling whole days at a time now?
What happened to having a full schedule, tomorrow especially?
It’s really starting to feel like I’ll never get to be alone with Brandon.
And unfortunately for me, that’s the feeling I carry to bed. I'm turning in early and torn between my feelings for Brandon and the facts as they’re unfolding.
Wouldn’t it be neat if it was Brandon who bought that old place next door?
That would solve all my problems.
Wouldn’t it?
CHAPTER FOUR
Brandon
Packing a couple of bags after I book my flight online leaves me all night to myself.
Another night alone is no biggie, but knowing that May is just a five-hour flight away, I still don’t know if she’ll be as happy to see me as I am about seeing her again.
And seeing Steve too…I guess.
But I’m doing it. I’m following my gut, and I’ll do my best to keep a lid on things this time.