Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
He shrugged. “A few hours, days?”
“Days?” I all but shouted.
He gave me a nonplussed rise and fall of his broad shoulders.
“I can’t wait here days. Is there someplace close I can rent a car?”
“Dad should be able to help.”
Dad? Where exactly was I?
4
Grant
Dad had the ladder in place when I opened the door. I’d spotted Jolie’s moment of confusion and chose to ignore it. She was no longer my problem.
“Boy,” Dad greeted.
I hated that he called me that. I was far from a boy, though I had some years until I was thirty. It was something he’d called me since my mother left when I was around six.
Out on the landing, I waited for Jolie to come out and descend first so Dad would be distracted and play the good host. I’d done my part.
The hanger doors were open, and the air was blustery. Snow had arrived in miniature flakes that blew carelessly in the air. After I’d finished things, I would be lucky to make it home before it came down hard, sticking in clumps to the ground.
I went back into the plane to finish closing it out. Dad ran a slim crew, considering he was on the verge of going out of business. Cleaning up after our rich patrons was one thing I was looking forward to not doing once Monday came.
When I’d been young and eager, I wanted to know all facets of the business. But now, after college, I just wanted to fly.
By the time I’d closed the plane door, Dad had the hanger doors shut. He and Jolie were nowhere to be seen. It was likely they had gone to the office by way of the small passageway between this hanger and the office.
I took that same passageway and heard Jolie’s shrill voice.
“What do you mean?”
I stepped inside, curious about my father’s response.
“The weather’s changing mighty fast. No one’s going to fly you out and no one’s flying in.”
Though she looked up at me, she asked my father, “What about renting a car?”
“Not today. This is a small town, and everyone’s closed or closing up shop as we speak.”
That was when I glanced up and noticed the steady stream of snow falling outside the picture window.
Fuck.
“What am I supposed to do?” she asked.
Dad glanced at me, but way too quickly. I knew then I wasn’t going to like what he said next.
“You’re going to go home with my boy here.”
Though he said it like a declaration, neither Jolie nor I liked the idea. While I said, “Wait!” and she said, “What?”, we both ended with the finality of “No!” at the same time.
Dad held up a hand like we were wayward teenagers being given a curfew.
“I’ve called. They’ve closed the roads.”
This wasn’t unexpected given the storm I’d been tracking. If it were this far south, which hadn’t been predicted by forecasters, the roads wouldn’t have been treated in time.
“There’s no hotel?” When Dad only lifted a brow, she switched gears. “Motel, Airbnb?”
He shook his head and she sighed.
“Can I stay here?” she pleaded.
“I’ve got a place in the back, but it’s the size of a closet and barely fits one,” Dad said as I remained silent and grim.
I knew where this was headed. Though he’d said the words, it was finally sinking in that there were few options in this situation.
“What about the airplane? Can’t I sleep in there?”
“Of course, Your Highness. I’m sure you can pay for the fuel and the cleanup when we leave the hanger door open to run the plane to keep you warm.”
So that wasn’t exactly right. The plane didn’t have to run for the electricity to work. But like a car, it wasn’t made to run power without the motor for an extended period.
Dad turned cool eyes on me, and I lifted my hands and said, “Sorry.”
Before I could clarify that my apology should have been aimed at Jolie, she focused on Dad as if I wasn’t in the room.
“What are my options?” she asked.
He replied, “You can ride the ATV with my son to his cabin.”
Her eyes widened. “ATV?”
I pointed outside. “He did mention the roads. But trust me, you’re welcome to stay here alone, and Dad can come with me.”
I really didn’t want to deal with this princess in my place. It certainly wouldn’t be up to her standards.
“I can’t believe this,” she said more to herself. “And that’s my only option?”
“I can’t say I’m all too pleased about it either,” I grumbled.
Her narrowed eyes laser-focused on me. “As if I want to be with you.”
“Looks to me like I’m the last man on earth,” I sarcastically announced with arms wide.
Technically not, my dad was there, but it was as if he wasn’t in the room.
“Lucky me,” she said, her words dripping with disdain.
The weather was only getting worse as heavy snowflakes fell faster as the wind began to howl outside.