Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44788 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44788 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Freaking Whiskey and his buddy Callaway were in the backyard, howling like a couple of cats. Of course it was them. They were serenading me apparently, wailing an old school rock ballad soulfully right at my window .
“Be quiet! Have you lost your minds ?”
Whiskey staggered forward, smiling at me goofily .
“ Hey babe .”
“Do not call me babe .”
He just smiled wider .
“You are so pretty when you are mad .”
“I’m mad because you are going to wake the whole neighborhood !”
He looked instantly contrite, like a little boy who was told he’d have to finish his dinner before he got a cookie .
“I’m sorry .”
“You should be! Now, go home! Both of you !”
“But I wanted to see you .”
I rubbed the bridge of my nose, praying for patience .
“You already saw me .”
The smile was back .
“I did. You’re so pretty .”
“You are drunk !”
“ I’m sad .”
“Please do me a favor, Whiskey .”
“I would do anything for you, Becks. Just name it .”
“ GO HOME !”
I slammed the window shut loudly. Too loudly. Petunia let out a wail. I didn’t spare a backwards glance to see if the fool had actually left. Or worse yet, if he’d heard the unmistakeable cry of a baby .
“Dammit !”
I pushed my feet back into my fuzzy slippers and stomped down the hall .
Chapter Ten
Whiskey
I stared up at the stars, staring at them from the roof of the clubhouse. The bar was closed, with a couple of people passed out on the chairs and sofas. There was even a guy conked out on the pool table .
It was that late .
Even the complete degenerates were asleep .
Callaway and I had stumbled around town, passing a bottle back and forth. We ended up here. By then our bottle was empty .
Luckily, I had the keys .
Callaway handed me a fresh bottle and I took a deep swig. It hit the spot, even though I knew I’d be paying for it tomorrow .
“You still like her , huh ?”
“ Uh huh .”
“Even though she took off on you and disappeared without a trace ?”
“ Uh huh .”
“You are so screwed, my friend .”
“ Uh huh .”
I passed the bottle back .
“Maybe you just need some new ink. Maybe that will help .”
I shrugged. I realized I was probably going to end up sleeping on the roof. I knew other guys had done it. I’d always thought they were idiots .
It was a new low. But I didn’t care .
Becky didn’t want me anymore. Worse than that, she seemed to actually hate me. But I wasn’t giving up .
I’d do anything to get her back. I had to at least find out why she had left. And what I’d done to mess things up so royally .
Otherwise, how could I even start to fix it ?
“Whiskey ?”
“Yes, Callaway ?”
“Did you hear a baby ?”
“Hmmm ?”
I grabbed the bottle, taking a deep pull .
“At Mae’s place. I could have sworn I heard a baby crying .”
“Huh. I thought it was a cat .”
“No man, that was a baby .”
A baby… how cute. Maybe Mae had family in town. But Mae didn’t have any other family. Neither did Becky .
Maybe Becky had a baby. I bet she would have the cutest baby. She’d be a great mama too .
I wanted to see her with a little baby someday. More than anything .
The bottle slid out of my grasp and rolled across the roof. I heard a light snore from beside me. Callaway was passed out cold .
I fell asleep not ten seconds later, smiling faintly about something .
I just forgot what it was .
Chapter Eleven
Jack
I stood in the Stop and Shop, frowning at the list in my hands. There was the regular stuff, sure. But then it got weird .
Pickles and ice cream. That was standard but I was shocked at how early Janet was getting her cravings this time .
And they were even stranger than her other pregnancies .
Salt and vinegar potato chips were at the top of the list. That was new. Janet hated junk food. And so were all the ingredients to make s’mores. Even newer .
Janet hated s’mores .
Plus, this time she wanted both dill and sour pickles. And olives. She had also written down all the regular stuff we needed for the kids and for me. But this was out of hand. There were way more snacks than usual. I had a feeling it would be hard to hide all the junk food from the hellions .
They were always getting into something, I thought fondly .
I shook my head. She must be having twins again. It had to be. Then I smiled, hoping it was two pretty little redheaded girls this time. I already had two daughters and a son, but I’d love a couple more .