Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Dalton opens the door for me and tells me he’ll get my bags. I make my way up the stairs and fall into my mom’s embrace. The tears return this time, but with more force.
“Come on, baby girl, let’s get you inside.”
She holds me until we’re in my bedroom, sitting on my bed. Not much has changed in here, except it’s clean and dust free. My awards still sit on the floating shelves, and there’s a framed copy of the New York Times bestsellers list from when the book I acquired made the list. It doesn’t matter that my name isn’t anywhere on there, my parents are proud.
Dalton and my dad bring my luggage in and then we hear the back door shut. They’re heading to the barn to do “man’s work” at least that’s what my dad calls it. I know he likes to take advantage of Dalton being in town to get some of the heavier stuff done around here.
“I feel like such a failure.”
“No, no,” she says. “None of this is your fault.”
“I know but I can't help but feel like I’m not enough to fit into his world. I really like him, Mom.”
“Nonsense, he needs to fit into yours. Just because he’s some fancy football player doesn’t mean he walks on water.”
“That’s just it. He’s so much more than the guy you see on TV. It’s this life he led with his ex. It’s fancy with its parties and gatherings. Mom, the dress he paid for was over a thousand dollars, and it was one of the cheapest ones the personal shopper showed me. Like, that’s not me. I live off a budget and clip coupons. And now that his ex is back . . .” I trail off.
My mom shakes her head. “I will never understand why people don’t use condoms.”
I roll my eyes. “People do. They break.” Thank God she will never know about what I said to Alex during our last time together. She’d find a way to ground me and make me repent to her pastor.
She leaves me to unpack. It’s slow and frustrating because I can only use one hand, but I appreciate the quiet. After a while, Dalton comes in and finds me lying on my bed, staring at my ceiling.
“Wanna ride into town with me?” he asks.
I don’t but sit up anyway and tell him I’ll go. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been back to town for any extended period of time. Once I started college, I stayed on campus during the summer to work, and then I got my job in the City. Anytime I came back to visit my parents, it was for a weekend, and I rarely left the house.
“So, how long are you going to hide out at Mom and Dad’s?” Dalton asks when we’re a mile away from the house.
“I’m not hiding.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “You’re hiding.”
“I needed help with work.” I shrug. “Mom can help.”
“Until February then?”
“No.” But his suggestion doesn’t sound half bad. “I don’t know, D. I just needed to get away.”
“Okay, tell me why. Mom didn’t say much other than he broke your heart.”
“His ex came back and she’s pregnant. They were together for a long time, and once you see her, you realize I don’t belong in the glitz and glam world that he’s used to. It’s easier for me to remove myself from the narrative.”
“Are you planning to go back, Kelsey?” he asks as he turns the corner and pulls into a parking spot in front of the general store. I look out the window and sigh.
“Some things never change,” I mutter.
“Small towns never want to change.” Dalton helps me out of the car, and we make our way to the hardware store.
“Well as I live in breath if it isn’t little Kelsey Sloane,” Mr. Hanley says as we walk into the store. He comes around the corner and gives me a hug.
“Hello, Mr. Hanley, it’s nice to see you.”
“How is that rainy place you moved to treating you?”
“It’s nice, but it’s not New York.”
“Nothing ever is.” Mr. Hanley gives me another hug and then goes to help a customer.
I linger near the front and wait for Dalton, looking at the odds and ends of Mr. Hanley stocks. When the door opens, I don’t look to see who it is. I figure if I avoid eye contact, no one will want to talk to me.
“No way.”
It’s been years since I’ve seen Tanner Pritchard. After our freshman year in college, he went on a road trip and never returned. He got to Texas and never left. That was the end of our three-year relationship.
I turn slowly and smile when our eyes meet. “Hey, Tanner.”
“Wow, it is my Kelsey.” We hug and it feels familiar. I didn’t expect this feeling. We haven’t seen each other in years. “I heard you’re dating some pro football player?”