Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 53238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
“What if he just lies down and gives up on life? He could freeze to death.”
I scrunch my face in confusion. “He’s a pig, Liv. Why would he want to give up being petted and fed Goldfish and cupcakes?”
“I chased him for a while, but I was afraid I’d get lost. He went into the woods at the end of that cul-de-sac with the house that has a guest cottage.”
“Okay.” I drive in the direction of the cul-de-sac. “What’s this I hear about you crying over a boy?”
“Ugh, did Charlotte tell you?”
“Don’t worry about who told me.”
“Only Suki and Charlotte know, and Suki wouldn’t betray me.”
“Okay, drama queen. What happened?”
She shrugs. “He doesn’t like me. That’s it. And now he knows I like him and it’s embarrassing.”
“He needs to get some glasses. Any guy should consider himself lucky you like him.”
A smile tugs at her lips. “Thanks. I thought you’d be mad that I like a boy.”
“No, of course not. You can like boys as long as you stay at least six feet away from them at all times.”
“Are you serious?”
“Absolutely.”
“It’s him!” Her face lights up and she points out the passenger window. “He’s okay.”
Darling is walking in someone’s front yard, his snout to the ground as he explores. I’m more relieved than I thought I would be.
I park in front of the house and we both get out of the car. Darling lifts his head and looks at us.
“Darling, come on!” Olivia says. “Let’s go home.”
He turns and walks in the opposite direction of us, his leash dragging through the snow.
“Darling!” I call. “Come on, dude, it’s cold out here.”
We jog toward him. As soon as he sees me, he speeds up. I stop and shake my head.
“We can’t let him get away!” Olivia says as she runs to catch up with him.
It’s freezing out here and I’m missing my nap. I run faster this time, catching up to him. I bend down to pick his leash up, but he darts away.
“You bastard,” I mutter.
Olivia tries to grab him, but he eludes her, too.
“Let’s try to box him in,” I call out.
I get on one side of him and try to close in, making Darling run toward her. He does, but when he gets close to her, he dodges to the side.
He’s just jogging until we get close. He’s surprisingly fast when he wants to be.
“Treaties!” Olivia yells. “Want treaties, Darling?”
He stops and looks at her. I creep toward him, stepping as quietly as I can.
“Let’s go home and get treaties,” Olivia says, crouching down. “Want some Goldfish?”
He heads toward her, snuffling with excitement. I get close enough to grab his leash and I pick it up.
“Good boy, Darling,” Olivia says, hugging him.
“He’s not a good boy. He only wants treats.”
“Well, at least we caught him.”
I walk him over to my car, and when we get there, a guy is standing in his yard, filming us with his camera phone. Fucking great. I really don’t want the world to know I have a pet pig who wears a puffer coat and dog boots.
I ignore the guy filming and tell Olivia to get in the car. She does, and I pick Darling up to put him in the back seat. He squeals loudly, making it look and sound like I’m stabbing him or something. This isn’t unusual; he hates being carried.
“I swear I’ll put you on a sandwich,” I grumble under my breath. “Get your ass in the car.”
I manage to get him onto the seat, put the leash in the car and close the door.
“Can I see him?” I hear Hallie saying when I get in the car.
“I FaceTimed her,” Olivia says to me.
She points her phone toward the back seat. “There he is.”
“My darling!” Hallie cries.
“Hi, Darling.”
That voice belongs to Suki. I turn the car around quickly and step on the gas, eager to get home and see her.
“Did you have an adventure?” Olivia asks Darling. “Are you hungry?”
I let go of my irritation over freezing my balls off chasing the pig. It was his getting away from Olivia that made Suki come back. I want her to stay.
When I come home from a road trip, it’s to Suki and the girls. I was a dick when I made coming home to them sound like some sort of accomplishment, but I’m not a charming man. I’m a direct communicator, not a game player.
Hopefully she cooled off during our time apart. I definitely did. I’m disappointed she’s not all in like I am, but if she needs more time, I’ll have to be okay with that.
When we get back to the house, Suki’s car isn’t there.
“Where’s Suki?” I say out loud.
Olivia types out a text and then waits a couple of seconds. “Charlotte says she just left.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I mumble.