Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I’m glad you did.” I smile over at him. “So, you’re not dating anyone?”
He rolls his eyes and digs back into his salad. “You’re not going to drop this, are you?”
“I really want to be an aunt.”
“I need to bury someone in your cemetery,” I inform June later that night when she and Luna walk into the inn where I’ve just finished painting.
“I’ve got a shovel,” Luna offers. “And an alibi. Who did you kill?”
“See, you’re a good friend,” I reply, pointing at her. “That’s exactly the response you should have in moments like this.”
“But really, who did you kill?” June asks with a frown.
“I didn’t kill anyone. My mom died.”
They both gasp, and I jump, looking around the room. “What? Is there a spider? I saw a big one earlier. You’re going to have to spray this place, Luna.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry,” Luna says as she and June hurry to me and wrap me up in a big group hug.
“I’m fine,” I assure them. “Really fine.”
“How did you find out?” June asks.
“I had lunch with Scott today, and it went surprisingly well. He apologized for being an asshat.”
“Good, he needed to,” Luna says.
“He just found out about Mom yesterday. They found her in her car a few weeks ago.”
I relay all the information I have, which isn’t much.
“Like I told my brother, I thought they both would have passed away a long time ago.” I turn to June. “Scott said he thought we’d bury her with her parents, but they’re in the cemetery behind your new house.”
“You can totally bury her there. I don’t care.”
“Don’t I have to tell the city?” I ask. “File something so there’s a record?”
“Probably,” Luna says, thinking it over. “I’m not sure. My ancestors are buried here on the property.”
June and I turn to her in surprise. “What? You never told us that. I’ve never seen any graves.”
“There’s a piece of land that sits back in the trees,” Luna says, pointing to the east. “They’re in the trees.”
“We seriously need to see that sometime,” June adds. “I’m disgusted that we didn’t know this sooner so we could scare the hell out of each other when we were kids.”
“I didn’t know until I stumbled upon it a few years ago. Asked my dad about it. I told him it was something I should know, since I’m the owner now.”
“Why do I get the feeling that there are a lot of things your dad didn’t tell you?” I ask.
“Because there were. I think he was just so excited to go with Mom somewhere warm to enjoy their retirement that he just forgot a bunch of stuff. So, I’m still learning as I go.”
The door opens behind us, and in walks Tanner, along with Wolfe and Apollo.
“The three amigos,” I say with a grin. “Hey, handsome.”
“Hey yourself,” Wolfe says with a wink, making us laugh.
“Ready to go home?” Tanner asks, searching my face. I told him about my mom when he picked me up from the restaurant, and I think he expects me to fall apart any second.
“Sure.” I close the closet where I’ve been storing all of my supplies.
“What did you do to your hair?” Apollo asks June, a frown on his handsome face.
“I cut it, bonehead.”
With that frown in place, he circles June, examining the new ‘do. “I like it.”
“Well, what a relief,” she replies. “I didn’t cut it for you.”
But her cheeks have livened up at the compliment.
“I still like it.” He tugs on a red strand as he walks past her toward the stairs. “I have to check something up here. See you guys later.”
“See you,” I call back with a wave and then turn back to Tanner. “I’m starving. Let’s go home.”
“Keep me posted on the burial,” June says.
“We’re here if you need us,” Luna adds.
“I have really amazing friends.” We’ve just pulled away from Luna’s when I reach for Tanner’s hand and give it a squeeze. “I’m seriously lucky.”
“They’re the best. All of them.” He lifts my hand to his lips and nibbles. “I figured June would be cool with you putting your mom with her parents.”
“Yeah, it’s all good. I’ll let Scott know tomorrow.” I stretch my legs out and lean back in his comfy leather seat. “I have to get back to work tomorrow.”
“What shift is it this time?”
“Breakfast,” I reply and let my eyes fall closed as the car moves through town. I always fall asleep so easily in cars. “Seven to four tomorrow.”
I feel the car come to a stop and open my eyes to find Tanner grinning at me.
“What?”
“Some things never change. You always fell asleep in the car.”
“I know.” I stretch and yawn. “But in my defense, I didn’t sleep this time. I was just resting my eyes.”
“If we had to go much further, you would have been snoring inside of two minutes.”