Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 94579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
I can hear him rolling his eyes. “And another thing: please don’t watch everything we do with a calculating look on your face.”
“Calculating—good word, sweetie.”
“Mom, I’m being serious.”
Her sigh is drawn out. “Why do you think I’m watching you? I see Iowa isn’t doing your ego any favors.”
“Come on, I know you’re using us for research.”
“I am appalled by the accusation.” His mom huffs dramatically but doesn’t deny it.
“Well, is that what you’ve been doing?”
“I might be…just a little.” Another pause. “Count yourself lucky I’m not taking actual notes—this little back and forth between the two of you is romance novel gold. I can feel the tension in my soul.”
“Jesus, Mom! This is why I never bring anyone home.”
“No, that is not why you never bring anyone home. You never bring anyone home because you’ve never liked anyone enough, not even Chelsea Newman, and she was such a lovely girl.”
“I hate when you do that,” Rowdy groans. “Stop bringing up my ex-girlfriends.”
“You were seventeen and she was your girlfriend for all of ninety seconds—that hardly counts. You barely held hands.”
“We did more than hold hands.” He chuckles deep in his chest at his joke.
His mother ignores him. “I’m just illustrating my point. You haven’t brought anyone home since high school, and this one you had fly in from another state during the holidays?” It sounds like she’s taking a long sip from her coffee mug, followed by the telltale sign of it hitting the table’s wooden surface. “Want to tell me what that’s all about? Dad and I have been dying from curiosity.”
“Dad is not dying from curiosity.”
“Fine. I’m the one dying—tell me what’s going on.”
“We’re friends.” He’s grinning, I just know it.
“Does Scarlett know you’re just friends?” his mother teases.
Long silence. “I didn’t say we were just friends.”
“What are you saying, exactly?”
My breath hitches, honestly it does, and I become a cliché from a movie, leaning closer to the doorjamb, straining for his next words. He’s suddenly gone quiet, thinking. The silence drags on an agonizingly long time—or just a few seconds, I have no idea, but it’s torture. Waiting in this hiding spot I’ve accidentally found myself in is sheer agony.
I’m hiding like a damn creeper, but I cannot pull myself away.
“We haven’t slept together, if that’s what you’re asking.”His mom laughs. “That’s not what I was asking, but thanks for the intel. Oh, while we’re on the subject, please tell me you’re using protectio—”
“Stop. Don’t say it. Jesus.”
I imagine her casually raising a brow, just like her son does. “Be safe, that’s all I’m saying.”
“You gave me this speech two years ago.”
“Well it’s never been more necessary. The last thing you want is your paycheck going toward child support.”
“Scarlett isn’t like that—we haven’t…” It sounds like he’s clamping his lips shut, blowing out a puff of air. “Mom, can I ask you something and have you promise you won’t freak out?”
“When do I freak out?”
“Uh—all the time.”
“Hmm, I’m sure that’s not true.”
Rowdy’s sigh is loud. “Can I ask you something or not?”
“Of course! And I promise I won’t freak out.”
A drawn-out silence fills the kitchen.
My palms begin to sweat.
“Do you believe someone can fall in love in a few short weeks?” He asks so quietly, I swear my ears are playing tricks on me. “Because I’m about to lose my mind here.”
His mom is quiet, too. “I write romance novels, sweetie,” she says slowly. Carefully. “Of course I believe you can fall in love fast.” She pauses. “Is that how you’re feeling about Scarlett?”
Another long, tortured pause, and everyone holds their breath.
“I don’t know. She’s all I can think about, ya know? I can’t concentrate on anything when she’s not around, which is most of the time, and all I want to do is spend time with her.”
His mom hums out a cryptic, “Hmmm.”
And now Rowdy is on a roll, having gotten the words out. “At first, she was just this girl I had to keep out of the baseball house for the night, right? Because the guys are such dumbasses…” His voice trails off, irritated. “Anyway, is this normal? I dream about her and shit.”
I’m all he can think about?
He dreams about me? He’s said it before, but it’s always when we’re joking around.
“Sure it’s normal, when you’re attracted to someone—”
“I’m not just attracted to her, Mom. It’s like…I don’t know, it’s like…”
“It’s like what?”
He groans, frustrated. “I don’t know.”
“Love doesn’t make sense, honey. Maybe you should ask your father.” She chuckles. “God, he had no idea what he was doing when we started dating. It was such a train wreck.”
“I’m not talking to Dad about my love life.” He’s horrified by the thought.
“What are you going to do?”
“I think I’m in love with her,” his voice confirms, repeating the words, stunning everyone. “Or falling in love with her, whatever. Feeling something. I don’t fucking know what’s happening to me.”