Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Two pairs of eyes swung back to me, and I scratched my neck before letting out a long, heavy sigh.
“There were many places Jenny loved to go on a day off,” I said. “But, from the second she moved to Florida, one place trumped everything else.”
I looked up at the ceiling, another flash of Jenny assaulting me like a bright blinding light. I saw her wide smile, my hand in hers as she tugged me through the most godforsaken place on the planet — with the most idiotic mouse ears on her head.
With another exhale, I brought my gaze to Chloe. “Disney World.”
The table was so silent I could hear the dishwasher running in the next room.
“Disney World,” Chef repeated, deadpan, like there was no way she’d heard me correctly.
“Disney World?!” Chloe echoed, her mouth falling open on a smile as she clapped and bounced gleefully in her chair.
“Disney World,” I said again.
And then I was tackled in a hug so fierce I nearly flew off my chair.
Tell Me What You Want
Chloe
“Well, I have to say, it’s an honor to finally meet you,” I said a few nights later, greeting Mitch Perry in a hug that he seemed much better equipped to handle than his nephew. “Ava has talked nonstop about you since the beginning of the school year.”
“She gives this old man too much credit,” he said, flashing a warm smile when he released me. Mitch was at least twenty years Will’s senior. He possessed so many of his nephew’s features — the sharp jaw, wide shoulders, crinkles at the edge of his eyes. But his expression was warmer, his smile easy and natural where Will stood behind him with his usual scowl.
“Thanks again, Unc,” he said, handing over the large purple backpack with all of Ava’s belongings for the night. “She’s really excited.”
“Are you kidding? I’d never pass up the opportunity to spend a night with my girl. I hate how busy work has been lately. It should ease up for a while now. Then again, I guess if I had been more available, we might not have you around,” he added with a wink my way. “Also, is it you we have to thank for how smiley my great niece is? Because the sight about knocked me on my ass.”
“Yes,” Will said at the same time I said, “Oh, no.”
Will’s eyes caught mine, a warning glare like he’d fight me if I tried to hide from the compliment.
“Ava is like a new person, thanks to Chloe. She’s really come out of her shell,” Will said. “Still loves hockey, though. So I hope you’re prepared to watch a game tonight.”
Uncle Mitch sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “I would rather take her to the arcade and suffer the stickiness and noise that comes with that than sit through another fucking hockey game.”
Will smirked. “I’ll pray for your eardrums, then.”
Mitch eased his hands into his pockets, rocking up on his toes and peeking into the house a bit more. “So, uh, is Arushi here? I swore I could smell her amazing cooking from outside.”
“She just left about an hour ago,” I said, and I didn’t miss the disappointment on his face. Will and I shared a curious glance, but before either of us could remark on anything, Ava bounded down the stairs.
“Okay, I’m ready!”
She had the hockey uniform I made her clutched in her arms, and she beamed up at the three of us in a way that made it hard to remember the kid she’d been at the beginning of this semester.
“Pumpkin, I’m not sure you need that,” Will tried, ruffling her hair and nodding to the jersey. “Sure you don’t want to leave it here so I can wash it and have it clean for you when you get home?”
“It’s not smelly,” she defended, sniffing it for good measure. “And I gotta show Uncle Mitch!”
“I can’t wait to see it,” Mitch said, bending to her level and offering to carry it for her. She reluctantly handed it over, and then he told her to go get herself situated in the car and he’d be right out.
Ava shot out like a bullet, belting a Mia Love song at the top of her lungs as she swung the back door of Mitch’s truck open and climbed up. She was big enough to know how to get herself into the booster seat and buckle up, but I watched her from the doorway just in case — and I knew Mitch would double check when he got out there, too.
“Hey, have you, uh… have you called your old man lately?”
I stiffened at the mention of Will’s father, but kept my eyes on Ava so as not to pry into a conversation not meant for me.
“Not lately,” Will admitted. “He okay?”
“Sure, yeah. Just misses you.”