Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 94903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
My jaw sets. “No. I just told them I’d break their necks if they do anything stupid.”
“Ah. So you do have a thing for her.”
I think about lying and saying I don’t. I consider ending the conversation and telling Kate to go play games with Mom. But then I remember it’s Kate who I’m talking to, and if anyone will hear me and understand what I’m trying to say, it’s probably her.
“Talk to me, Chase. What’s going on?” she asks.
I exhale. “I don’t know, Kate. I’m fucked, I think.”
“If you weren’t, I’d be worried about you.”
“Why is that?”
“I saw her—that’s why. She’s freaking pretty. And from what Mom said—and I realize I have to take that with a grain of salt—she’s sweet and smart. What more could you want?”
Not much. Maybe not anything.
I roll my shoulder around to keep it loose. “For starters, I could want someone who lives near me.”
“I hear she’s unemployed. That’s helpful.”
“For two, I could choose someone who wants to live in the middle of nowhere. Megan is a city girl, Kate. She didn’t even own a pair of boots until last weekend.”
Kate chuckles. “So? Get her some. Problem solved.”
“I did get her some.” Then I gave her some.
My cock hardens as I remember her slipping into my bedroom Sunday night. I bent her over the edge of the bed and sank so deeply inside her that I was afraid I’d lose myself forever.
Unfortunately, I didn’t.
“Kate, I would never admit this to anyone else, so keep your mouth shut.”
“You got it.”
I groan. “I’m fucked up over this woman, and I don’t know what to do about it. It’s been two weeks. She’s all I think about. I’m already dreading the day she leaves. Tell me this is normal behavior. That I just haven’t had someone at my disposal like this in so long that I forgot what the convenience felt like.”
“Yeah, but I don’t think the convenience is bugging you.”
Of course, it’s not.
“Let’s break this down,” she says. “What are you worrying about? What’s your holdup? Your hiccup, so to speak?”
“Well …” I run a hand over my jaw. “She’s going to leave soon.”
“And you can’t ask her to stay?”
“No, I could, I guess.”
“Solved. What else?”
I flip my turn signal and pull onto the gravel road leading to my house.
“I’m worried this isn’t the right move for Kennedy,” I say, my voice void of levity. “She’s never had to share me with another woman. And she’s at this stage of her life where she needs to be the only thing I focus on, but here we are, and I’m thinking about Megan just as much as I’m thinking about my daughter. Hell, probably more. Am I fucking this up?”
Kate laughs. “No, you’re not fucking anything up—except maybe Megan, and I’m pretty sure she’s enjoying it.”
“No. Hard limit. We aren’t discussing my sex life.”
“Fine, fine.” She sighs. “Look, maybe you need someone in your life. Kennedy needs a woman figure, Chase. A role model. And it would be healthy for her to watch you in a solid relationship with someone. Stop looking at it from a pessimistic angle. You’re allowed to have a life, too, you know.”
Relief washes over me.
“And I know what you’re thinking,” she says.
“What’s that?”
“You’re worrying that things won’t work out, and you’re going a million miles a minute and wondering what that looks like. You’re wondering if it makes you irresponsible.”
I grin. “How did you get so wise?”
“Well, that had nothing to do with you. Or Gav. Definitely not Luke or Mallet.”
“Speaking of Mallet, have you heard from him lately? I haven’t talked to him in a while.”
“Briefly. We talked briefly last week. He’s good, I think. Sounded happy for once. Well, happy in Mallet language.”
I laugh. “I feel you on that.”
“Right? But, no, he’s okay. He finally seems to be coming around again. You can talk to him about things now that don’t always wind up being about the divorce, so that helps.”
I frown.
“But back to you,” she says. “Do you like Megan? Like really like her?”
“Kate, I don’t know. I mean, yes. I do. But I’ve known her for less than a month, and it’s ridiculous that I feel this way. I don’t even know her. I sure as hell don’t know her well enough to wonder if it’s realistic or ludicrous even to consider the shit I’m considering.”
“Only you know the answer to that.”
“Nah, you know. Tell me. Am I being ignorant? I mean, she either leaves in two weeks, and I never see her again.” My stomach clenches. “Or she leaves, and we try some long-distance thing.” That will never work. “Or she leaves, and we see how it goes. Or she stays here and …” I sigh. “Fuck.”
Kate chuckles softly. “I love seeing you like this.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. Living a life, maybe. Having something for yourself. It’s nice.”