Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 98134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“Meemee,” she says.
“Amy,” the boy corrects in an annoyed voice. “Her name is Amy. She always gets it wrong.”
“Meemee!” she shouts. In the blink of an eye, her placid face has scrunched into pure rage and she looks ready to kill. She shoves the boy with both hands.
“Alright, you two,” Jesse says, sounding bored. He gets between them on his knees, using his long arms to keep them apart. “Play nice.”
I’m feeling the first hint of being in over my head, but I try to cover it with a smile as I look at the boy. He’s definitely the kind of kid who climbs trees, breaks bones, and probably will be breaking hearts in a few more years, too. “What’s your name?”
He has blue eyes and jet black hair. He folds his arms. “I’ll trade you. My name for your number.”
All I can do is raise my eyebrows and laugh. Maybe he’s a little older than eight. Nine or ten?
“Hey,” Jesse says. “Be respectful, Cade.”
“I am,” the boy sounds outraged. “Daddy says if you respect a girl, you get her number, take her on a nice date, and always use protection.”
I share a silent look with Jesse, then clap my hands. “Okay,” I say, smiling. “I think we’re getting side tracked here. Does anybody want to go to Jesse’s cabin? That sounds like fun, doesn’t it?”
“Whooo!” Cade shouts, fist pumping as he runs toward Jesse’s truck. He climbs on the rear wheel and tosses himself into the bed with a heavy thud, then his head pops up into view a moment later. “Wanna ride back here with me, Miss?”
“No, she doesn’t,” Jesse says, voice cold. “Up front or in the back, Meemee?”
Meemee looks up at me, clutching her hands together and twisting from side to side. She smiles, showing all of her tiny, straight teeth. “Are you a princess?”
I laugh. “Being a princess is a state of mind, Meemee. So, sure.”
“Wow,” Meemee breathes. “Then I’m a princess too. And I have sparkle power.”
“Princess of the sparkle turds, maybe,” Cade calls from the truck.
“Knock it off,” Jesse says. “And stay put back there. I’m not stopping if you fall out.”
Cade purses his lips in a yeah yeah kind of way that seems beyond his years, but then again, the words coming out of his mouth also don’t seem to belong with such a small kid. I can’t help wondering what sort of life these kids are living.
“Let’s blow this hot stand,” Meemee shouts as Jesse helps her up into the truck.
“It’s pop stand, Amy,” Cade calls.
“Meemee!” she shrieks.
The little girl positions herself between Jesse and me and then grabs my hand in hers, squeezing hard and smiling up at me once I’m inside. I grin over at Jesse. “They aren’t so bad, right?”
He shakes his head and starts the truck. “They’re just warming up. I hope the guys are back at the cabin. We’re probably going to need the help.”
19
JESSE
Nolan is in the kitchen when I walk through the front door with Andi beside me and Meemee fighting with Cade to get inside first. Mia is sitting in the kitchen again. She gives me a casual wave, but her cheeks go pink. “More cooking club?” I ask.
“Yeah, so?” Mia counters.
“Do you have a four wheeler?” Cade asks as he weaves inside past my legs.
“No,” I say. “And if I did, I wouldn’t let you drive it.”
“Uh,” Nolan says, leaning out into view with a cooking apron wrapped around himself. “Should I whip up something for the kids to have for dinner, too?”
“I’ll take a hamburger on the rocks,” Cade says. He snaps and shoots two finger guns at Nolan, who tilts his head.
“I like potatoes,” Meemee says. “But only squishy ones. I like lots of salt and lots of butter. When can we have a treat?” She tugs on my jeans, then realizes she probably has a better chance of getting something out of Andi.
Andi gets down on her level and takes Meemee’s little hands in hers. “Let’s eat your squishy potatoes first, then we can think about treats. Okay?”
I’m unable to help admiring how good she is with Meemee. She’s patient and kind and… it’s very admirable, but also completely not working. Meemee has taken her hands back, bunched them into fists, and big crocodile tears are forming under her eyes.
Cade is watching with folded arms and a smug smile. “Shouldn’ta told her ‘no’. Bad idea.”
“Squishy potatoes?” Nolan asks, oblivious to the meltdown about to happen. “I can manage that. What’s a hamburger on the rocks, though?”
“I was messing with you, dude,” Cade says, rolling his eyes.
“I want a treat,” Meemee says. Her voice is low and dangerously quiet.
Andi shows the first sign of panic. She looks up at me, then back at Meemee. She gives the little girl an uncertain smile. “Well, lots of butter and salt is kind of a treat, isn’t it? Think how yummy that will be.”