Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“It can wait.” He lets me know, creasing a smile, and I hug his arm a little tighter, murmuring the three words we never get tired of telling one another.
“I love you too.” He smiles back.
Joey makes a retching sound and laughs at us both, explaining how gross adults are, in case we don’t get his reaction.
But Joey’s in for a little lesson in love today, even if he does think it’s gross.
And although I don’t realize it just yet, so am I.
Driving convoy style, we pull up at the workshop security gate. And it doesn’t surprise me to learn that Zak’s already gone ahead and provided clearance for my mom, Sheree, and Joey.
Everyone got their ID card, which pleases Joey to no end. The security guard is hamming it up for his benefit, and I know Joey will treasure his ID access and all the secret files he’s already been privy to for a long time.
I thought we were all geared up for the friendly, running rivalry about to be revealed when Joey finally gets to meet Miles in the flesh.
But Zak and I are both a little shocked when it’s actually Sheree, Joey’s mom, that Miles seems more interested in.
Turns out Joey isn’t the only one Miles has been chatting with online. And although he hadn’t wigged out about Joey being Sheree’s son, he’s more than glad to learn he is.
Not only does it mean his job’s safe once he realizes his ‘helper’ for the past few weeks is a ten-year-old kid, but it also looks like he’s in with more than just a chance with Sheree.
She hooks herself onto Miles shamelessly as he offers to show her around personally.
Joey and my mom tag along with renewed interest in everything as they see the workshop for the very first time, leaving Zak and me alone.
My mom shoots me a strange wink and a smile as she passes us both.
“I guess you guys have something to discuss anyway,” she adds cryptically, making Zak shift nervously, and I wonder what the hell she’s talking about.
“How is it all going?” I ask Zak once he closes the door to the office behind us, “The game, I mean… You’ve hardly mentioned it the past few weeks.”
He shrugs and says it’s all going better than he’d hoped.
“Joey’s input has been incredible. And Miles is really putting in a lot of hours,” he says, sounding like a guy who hasn’t had much to do with it all, which I know isn’t the case.
Zak’s been staying up to all hours once I’m asleep. Catching up on work I know he’d be doing if he wasn’t spending so much time with me.
I let out a little gasp, spotting the clothes I had on the first time we were here alone.
They’ve been dry cleaned, and everything’s neatly folded, making me blush at the memory of just how my comfy clothes came to need washing in the first place.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I murmur.
But Zak reminds me that he did.
“I wasn’t going to leave those lying around,” he quips. “I was in enough trouble with Miles for messing up all his notes that night,” he reflects.
A longing look of nostalgia filled his features, making me wonder if Zak is an incurable romantic.
“So, is that why you brought me in here?” I ask him, grinning to myself as I figure we’ve got at least ten minutes to ourselves while Miles shows everyone else around.
“We could…,” I start to say, smiling over at him.
But his face looks serious. Almost worried as he sits me down, taking the opposite chair.
“Zak, what is it?” I ask, swallowing hard. Sensing he has some news I’m not going to like.
“It’s nothing bad,” he smiles nervously, reading my thoughts and shifting himself in his seat.
Fidgeting with nerves so bad, I can’t think what it is that could’ve made him so edgy, so fast.
“I guess I want to talk about your moving in,” he finally says, carefully looking up and choosing his words.
I nod slowly, half-wondering if this is the part where the fairy tale does end.
Everything’s been so perfect so far, and maybe Zak wants out before things get too hard to untangle.
But that’s the old me thinking that way. And Zak wastes no time in setting me straight.
“These past few weeks have been the best of my whole life, Jade,” he says, taking both my hands in his.
I won’t argue that point, and I nod my head in agreement. “So, what’s the matter?” I ask him, preparing myself for anything.
Turning his head slightly, checking we are alone, he asks me to open the desk drawer closest to me.
The one that has the virtual reality headsets in it.
Figuring he might have some new development to share, I slide the drawer open, but there’s only a tiny box inside the drawer.