Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 93400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
No, with Greer, everything felt so…comfortable. It was like I had known her for years, not just a few days.
The fact that I was already fighting the urge to set a timer on my phone for seven tomorrow should have scared the piss out of me, but it didn’t. Instead, I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to my father, asking if he was still up. My phone instantly rang.
“Hey, Dad, you weren’t sleeping, were you?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been staring at the computer trying to figure out this new program I just installed. You’re supposed to be able to put in the dimensions of your room, where your plumbing is, and it will give you design options. So easy anyone can do it, the ad said. I call bullshit. I’m still trying to figure out where in the hell you enter the dimensions.”
I shook my head and held back a chuckle. “Where’s Mom?”
“She grabbed a book and went up to bed. She gave up twenty minutes into this.”
“How long have you been at it?”
“Nearly an hour. I’m about ready to call someone and give them a piece of my mind.”
I grabbed a bottle of water, headed into the living room, and sat down on the sofa. “Want to FaceTime and show it to me?”
“Nah, I’m tired of messing around with it. How’s Boggy Creek? Your mother and I talked about taking a drive next weekend to come up and see you. We haven’t been up that way in so many years.”
“It’s just how I remembered. Charming, quiet. Nice people.”
“Are you enjoying the Willow Tree Inn? You don’t probably remember staying there as a little boy, but we did a few times. Do they still have all those damn signs and pillows with that saying on it?”
“A bushel and a peck?”
“Christ, yes! They were everywhere.”
Laughing, I replied, “There are a few, yes. It’s a nice place, but I’m actually staying outside of town in a cabin that the police chief owns.”
Dad made a mumbled sound that resembled a curse. “Is that so? I thought you said you couldn’t find any place to rent last minute.”
“I sort of stumbled into this place. The owner of the bookstore found out I was trying to finish a book, and she suggested her dad’s hunting cabin. He agreed to let me stay here for a month or so in exchange for fixing up a few things around the cabin. The good news is that there are two extra bedrooms here, so when you guys come visit you can stay here.”
“A month or so? I thought you were only staying a couple of weeks, if that.”
I brought my hand to the back of my neck again. “I’m not in a rush to get back to New York, Dad. Plus, being in this cabin has fueled my creativity. I’ve already got an idea for a different direction for the story. I just wish I didn’t have this damn deadline hanging over my head. Knowing the book is due in a month sucks the creativity away.”
He laughed softly. “You never were one for having time limits placed on you. Your mother would say that you had twenty minutes left on some game you were playing or book you were reading and you’d ask her for an open limit. Or bargain with her for more time.”
“I remember that,” I said fondly. “Guess I’m still the same way. I’m just tired of everyone dipping their hands in.”
The line was silent for a few moments before he sighed. “Well, maybe it’s time for a break, son. Nothing wrong with changing your focus to something else for a while after you finish this book before jumping into the next one.”
Greer popped into my head. “Mmmm, maybe.”
“Who is she?” Dad finally asked when I didn’t say anything else.
“Do you think I’m running from a relationship?” I asked with an amused chuckle.
“No, not at all. I didn’t raise you that way. I do think you might have met someone there in Boggy Creek. You were pretty damn adamant that you were only staying a couple of weeks tops, now you’re renting a cabin, staying at least a month, and I detect something in your voice.”
I let out a bark of laughter. “You detect something in my voice? That’s a new talent I wasn’t aware you possessed.”
“Oh, son, I hold many, many talents you are unaware of. You forget, though, I was young once too, and I know you. You sound more at ease this evening. More like your old self. I like hearing the change in you, and I’m not the least bit objecting to you staying. I’m simply curious about who caused this sudden change of heart.”
There was no reason to lie to my father or beat around the bush, so I went with the truth. “I have met someone here. Her name’s Greer. She’s the one who owns the bookstore. She helped me get settled into the cabin tonight. Even made me some meals for the next few days. We sat around this evening and talked about anything and everything. God, Dad, she was so easy to talk to. I’ve never met anyone like her. She has a passion for books and reading. And I guess a part of me likes that we connected like we did. But it’s nothing like what you’re thinking. We’re friends only. And even though the thought has crossed my mind, I’m not sure about getting involved with someone when I’m here temporarily.”