Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“You two messed up. That’s all. People make mistakes all the time. And he probably feels as awful about it.”
I’m sure she’s right. After the anger abated, his eyes shone with remorse. I’m sure he wishes as much as I do that he never did what he did.
With time, we’ll get back on equal footing and do our jobs.
“Thanks, Mom. I’m sorry I called you so late.”
“I’m glad you called.” She sighs heavily. “Have I ever told you how I met your dad?”
I think back through all the stories over the years and realize I have no idea exactly how they met.
“No. You haven’t, actually.”
“I ran into him at the local pool. We hung out all day and hit it off immediately. I knew within an hour that I wanted to know him better, but I was in a relationship.” She huffs a laugh. “The next day, I went back to the pool, hoping to see him, and was shocked to find my boyfriend there with him.”
“What? How is that possible?” I sit back on the couch, kicking up my feet and getting comfortable to hear this story.
“Your dad was childhood best friends with Curt, my boyfriend at the time. They’d lived next to each other until your grandparents had sold their house and moved across town. Your dad went to another school, but he remained friends with his old neighbors. Curt was supposed to be at the pool that first day, but he got sunburned, and his mom made him sit the day out. If that hadn’t happened, your father and I might never have had that day to build a bond.”
“I’ve never heard that story,” I say, smiling at the thought of my dad macking on his friend’s girl. Clearly, he didn’t realize it at the time because that wasn’t Dad. He was loyal to the end.
“It was a sore spot for your dad. I broke up with Curt the next week and started dating your father. It ruined their friendship, which he never quite got over.”
“Did you regret causing that rift?”
I grimace as soon as the words come out. They sounded harsh, even though they weren’t meant to be.
“I did, but your father tried hard not to let me. We were meant to be together, no matter who was hurt in the process. We had a love that couldn’t be stopped, Raven.”
“What does this have to do with me?” I ask, wondering how we went from discussing my slipup to hearing the story about her and Dad.
“I’m just saying, don’t close yourself off to happiness.”
My mouth drops open.
“Are you suggesting I should pursue Charles?”
She warned me away from him, but this story and her words have me second-guessing what I’m hearing.
Maybe it’s the tequila fog.
Maybe it’s wishful thinking.
Either way, I’m thoroughly confused.
“No, baby girl, I’m not suggesting anything. I’m simply saying what’s meant to be will be. You can’t stop fate. You might as well not fret about things you can’t change or avoid.”
“I don’t like that saying.”
“Tough, buttercup. It’s all true.” She laughs. “Either you two will learn to keep your distance and everything will be fine, or it won’t.”
“None of this is reassuring, Mom,” I groan, pulling a pillow over my head.
“Who knows, Raven. You could even find that you aren’t supposed to stay away from each other. Maybe this is fate drawing you together.”
My thoughts are already too cluttered with warring emotions. I don’t even want to begin to consider that.
“Unlikely.” It’s all I say, hoping to drop the conversation. “Thanks for listening to me. I better get to bed.”
“Get some rest. Call me tomorrow.”
“Love you, Mom.”
“You, too,” she says before the line goes quiet.
I slink my way to my bed, not bothering to get undressed. My body is heavy, my head swimming.
Despite my state of drunkenness, sleep doesn’t come easily.
Between the alcohol and thoughts of Charles, my mind refuses to shut off.
If only I didn’t care about this job. I’d call off and avoid him altogether.
There’s too much to do, and I’ve never been one to run away from my problems.
I’m not about to start now.
23
Raven
Not even coffee could rectify my zombie personality the next day. Walking slowly into my office, bags under my eyes, thoroughly disheveled, I am literally a Walking Dead cast member.
Nightmares about hooking up with your boss in the office will do that to a person.
I pulled myself together in fifteen minutes, having to run out the door to catch the subway, but didn’t make it on time.
There was a moment when I thought I might scream out loud for everyone to hear. The anger and frustration mounting on my shoulders weighed me down, threatening to spill over.
I had to wait for the next ride and barely made that because I’d been too distracted. If I were a smart girl, I would’ve called it a day and crawled back into bed.