Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Of course,” Maddox said gently.
“Oh, and I’ll do any voice acting you need, Maddox.”
“She’s voice acting for your film?” Amanda asked, aghast.
“Just if he needs help,” I said quickly. “Anyway, I’m going to get out of your hair now. I’ll text you. Bye. Thanks again.”
I made a hasty retreat. I could already see that Amanda was going to give him an earful. But, well … I didn’t have to work with Tuck Underwood. I got to work with Maddox instead. And that was a fair trade in my book.
9
SCAD
JULY 31, 2010,
“And to your left, you’ll find the famous Cathedral of St. John the Baptist,” a ghost tour guide began. “It has the highest twin steeples in all of Savannah and is home to the all-boys school, Holy Cross, and the girls school, St. Catherine’s.”
I skipped around the crowd in Lafayette Square, on my way to my favorite coffee shop in town that overlooked the famed cathedral. I was ten minutes late already. Maddox was going to kill me. I was shocked that I didn’t have a bunch of texts, asking where I was. He was perpetually early, and I was always late.
It was hot and overcast, and I hadn’t been able to find any parking on the streets. I’d had to park a half-mile away and hoof it in my heels. He’d just have to deal.
I cracked open the door to the coffee shop, craning my neck to look through the small crowd. It wasn’t that big. His curls and height should have been easily visible in the modern white space.
But there was no Maddox.
I pulled out my phone and scanned my messages. Nothing from Maddox. I shot him a text.
Did you forget our meeting? I’m here already. I’ll order you a coffee.
Despite Amanda’s displeasure with Maddox and me working together, it had been nothing but professional all summer. She had even hung out with us at Tybee when Marley and Lila were in town. Nothing out of the normal.
I’d gone into the studio to test out some voices for the animated short film he was drawing, designing, storyboarding, and bringing to life, all on his own. He hadn’t lied when he said that all he needed was voice actors. From what I’d seen, it was beyond brilliant. And I couldn’t thank him enough for his genius mind on my project. Something was not fitting together, and I needed to get it all in place before we could start filming next month.
I ordered both of our coffees and waited at our usual meeting table, looking out at the cathedral. I shot him another text, letting him know where I was sitting. Then returned my dad’s missed call.
“Hey, Josie. Hope you’re not busy.”
“Just waiting on someone for a meeting. What’s up?”
I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the conversation. My dad had fallen on hard times ever since I’d gone off to college. Mom wasn’t supporting him anymore since I didn’t live there, and the art business was in the gutter. He’d taken a job at an insurance company to get by, and I hated it for him.
“Had a long day, and I’m missing you. I think I’m going to quit.”
“Not again, Dad.” It was his third job in the last couple months. “I really thought the insurance company was working out.”
“How do people live like this? I was thinking of applying to one of those paint pottery shops. There’s a new one in Alpharetta.”
“Okay, Dad,” I said with a sigh. I’d had to ask my mother for extra money last month to help Dad make rent. It was a total clusterfuck and making my life a living hell. I wanted him to get his shit together, but I knew it was so hard for him to do anything but what he loved. Just … what he loved didn’t pay the bills. “If you need money—”
“No,” he said quickly. “I don’t want you to have to ask your mom again. Just calling to chat.”
“Yeah. Okay. I have to get to my meeting.”
We said our good-byes, and I hung up with a sigh. God, I couldn’t wait for Maddox to get here, so I didn’t have to think about it anymore. Where was he?
As I went through my other text messages, another one came in:
Guess what, babe?
My toes curled at the message. His name was Isaiah, and he was an officer in the Army. We’d met on River Street last weekend when I was sloshed, and we were supposed to go out tonight.
What’s that?
I got us Pink House reservations.
My heart stuttered. The Olde Pink House was my favorite restaurant in town. It was hard to get reservations there and ridiculously expensive.
I love that place! Can’t wait. See you tonight. xo
Isaiah kept up a steady stream of texts while I waited for Maddox. But there was no response, and after thirty minutes, my coffee was drained, and Maddox was a no-show.