Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Me: Good morning. I hope you have a great day at work. I’m going into town. Is there anything you need for tomorrow?
I move to my dresser to pick out a bra, panties, and shorts, set the phone on top in preparation to call my parents back. Our usual morning talk went by the wayside today with me sleeping half the morning away. I hit call log on my phone, scroll to Mom’s name, and press on it, then hit the speakerphone. Our usual long-winded talks have been missing this week. Today is the day we’ll catch up while I make a cup of coffee in my makeshift kitchen area only to move into the kitchen to prepare a few slices of avocado toast, not feeling froggy enough to make an egg to put on top of it. The lack of a sink does that to you. Needless to say, the fresh fruit and vegetables have been my lifeline this week.
“Finally. Your dad was going to head to your place if you didn’t call or text by noon. I swear, never have kids. They make you worry and give you gray hair.” Overdramatic much? This is how Mom answers the phone on a daily basis, theatrics out the wazoo.
“Hello to you, too, Mom. I told you last night I was going down and I’d call when I woke up.” This is not the first time I’ve had to pull Hail Marys in the work department; only the reason for it is different. I’m not behind, I’m ahead, and I get the weekend off. Totally worth it, if you ask me.
“Still, JoJo, it’s nearly noon. Your parents are allowed to worry, anyways. Now that you’re awake and my heart can go back to a normal pace, what’s on your agenda for today?” I tug off Trace’s jacket, going to bed with my hair wet kept me cold throughout the whole night. I move it to the foot of the bed and careful not to drop it to the floor. A place where most of my clothes will land.
“I’m about to head into town, hit the hardware and grocery store. Trace will be here first thing in the morning.” I called my parents the next day to tell Dad the cost and time. He let out a whistle, told me to run, don’t walk, because it was a steal. I didn’t tell either of them the whole truth. I wasn’t ready for that. We’re still new to this whole dating thing.
“Make sure you have plenty of drinks and stuff to make sandwiches. It’s unheard of for a company to willingly work the weekends, or maybe things are done differently down in Blue Valley.” They definitely grow them differently, that’s for sure. I pull my shirt off then shimmy my shorts down, each article old and from my college days, ugly yet comfortable.
“I’m going to. Probably beer, too, for when he’s done for the day and cleaning.” I slide my panties up my thighs, hoping maybe Trace will stop by again. I’ve yet to tell him what the neighbors told me the other day. The nicer ladies, apparently, their husbands are the two grumpy men, complete opposite of their spouses. Anyways, they said it was so nice to see Trace again in the neighborhood. I agreed, still confused as to what they were talking about. The two women, Doris and Janey, said Trace had been in the area a lot lately, especially backed into the house that’s for sale across the street. I put two and two together, realizing I did in fact see his truck when I drove home from the grocery store. That slick shit. I bet he had this planned out from the very beginning. Come tomorrow, I’m going to be giving him a ration of hell.
“Good idea. Dad and I will be over Sunday with the lawn mower and weed eater.” I’ll have to figure out how that’s going to work. There’s no way my parents will see Trace around me and not put two and two together.
“Thank you. I’ve got to hit the bank, too.” Dad and his neighbor needing a new mower and him with the weed eater, I’m only out a hundred or so dollars. Even still, I know without a doubt he wheeled his neighbor or paid him more than what he’s telling me is the real price.
“Don’t go to the bank for only your father. He can wait. Do your errands, come home, and relax. You’ve been going all week. I’d rather you not overdo it and sleep fourteen hours again, giving me a damn heart attack.” Here she goes again with that.
“Mom, another errand isn’t going to kill me. Promise. Plus, don’t think I can’t see what you’re doing here.”
“What? I even checked your location eighteen times. I’m not kidding. Take it easy on me, daughter of mine. And before I forget, call your dad, too. He’s at the office. As much as I can tell him you’re fine, I’ve gotten him in such a tizzy, he’s going to need to hear your voice.” I roll my eyes. Over thirty years they’ve been together. Surely, Dad is used to Mom working herself up. I put my bra on and step into my shorts, letting them hang on my hips, then pick up the phone to carry with me into the small walk-in closet.