Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Hadrian lists off a series of numbers so fast that I don’t catch half of them, but Kimmy gets them and saves the number. Then, she puts her phone away and motions at the plates in front of us now that her mind is made up. She doesn’t give Hadrian her number in exchange, and he never asks for it. He trusts her.
I trust her.
And just like that, it’s all decided. Kimmy will go. The rest is up to Van and, I guess, his mom, but right now, I have a renewed sense of hope. Sitting beside me, even as rigid as she is, I think Kimmy does too. Just when I think that all the most incredible things are done for the night, and I’m finished with witnessing historical firsts, Hadrian goes and proves me wrong.
“There are so many outcomes, possibilities, reasons, situations, and scenarios, just from a single event. I hope you find the answers you’ve been looking for all this time.”
We finish up our cheesecake, and since Kimmy isn’t one to sit and linger, she says goodnight and insists on paying. Hadrian lets her, which surprises us both. He does it like a gentleman too. We go out the door together, and she watches him walk over to this bike, throw a big leg over the sleek-looking black and chrome machine, tug on a helmet, and rip out onto the street.
“Gah,” Kimmy gushes on a big exhale. “I think I’m in love.”
I noticed, Kimmy. I noticed.
CHAPTER 16
Van
I’m as nervous as I was the first time I came over here for dinner. This time, I drove myself, and this time, I managed to not throw up. I brought an extra shirt and pit stick just in case. Even still, as soon as I walk through the doorway of my mom’s house with Nanny beside me, it begins to sink in that we’re doing this. Nanny could see that I was a wreck, so she came along with Curly Cookie perched on top of her lap. Although he’s cute, he’s giant and doesn’t weigh what you’d think a hairy bone bag should weigh.
Kimmy is going to be here soon. She’s going to be here, and my mom and I have to tell her everything. And Nanny too, but Nanny is kind and forgiving, and I wouldn’t doubt if she somehow knew already. My mom is her daughter. A mother knows her daughter, doesn’t she? Maybe she doesn’t know know, but she probably senses something.
My mom’s welcoming yet composed smile doesn’t stop my breath from squeezing out of my lungs or my heart from trying to rip straight out of my chest. It’s doing some weird thrashing in there that would probably give it a great career as a heavy metal drummer if it had arms and feet. I have to reach up and tap at the spot, trying to settle things down.
Nanny thrusts a container of gravy at my mom. “This one’s special. Chicken and turkey combo,” she says. “With mushrooms and potatoes infused right in. I put two birds in one big ass roaster, stuffed the cracks full of spuds and veg, and presto pronto, here you go.”
Despite myself, I find a smile cracking through my foggy, anxious fuzz. I still think there’s a good chance I might pass out, so I walk straight into the kitchen and take a seat at the table. It’s big and round and has more than enough upholstered chairs for everyone. The house is practically large enough for a hundred people to live in. Was it really just her and my dad all alone here? She wouldn’t have had a choice, I know that, but why doesn’t she sell it now?
I came over for dinner a few nights ago as I promised. Before I ever talked to Remi about this. During dinner, my mom and I talked everything out. I guess it’s easier for us, shared pain and all that. I now know how guilty she feels about everything. She thinks all this was her fault as she’s the one who strayed from her marriage and kept it secret all these years. In her defense, I learned that my parent’s marriage was never a happy one. My dad strayed many, many times himself, but she didn’t do it in retaliation. She made friends because she was lonely, and she found someone who would listen to her. When she told him she was pregnant, he ghosted her and straight up left. She never could find him since she didn’t have any resources at her disposal. My dad was the one who controlled all the finances, so she couldn’t leave. She had no money, not even a bank account or credit card in her own name. She even made excuses for my dad the whole time we talked. The. Entire. Time.