Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Regardless of whether they had or not, they acted nicer to me than some of the self-proclaimed “nice guys” I had met, including my ex-boyfriend, Michael, who had well-off parents, a great education, and a respectable, well-paying job as a local government employee. He appeared to be a good guy to people who didn’t truly know him, but I knew him deep down. He was a monster who should’ve been behind bars instead of behind a fancy desk.
Before we reached the front desk, my phone shrilly ringed from the back pocket of my shorts. My hand flew to it to check who was calling out of habit since I was a mom, and sure enough, it was my daughter’s school calling.
“Sorry, my daughter’s school is calling,” I told Bryce and Baker as I stopped walking. I hit the answer button and pressed the phone against my ear. “Hello?”
“Hello, Ms. Carney, this is Andrea from Leeland Elementary. We have Chloe here in the office, and she’s running a low fever. Are you able to come pick her up?”
My heart ached just at the thought of Chloe sitting in the office not feeling good. She seemed fine this morning! But I knew how it was with kids. They got sick at the drop of a hat.
“I’m so sorry. My daughter is running a fever, and I have to go pick her up from school,” I apologized as I looked between Bryce and Baker. I started digging around in my purse quickly, looking for my cash that I pulled out for my appointment. Meanwhile, my mind was racing with worried thoughts.
What exactly was Chloe’s temperature? Did she have any symptoms? Did she catch something from another classmate?
I ended up dropping a tube of lipstick and a few quarters on the floor because I wasn’t paying attention, making my face burn from embarrassment as I crouched down to pick up everything.
“I’m sorry,” I said again, feeling flustered.
Bryce and Baker were already on the floor grabbing my things.
“It’s okay,” Bryce assured me as he placed his hand on my back, coaxing me to look over at him. He gave me a comforting look. “I’m sure it’s just a little cold. Kids get them all the time.”
“Breathe,” Baker told me.
I didn’t even realize that I had been holding my breath. I sucked in a breath and nodded, telling myself to take it one thing at a time.
“Everything okay over here?”
I looked up from the ground, seeing three tall men looming over me. The one who asked was a man with a shaved head but a full, dark beard with a few streaks of grey. He was the oldest guy I had seen in the shop, but his body still had great muscle tone that I could make out through his white t-shirt and black jeans. A rose tattoo peeked out from under his shirt sleeve as well.
“I… uh… yes,” I said, stumbling over my words as my brain became briefly fried.
Another man who had some of the same features as the older man, like his intense, dark eyes and lightly tanned skin, held his hand out to me. My eyes darted up his forearm where there was a tattoo of a lioness and her cubs, making me wonder what that stood for.
“Thank you,” I told him before taking my things from Bryce and Baker. “My daughter is sick at school. I just had this amazing piece done, and my ride is still getting her tattoo worked on.”
The man who’d helped me up crossed his arms over his broad chest, making the black and grey flannel shirt he had on stretch over his muscular build. He had to be in his early forties, but he looked like he could out-muscle and outrun anyone around my age.
“Do you want a ride? I’m sure all she wants right now is her mom,” he offered.
My eyes grew big at his offer.
“Oh, I can’t ask that of you,” I told him.
The man shook his head dismissively, his light brown eyes holding my surprised gaze.
“It wouldn’t be a problem. I have a clear schedule today,” he replied before holding his large hand out to me. “I’m Marcus by the way.”
“Madison. Thank you so much,” I told him sincerely as I shook his hand, noting how strong he was. I then glanced at the older man and the large, gruff-looking man who hadn’t spoken yet. “I can pay real quick, and then we can go.”
The older man held his hand up to stop me.
“We can settle that another time,” he assured me before extending his hand out as well. “I’m Marlo, the shop owner.”
I shook his hand as he towered over me, my stomach flipping. He had a naturally stern look on his face like Marcus, and I wondered if they were related.
“Are you sure?” I asked him.