Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Oh, you know, to have a family. Somewhere to belong.” I tried to say the words lightly but heard the heaviness in my tone.
King’s hand on my back flinched, but he said nothing. I wished I could take it back. That wasn’t the kind of thing he’d expected to hear. I’d overshared. Made it awkward.
“You’ll have that one day. I swear it.”
There was a fierceness in his tone. It almost made me believe him. Forget the facts. The truth I was pretending wasn’t waiting for me. If only his words held the power to make my wish come true.
• sixteen •
“This shit gets messy.”
Rumor
As sunny as it had been the past few days, it made the suddenly dark sky and cold wind that was blowing seem out of place. The wood-burning stove had been going since I had started it this morning. The house had been freezing when I woke up.
I walked into the living room to listen to the local weather report while wrapped in a blanket. The kitchen was much warmer, but the television was in here.
A storm was coming this way, and I wanted to think I had faced worse things than a storm alone. I didn’t want to be a wimp, but the more the weather forecasters warned that it was going to be a strong one, the more nervous I seemed to be getting.
I glanced over at my phone and considered calling King. I hadn’t seen him since he’d brought me back from Maeme’s two days ago. He had said to call if I wanted a ride to her house, and I was starting to think maybe I did.
Chewing on my lower lip, I debated if I should or not. Maeme hadn’t called me or driven down here. She must not be worried about it. Maybe I should just turn off the news and read. Forget about the weather, and it would blow over soon enough. If I fell asleep before it hit, then I could sleep through it.
The gravel crunching under tires caught my attention, and I hurried back to the kitchen just in time to see King stepping down out of his truck. I wasn’t sure if I was more relieved or excited to see him. I hurried to the door to unlock it and get it open by the time he reached the top step.
It was almost unfair the way the man made a pair of boots, jeans, and a brown leather jacket look so good. I tried not to gawk at him and kept my eyes on his face. This thing I had developed for him was getting out of control. I knew better than to feel anything for a man.
“Storm’s coming,” he said as he walked toward me, carrying a brown paper sack in his left hand.
I stepped back and let him inside. “I know. I’ve been watching the weather.”
My kitchen felt tiny when he was in it. His gaze went to the wood stove, and then he smiled. “I see you figured it out without help.”
I nodded. “I had one like that in a…home, growing up.” I had almost said foster home and caught myself.
“You know, I am beginning to wonder if you’re ever going to need me at all. You’ve yet to text or call me.”
I bit my bottom lip to keep from smiling like an idiot. Did that mean he wanted me to text and call him? Why was it making me so happy? Had I not just told myself I had to stop thinking about King like this? He was a man. I had to leave here soon. I could never be honest with him.
“I was considering it just now, but you showed up before I could make up my mind if I should be worried or not about the weather.”
The pleased smile that made his eyes light up was not helping me with my unwanted attraction to him.
“That makes me feel needed,” he replied. “It’s nothing to worry about, but I thought I’d stay here until it blows over. I didn’t want you riding it out alone in case the power goes out. Not that you’d mind that, but from my experience, women aren’t real crazy about being alone in the dark.”
I hadn’t thought of that, and I wasn’t sure there was a candle in this place. I hadn’t looked for any. “Thank you. I don’t think I’d like being out here in the dark.”
“All right then, let’s eat while we have light,” he said, holding up the paper sack in his hand. “The best burgers and hot fries you’ve ever put in your mouth.”
He’d brought food. Burgers and fries. He wanted me to eat burgers and fries with him. I had to stop myself before throwing my arms around his neck. Every time I thought I had this under control, he did something like this. Something no one else had ever done for me.