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)
“I was going to text King and see if I could get a ride to your house to exchange some books later,” I told her.
She put her hands on her hips and beamed brightly at me. “Well, good timing then. You can go get those books, and we will get you out of the house. Doc D is coming by later to see how you’re healing up. Figured if he gave you the all clear, you might want King to take you to the stables. Teach you to ride.”
The thought of King taking me to the stables instantly gave me an image of what King had been doing at the stables the last time I was there. Trying to think of anything but that since I was standing in front of his grandmother, I blurted, “Sebastian promised to do that.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Did he now? Well, he always was a smart one. He’s back in Vegas, but he’ll be returning in a few days. Reckon your riding lesson can wait until then if you prefer he teach you.”
Sebastian didn’t rattle me the way King seemed to. I was comfortable with him. I wasn’t sure I could focus enough on riding with King present, and I’d probably do something stupid and fall off a horse.
“I can wait until he returns,” I replied.
Amusement flickered in her eyes, and I hoped she wasn’t thinking I was interested in Sebastian as more than a friend. She was aware I would never do anything to put them in danger or get them mixed up in my messed-up life.
“Very well. Go on then and get the books. We can go on back to my house. I’ve got a warm lemon Bundt cake just sitting there, waiting on us. A glass of sweet tea and some cake in the sunroom will be nice. You can tell me all about your night over at the Shephards’.”
I widened my eyes, surprised by the fact that she knew I’d been over there.
She chuckled at my expression. “Don’t a thing happen in this family I don’t know about. I got to keep this machine running smooth.”
Her response was odd, and I thought about it as I went inside to grab my books. This was by far the strangest family I’d ever met. I guessed it made sense that they were all close, seeing as they were in business together and had been for generations. The way it all worked though, I felt like I was missing something. Even if I were, it wasn’t like I should be told all the ins and outs. They were the ones helping me, not the other way around.
Maeme was already in the driver’s seat of the golf cart when I returned. Holding the books to my chest, I hurried out to her, not wanting to make her wait any longer. I slid onto the seat, and she glanced up at me from her phone that she was texting on.
“That was King. Seems he has plans for you this evening. I’ll bring you on back after Doc checks you out. You’ll need time to get ready.”
She reversed the cart, then turned it around without telling me more. Not happy with myself for the fact that my immediate reaction to King coming to get me had been…a slight flutter of…something. I straightened the books in my lap.
“Um, what are his plans?” I asked her nervously.
Maeme glanced over at me. “Got us some horses racing in Santa Anita. They’ve got the big screen at the stables playing it today, and King thought you’d enjoy coming over to watch it. But don’t you worry. Everyone there is family. Your identity is safe.”
I was torn between social anxiety and the desire to experience something new. Go to a party. Live outside of my own little world.
“That’s nice of him,” I finally said.
“He’s got a good heart. I won’t count that out, but he enjoys your company. Might be more him wanting to be around you than just a nice gesture.”
Oh. I was about to smile, and I stopped myself. I didn’t need to be happy about that. Besides, him enjoying my company was not anything more than that. I shouldn’t even be considering anything else. It was ridiculous. For reasons I shouldn’t have to keep reminding myself.
We were already parking in Maeme’s backyard before I could think of anything to say about that. She was his grandmother and knew more than anyone that our relationship would only ever be friends. I didn’t know how much longer I would be here, and she nor King had brought it up lately.
Following her into the house, I waited until she led me to the library to ask her about any update. I needed to start focusing on my future instead of getting excited about a party. When she stopped at the door to the library and looked at me, I knew I had to find out what was happening. Since the storm, all I could get my television to play was Netflix. I couldn’t get the local channels anymore.