Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 126840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
15
A LIFE INCOMPLETE
Hellen
The next evening, I knocked on Core’s door.
There was a woof from inside, a second one, a few moments passed, then he opened it.
His eyes slid over me, he grinned big, hooked me with an arm around my waist and bent me over it, laying a huge wet one on me while Nanook brushed against our legs excitedly.
I was a big fan of his hello.
When he allowed me to surface, he didn’t let me go as he said, “You just kick ass being you.”
Okay.
Wow.
That might have been the best compliment anyone ever gave me.
No.
It just was.
And again, indication I’d chosen well with my outfit.
Casual dinner at his house, I’d picked another pair of crop jeans, these with a ragged hem. I added a cute, floral, blousy cami top that dipped in the front and gave a hint of cleavage. On my feet were flat, gold sandals that showed a lot of skin, seeing as they were mostly thin straps, including ones that wrapped around my ankle.
I’d gone for loose curls in my hair and light, summery makeup.
I also brought my big Fendi tote because extra panties were not all I needed. I needed my toothbrush, face wash and moisturizer, some PJs—because we’d been sleeping nude, but that wasn’t normally my thing—a selection of makeup in case we decided to get brunch tomorrow, and a different top to wear.
“Say hi to my dog before he loses it,” he ordered, letting me go, but instantly taking hold of the guitar strap to my Fendi and sliding it down my arm.
He walked in.
I bent to Nanook, who was indeed very excited to see me, and gave pets as we followed him in.
“This stuff for the bedroom?” he asked after the tote.
“Yes,” I answered.
He disappeared down a hall.
I kept petting Nanook as I looked around.
There wasn’t much there. Big TV. Three-piece furniture set in a contemporary design and neutral color (gray) that was so basic, it veritably screamed for toss pillows and throw blankets. And tables dotted around that made it look like he bought the arrangement from a showroom floor and that was that.
It was much the same as what I’d seen of his kitchen, which looked new and sleek with gray cabinets, white quartz countertops and clear, light-gray glass subway tile backsplashes.
But outside a steak left out on the counter and some jars of seasonings sitting around it, there was nothing there and it was clear this house had been flipped, or he’d done a complete overhaul of it (at least the parts I’d seen), but he hadn’t really done anything to make it his.
He might be so busy with his club, their marijuana concerns and his vigilante activities that he hadn’t gotten down to buying a blender and some art for his walls.
But there seemed something wrong about this.
Like a life incomplete.
He came back, threw his arm around my shoulders and led me into the kitchen, asking, “You hungry or you wanna kick back with a drink first?”
“I could wait to eat.”
“Perfect,” he muttered.
He let me go to open the fridge. “Got soda. Got waters. Got a couple of bottles of wine for you. Got beer.”
“What kind of wine?”
He pulled out a bottle and studied it. “Sauvignon blanc.” He reached in to shift the other one around so he could read the label. “Viognier.” His gaze came to me. “The dude at the store said they were good.”
“I’ll try the viognier.”
“Gotcha,” he replied.
I leaned a hip against the counter, Nanook leaned against me, and together we watched Core open the bottle then pour it into a surprisingly stylish wineglass.
He handed it to me, and I quipped, “You have good taste in glassware.”
His lips curled. “I bought them today after I bought you wine and realized I couldn’t serve it in a Solo cup.”
I frowned. “Please tell me you don’t use Solo cups, meaning your good time will last two hundred years on this earth.”
“Baby, I drink beer from a bottle, so the earth is safe with me.”
I laughed, sipped the wine, it was delicious, and the three of us went out to his back patio.
Okay, this space said he lived there and wasn’t renting a poorly decorated Airbnb.
Although I’d add some toss pillows, decorative lanterns and other accoutrement, he had a great rug that brought the space together.
There was a handsome couch out there, he took us to it, and then we were down, Core in a corner, me tucked to his side, Nanook seated by his dad’s knee.
“Have a good day?” he asked.
It was only then I realized his day included buying me wine then going to get a pretty glass for me to drink it from.
“I worked all day,” I answered, sounding subdued, because his gesture meant a lot.
“That sucks.”
“No, I like working.”
“Then it doesn’t suck.”
I laughed softly and sipped wine.