Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“The building has a generator. It’s one of the reasons I signed the lease.” She smiles. “And thankfully the east side of town is also up and running. Should we thank Ryder for that?” she jokes.
“Nice, and probably.” I chuckle. “Anyway, Ryder keeps telling me that if I miss him or need to get away to go to his place. I know the code to the garage, and well, I miss him, so I thought maybe I’d go to his place. Maybe clean, do some laundry, and just—be around his space. It’s stupid.”
“It’s not,” Calvin speaks up. “From a man’s perspective, if my girl”—he flashes his eyes to Gianna—“missed me, and did that, not for the cleaning and laundry, but just to be close to me?” He nods, tapping his hand over his chest. “That shit hits you here, J.” He smiles. “If Ryder told you it was okay, then he means it. If that’s what you need to get through this night without him, then go.” He reaches over and pulls Gianna onto his lap. “We’d love to have you, but I think your heart is telling you something else.”
“Thanks, Calvin. I needed to hear that.”
“Jordyn, you have to stop second-guessing. He forgave you. We all did. You were in an impossible situation. Ryder loves you. Go with your gut.”
I nod, then reach into my purse and pull out my phone. “She’s out of town, but I’m sure she’s still going to track me like the control freak that she is. Can I leave this here?”
“You know it.” Gianna takes the phone from my hand. “I hate that you have to do this, but I’m always down to help my bestie. You still have the other phone?”
“I do. You can call or text if she messages, which I don’t expect her to. As long as she thinks that she knows where I am, she won’t bother.”
“Either way, I got you. We have no plans this weekend.”
“Staying in,” Calvin says, sliding his hand around her waist. “We have plans to stay in.”
“Which is perfect.” I smile at him. “My car won’t be here, but I don’t think she’s having me followed.” Honestly, I’m sick and tired of worrying about it. I don’t want her to know where I am for fear of what she would do to Ryder and his family, but sneaking around like a damn teenager… I’m over it.
“Take my Jeep,” Calvin offers.
“What?” My mouth hangs open as I try to process what he just suggested.
“Take my Jeep. We’re in for the weekend and if we do go out, we’ll take G’s car.” He reaches over to the side table and grabs his keys, tossing them to me. Thankfully, I snap out of my stupor and catch them.
“I doubt she’s following me. She didn’t find out about the last trip.”
“Take my Jeep,” Calvin says again.
“That’s too much. It’s bad enough you have to hold on to my phone, keep it charged, and watch for messages from the she-devil.”
“It’s fine. We have no plans.”
“Jordyn.” Gianna waits until I look up at her. “You have a shit family. Let the one who chose you, help you. Cal wouldn’t have offered if he wasn’t okay with it. Stop punishing yourself and let yourself be happy. Take the wins where you can get them. Today’s win is the keys in your hand. Go to Willow River, even with Ryder not there. I know that’s where your heart is.”
I nod. “I love you.”
“Hey, now, don’t be hitting on my girl,” Calvin teases.
“I love you both.” I stand, hug them, and thank Calvin several more times before I make it out of the door. I transfer my overnight bag into the Jeep, lock my car, the keys already on the coffee table in Gianna’s apartment.
I point the Jeep toward Willow River and with each passing mile, I feel the stress, the worry, and the ache from missing Ryder slip away.
I feel like I’m heading home.
Thanks to the internet, I found a recipe for roast, potatoes, and carrots in the Crock-Pot. I thought it would be something that Ryder could eat for a few days. I might have to put it in the freezer if he doesn’t make it home before I leave on Sunday, but that’s okay. I’ll know he’s being fed.
Last night, I stopped at the store, stocked up on his favorites, got everything I needed for the recipe online, some brownies, and everything else I would need to stay hunkered down for the weekend. Part of me thinks I should tell someone I’m here. I was planning to tell Ryder, but he only texted last night. He said they were in the thick of things and he’d call me today.
That call never came. Instead, it was a text message that said they worked until late in the night, then took a small break for food, and a few hours’ sleep, and got back up early to hit it again today. Apparently, his crew, and I’m sure the others, are eager to get everyone back on the grid so they can head home. That’s all a part of being a lineman. When the power goes down, these men and women work around the clock to get everyone back up and on the grid.