Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
As soon as his hold on me loosens, I pull away from him. He stands and I sink back into the couch cushions, grateful for the interruption.
Really, just sitting next to him was dangerous. I was afraid that at any moment he was going to start kissing me right in front of Abigail and I wouldn’t be able to resist him.
It’s not until he’s halfway to the front door that I realize I’m half naked. Grabbing one of the couch pillows, I pull up my knees and hug it close, hiding my lack of pants.
“Johnathan,” Andrew says coolly and steps back, giving the other man room to walk in.
Johnathan walks in and grunts before dropping the box he’s carrying to the floor with a loud crash.
“Did you bring it?” Andrew asks, sounding a little impatient as Johnathan straightens and gives him a dirty look.
“Johnny!” Abigail squeals from beside me and then jumps up, running to him.
“Abigail, no!” I call out, popping up but it’s too late. She’s already throwing herself at the guy, hugging those tree trunks he calls legs.
“Hey, there,” Johnathan grumbles and pats her on the head, looking incredibly uncomfortable.
He shoots a distressed look towards Andrew, no doubt hoping Andrew will help him, but Andrew just smirks and leans back, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Was there any trouble?” Andrew asks.
“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Johnathan grumbles trying to unsuccessfully pry Abigail’s little fingers off of him.
I shouldn’t find it hilarious, I really shouldn’t, but perhaps I’ve finally broken. Laughter bubbles up in my throat and I have to bite my lip to keep from releasing it.
I should probably pull Abigail off the guy, but a little, evil part of me is happy she’s making him so uncomfortable. If he works with a guy like Andrew, I’m sure he deserves it.
“Well, are you just going to stand there or are you going to help me?” Johnathan asks Andrew as Abigail starts babbling about her day and how much she missed him.
Suddenly Andrew’s phone starts ringing and his smirk becomes an outright wicked grin. “Sure…” he says and lifts his phone. “But first I’ve gotta take this.”
9
Andrew
“Andrew, my son, it’s been far too long since you’ve come to see me.”
The man on the line is trying to sound lighthearted but I hear something I can’t quite place in his voice
“Father, it’s been far too long since you’ve called me.”
“That’s probably true.”
I motion to Johnathan to bring the boxes in without me. He’s been watching me since I took the call and the finger he gives me when I start to turn away from him tells me he’s not nearly as happy as I am that my phone rang.
Walking into the kitchen, I ask, “What’s going on?”
“Well, I think it’s high time you came back to confessional, son.”
“How soon are you thinking?” I ask as I look back to the living room where Amy is holding back Abigail from jumping all over Johnathan.
“When can you get here?” he asks.
“An hour.”
“See you then, son. Don’t forget your tidings though,” he says before disconnecting the call.
Of course the fuck wants to hear my sins and get paid to do it.
Turning towards the group in my living room, I smile at Johnathan. “You look like crap, man. Like you haven’t slept in a week.”
Giving me the stink eye, he says, “You know I haven’t. After this, I’m getting a bottle of tequila and drinking myself into an oblivion.”
“You have such lofty ambitions for the evening, buddy.”
“What do you mean lofty?”
“Well, I was thinking that you should hang out here for a bit. Take a load off your feet.”
“What do you mean by lofty, Andrew? And I would rather… Why would I want to stay here... No. Flat out no.”
Frowning at us both, I can see Amy isn’t crazy about Johnathan staying here any more than he is.
“I gotta go to church for a bit. Father Coss needs to see my smiling face,” I say to Johnathan.
“Fuck,” he groans as he turns towards the door.
“Hey, language!” Amy shouts then turns to me. “What do you mean you have to leave? Church for you?!”
Nodding my head, I turn from her and head up the stairs. I can feel her stomping up the stairs behind me, following me into our bedroom.
“You can’t just leave us here with him!”
Turning my head back to her, I say, “You’re just as safe with him as you are with me.”
I’d rather not leave her if I didn’t have to, her or Abigail. But I don’t get that choice, work is work.
When Father Coss calls it’s usually a good idea to go. He’s like Simon in some aspects, the old man has his fingers and ears everywhere. When he calls for confession, you attend.
Walking into the bedroom closet, I start stripping off my clothes.