Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“I know my father connected us because he has high hopes of us forming a relationship,” I said. “But I’m in not in a place in my life that I can have one. And even if I was…”
“It’s not here,” he said, motioning between us. “The zing.”
“It’s not.” I laughed again, and he joined in. “But that has nothing to do with you. You’re handsome and smart...”
“Don’t stop there,” he said, grinning.
“And funny,” I finished. “I don’t want you to think it has anything to do with you.”
“I like you too,” he said, raising his glass to mine. I clinked it and we both took a sip. “In that way too awesome people can like each other without anything else involved.”
I smiled, half expecting a wave of awkwardness to wash over the table and send us packing, but it never came.
“So now that that’s out of the way,” he said after the waitress set our entrées in front of us. “We can be friends.”
“Really?” I practically blurted out the question.
“Really,” he said, cutting into his steak. “I like you, even if we aren’t destined to be wed and join our great families,” he said in a mock-regal voice. “Since we’re being honest,” he continued. “The last thing I want is a betrothal right now or a relationship, but my parents keep trying. Relentlessly. It’s like they’re worried I won’t give them an heir or something as if we’re in Victorian era England.” He shook his head. “I’m quite happy with my life and I’m not looking for it to change any time soon.”
Relief crashed through me.
“But I’d love to be friends,” he continued. “Especially someone who understands what it’s like to not be the exact version of what they’re parents want.”
“I can’t remember the last time I had an actual friend,” I admitted, even though images of Jim flashed through my mind. He was my friend first, but it had always felt more than that with him. More intense, more joyful, more everything.
“That makes me sad,” he said, his bright smile falling to a frown.
“I’m all right—”
“Not for you,” he cut me off. “For the people who missed out on your company.”
I laughed and shook my head. “You barely know me.”
“I’m a people reader.” Brad shrugged. “It doesn’t take me long to figure someone out.”
“Oh really?”
He nodded, taking another bite of steak. “That and anyone who bypass caviar and lobster, racing straight to the dessert table is good in my book.”
“You remember that?” I tried not to look embarrassed at the childhood memory.
“Sure do,” he said. “Those parties were so boring, weren’t they? I would never force my kids to go to those things, or if I had to, I would at least set up something cool and entertaining for them while the adults did business.”
“Right?” I asked, settling into an easy dinner now that the pressure was totally off.
Honesty wasn’t that bad after all. And after everything, I could really use a friend.
Brad raised his glass again, holding it toward mine. “To not doing what our parents expect us to do.”
I laughed, clinking his glass. “I couldn’t agree more.”
CHAPTER 4
Jim
I added two sugars to the dark roast in my favorite mug, then strolled back to my desk. Today would be my first day of training our newest recruits with a special introduction to all things Sweet Water and how our department operated, and while I was excited for the new gig, I had those first-day-of-school jitters…God help me if anyone realized it.
Taking a good sip of coffee helped soothe away the nerves I knew were unnecessary. I was a good cop, and that’s why my superior selected me for this task. The newest hires had already completed their required academy training, and this would act as a transition course into our department. I’d miss patrolling and answering calls, but it was only six weeks. I could handle anything for six weeks.
“How’s your morning, Harlowe?” Tanner asked as he got settled at his desk.
“Going good,” I said before glancing at my watch. “Would be even better if my volunteer showed up.”
Volunteers were hard to come by, and this one was already five minutes late—if they didn’t show up I’d be handling the full brunt of the program which was built to be ran by two. We couldn’t afford to pull another officer from our small department to help me, so we had to depend on free help.
“I’m sure they’ll show up soon,” Tanner encouraged me by raising his mug in the air and we did an air cheers before I headed to the back of the station where we’d set up our designated training area.
The first four weeks of would focus on Sweet Water politics, laws, and special interests, which meant we’d be spending all our time in the conference room going over tons of paperwork, histories, and the like. The last two weeks I’d assign each new hire to a partner for patrolling, giving us all a break from the school-like situation. But until that time came, I really needed help gathering all the course materials and then inputting responses and grades for the tests. Could I do it all on my own? Absolutely. Did I want to? Not really.