Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 114647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
He laughed. “I think that’s anatomically impossible, but you’re welcome.”
“I’m so flipping bored. James got called in, and I’m dying here all by myself.” I sighed as I walked to his truck and hoisted myself inside before he could even open his own door.
“Yeah, so bored that you told one of the local church people off.” Elliott laughed.
“I didn’t tell them off!” I said indigently.
“That’s not what James tells me.” Elliott snickered as he backed out of the driveway and headed towards the main road.
“It was honestly not that big of a deal. I don’t understand what the big fuss is about.”
“So, when the pastor of the church down the street from you asked you where you were going when you died, you didn’t mean to say Rader Funeral Home?” Elliott gave me a teasing look.
“Well, yeah, I did mean to say that.” I finally agreed.
I mean really. What did the man expect when he dropped that bombshell in my lap? Yes, I did believe in God, but I didn’t want it thrown in my face that I was a sinner. Nor did I want him to tell me I was going to hell because I didn’t make church every other Sunday.
“Everyone got a real kick out of that at the shop when James told us.” He explained as he pulled onto the street that Free was located on.
Up ahead of us, a log truck pulled onto the road, and I gave an involuntary shudder.
“I hate those things. Ever since I saw Final Destination, every time I see one of those, I think about the chains breaking and the logs skewering me through the front glass.” I explained to Elliott who sported a wary look.
He laughed. “Yeah, I can see that. I feel the same way when I see them on the interstate.”
Pulling into Free, he parked his vehicle around the back, and walked with me to the side door that led to the activity room in the back of the garage.
All the women were gathered there, margaritas already in hand.
“Hey, y’all started without me?” I yelled as I made my way into the room.
“Of course not. We just heard you pull in, and we picked up our glasses.” Ember said guiltily.
Liars. Ember’s was nearly half-gone. Blaine was on the verge of empty, another empty glass was next to my full one that Ember had just gestured to.
“Liars.” I laughed and went to my drink, taking a large swallow before turning to take a seat at the table.
“Later, ladies.” Elliott said as he walked towards the outer shop area.
“Wait!” I called to him, stopping him before he could leave.
“Yeah?” He asked, turning around.
“Thanks for the ride. And will you send Janie in here for some food?” I asked sweetly.
“Sure thing, sweetheart.” He agreed and left.
The next hour was spent playing Apples to Apples, but was interrupted when Janie came storming into the room. Her eyes were flaring hot, and she turned her head, scanned the room, found my eyes, and the stomped towards me with deliberate steps. She reminded me of her father when she had that determination etched on her face, and I couldn’t withhold the smile that took over.
“What is the reason I can’t be out in the shop with Max and Sam?” She demanded.
I managed to catch the laughter that threatened to spill from my throat, but only just barely. “Well, I was wondering if tomorrow you wanted to go shopping for Christmas presents before we go visit your mother.”
She grimaced. “I’ll go shopping with you, but only if you take me to the Harley shop.”
I pursed my lips. “Well, that’ll work for your dad, Sam, and the rest of the guys, but what about your grandmother and Cheyenne?” I asked.
She thought about that for a moment, but then came up with the perfect solution. “We’ll go to Lowe’s, too. They’re right across the street from each other.”
The laughter bubbled out of my throat, and I smiled at her, pulling her in tightly and giving her a big hug. Her wiry arms wrapped around me surprisingly tight, and I luxuriated in the warmth she exuded.
Never once had I seen her mother get a hug like this, and I was more than a little smug about it.
“What? You’ve gotten to hear Max sing?” Blaine blurted from across the room.
“Yeah, hasn’t everybody?” Payton asked.
“What’re y’all bellyaching about?” Gabe asked as he came into the room.
Grease covered him from head to toe, and he looked like he’d been letting oil drip all over him instead of letting it drip into the drain pan like it was supposed to.
“Yick. What’ve you been doing?” Ember eyed Gabe from across the room.
Gabe’s smile lit the room. “What, do I look that bad?”
“Yeah.” Ember wasted no time in telling it how it was.
He laughed, went to the fridge, and grabbed a beer. “What’s the big deal about hearing Max sing?”
“You’ve heard him sing?” Blaine breathed, hanging on Gabe’s every word.
“Well, yeah. But he was drunk, so I’m not sure it counted. So have you, now that I’m thinking about it.” He laughed and left the room, beer in hand.
“Payton, go ask him to sing so we can hear.”
I rolled my eyes. Yeah, right. Even I knew that wouldn’t work. The man was very private. Although quick to lend a hand and laugh, he never volunteered any information about himself. In the year or so that I’d known him, I could count on one hand the number of things that I’d learned about him from his own mouth.
“He wouldn’t do it.” Payton sighed wistfully. “He doesn’t do it very often, and when he does, it’s only ‘cause he thinks he’s alone.”
“I thought you’d all heard him sing before.” I questioned.
“So Max says. I was drunk. I don’t remember a thing that happened that night.” Blaine pouted.
“I bet I could get him to do it.” Janie said from beside me.
Every eye turned toward her.
“You know, that’d probably work. The girl’s got every man here wrapped around her little finger.” Cheyenne teased.