Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“Because you think I’m acting like a jerk, don’t you?”
“A jerk?” I turn my head to the right to look at him. “No. You’re not acting like a jerk. You’re acting like…” I sigh because it’s the wrong thing to say to a boy this age. But it’s also the truth, and the truth wins out. “You’re acting like a kid, Cross. That’s why your mama’s treating you like one.”
“How do you mean?” His voice cracks and goes shrill. “I’m not! I’m just trying to tell her how I feel about things and she’s not listening! She still thinks I’m a baby.”
“Cross, I hate to break it to you, but she’s always gonna see you as her baby. She’s your mother. And the point I’m making here is that this isn’t about her, this is about you, son. If you want to be a grown-up, you gotta act like one. Stop blaming your mother for holding you back when you’re not doing nothin’ to take a step forward.”
“What do you mean?” His eyes are making this shocked expression.
“If you had been taking martial arts classes all your life and then your mama was trying to forbid you from fighting in some big championship, then I’d be having this talk with her instead of you. But what are you good at, Cross? What are you doing to better yourself and carve your own destiny? Because kids with goals have commitment. What are you committed to?”
He blinks at me. “What?”
“Are you in the shootin’ club?”
“Well… no.”
“Why not?”
He huffs, giving himself time to think up an answer. “They’re all about hunting. And hunting is fine, but that’s not what I want.”
“You want to be dangerous.”
“Like you!” He stands up, his hands out in a pleading gesture. “I just wanna be like you, Amon.”
“OK. It’s a start. But wanting something and getting something are two different things.”
“Well, how am I supposed to get what I want if you guys won’t let me do what I want?”
“You gotta change our minds, I guess.”
He’s mad again now, because his words come out growly. “And how am I supposed to do that?”
“Show me you’re committed. Get up early and go into the kennel and help the men take care of the dogs. Get up early and come out here, and when those men run by, fall in behind them. And then keep up.” I wink here. “That’s how you carve your way, Cross. You make it happen.”
He sighs and turns his back to me, staring out at the camp. After a few minutes of silence, he turns back. “Fine. Then that’s what I’ll do.”
He doesn’t wait for my reaction or my approval, he just walks up the steps and goes inside.
I let out a breath and smile.
It was a good talk.
So I go inside as well, but Cross closed his door and the room that Rosie slept in last night is dark and empty. When I look upstairs, there’s a light on. And when I go up, she’s in my bed.
She waves her fingers at me in a flirty way. “Hi.”
I wave back, checking her out. “Hi.”
“Did you have a nice talk?”
I nod. “I think we did.” And then I take my shirt off, kick my boots off and take my pants off as I cross the room and get in bed next to her. She’s wearing one of my t-shirts.
She points to it. “I found it in your closet. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all.” But as I’m saying that, I’m reaching for the light on the nightstand. And then I’m settled in next to Rosie, her face buried in my neck.
She sighs. Tired, I think. And the next thing I know she’s sleeping.
But I don’t sleep. Not right away. I play with her hair a little and enjoy this. Because it’s the start of something. Maybe she goes back to Lowyn’s house in town, or maybe she stays here forever.
It doesn’t matter.
One way or the other, we’re really together now.
Iwake up suddenly to the sound of my boy shouting. My eyes fly open and then… confusion. It takes me whole moments to figure out where I am.
And then I smile.
Downstairs a screen door slaps and feet go thudding down porch stairs. I sit up, looking around at Amon’s room, then look down at the t-shirt I put on last night for bed.
It smells like him and Amon Parrish smells like love, and loyalty, and protection, so this is quite a nice smell in my eyes.
I thought we might have a little fun time last night. I wasn’t convinced it was appropriate, but I was thinkin’ about it. Except I must’ve fell asleep because the last thing I remember is resting my head on Amon’s shoulder.
It’s amazing how much this man settles me.
I turn to the sound of boots on stairs and then there he is, holding a tray of food. I push some wild hair out of my eyes and grin at him like a fool as he comes over to the bed.