Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 162369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 812(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 812(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
“Look, Aunt Penny!” I turn my attention to Brian, who picks up his pancake with both hands and takes a huge bite out of it. “A steering wheel!”
Laughing, I reach across the table to wipe his cheek with a napkin.
“Can you watch Brian while we get our nails done?” Lily asks her father, forgetting about the hot cousin and his car and other single men she might know. “He might get a little rambunctious in the salon.”
“Sure. How ’bout we take Shadow down to the park?” He throws a grin at Brian as he slowly withdraws his hand from mine, picks up his plate, and takes it to the dishwasher.
“Yes!” Brian squeals. “Can Aunt Penny come?”
My heart tugs as if it’s a puppet on a string. Suddenly, all I want to do is walk to the park with Alex, Brian, and Shadow to feed the ducks. I long to see if Alex gives Brian rides on his shoulders and pushes him on the swings. I want to buy hot dogs from the little truck and see Brian with ketchup on his cheeks. I want to toss the ball for Shadow and watch him chase it across the lush grass while Brian giggles and runs after him.
“No, honey,” Lily answers as my daydream evaporates. “Mommy and Aunt Penny are going to get our nails pretty, and you’re going to spend the day with Papa.”
Alex and I share a glance and a smile over the Papa nickname. I can’t believe he’s a grandfather…and Lily has a baby. As much as I love them with all my heart, an odd sense of detachment comes over me, with an out-of-place sadness that creates a lump in my throat.
Blinking back the sting of unexpected tears, I help clear the table and quickly lock myself in the upstairs bathroom, telling Lily from over my shoulder that I’m going to get dressed.
Upstairs, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My head is throbbing with an ache that matches my pulse, and I feel short of breath. But that’s not what’s really bothering me. It’s the voice I hear in my head.
You’re running out of time, it says. You’re losing them. Your life is slipping away.
Chapter 45
PENNY
“You look so pretty!” Lily exclaims as we meet in the living room. Brian is crawling across the floor, pushing a little metal car, making vroom, vroom noises.
I glance down at my pastel floral slip-style dress and adjust the sage sweater I layered over it. “Thanks…is it too short for dinner?”
Her dark bob sways around her face as she shakes her head. “Hell no. Your legs are gorgeous.”
“I’ve been walking a lot. I love that color on you, by the way. It really makes your eyes pop.” I nod appreciatively toward her fuchsia silk blouse, skinny black slacks, and heels.
“Is it too bright?”
“Not at all. You look amazing in bright colors. I’m jealous. I could never wear that with my hair color.”
“Shut up. You look good in everything.” She glances down. “Brian, please don’t drive your toys over the dog. That’s not nice.” Turning back to me, she says. “So, I’m going to drive over to Marcus’s and drop Brian off at his sister’s condo on the way; she’s going to babysit. You and my dad will meet us at the restaurant. I’ll probably sleep at Marcus’s tonight. You’re okay with that, right?”
“Of course.” My pulse quickens at the unexpected news that I’ll be spending the night alone with Alex. It’s been hard sleeping in the room right next to his, wondering if he’s lying in bed, thinking of me, while I’m lying in bed thinking of him. The secret touches we share are sweet and sexy, but we can’t hide our feelings for each other from Lily forever. There’s no way we can have a healthy relationship with this deceit hanging over us.
“I feel nervous,” Lily says in a low voice as she pulls on a light jacket.
I look at her curiously. “Nervous? Why?”
She chews the inside of her cheek. “I’m not sure. Marcus has been acting a little weird lately.”
“Weird how?” I cock my head at her, mentally preparing myself to give Marcus an earful if he’s doing anything to hurt my best friend.
“Like smiling a lot, in a weird way.”
I blink at her. “Smiling? Like, ‘I’m going to hide in your closet and watch you sleep because I’m a psycho’ smiling?”
“No, just happy smiling.”
“Maybe he’s just happy because he’s so in love with you.”
“I hope so. I think I have trust issues because of how that asshole treated me years ago.”
“That’s normal. But please, don’t let it take away your happiness. The guy sent us to a salon and is taking us out to dinner. That’s not exactly predumping behavior.”
“I didn’t say he was dumping me. I just feel like he’s been a bit off and randomly busy for the past few days. Like the other day, he went out but didn’t tell me where he was going. He always tells me where he’s going.”