Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“Nah, I keep switching,” William answered. “So you’re going?”
“I don’t have a choice. Besides, it would be rude not to. It’s one thing to skip birthday get togethers and even a wedding, but a funeral is quite disrespectful.”
“So you’d rather mourn someone when they’re dead than celebrate them in life?”
“Yep. The dead can’t ask you when you’re getting married and having babies,” I replied brightly. “Also, it’s the only place where you can reply, “When’s your funeral?” when someone asks you when your wedding is.”
William pursed his lips, but I could see he was fighting back a laugh. “I think that’s an answer you could give anywhere, to be honest.”
“I know, but it’s more shocking at a funeral. My great-aunt’s second husband died two years ago, and her friend asked me when I was going to have a baby. I asked her when her funeral was, and when she told me it was inappropriate, I told her that the contents of my uterus was none of her business, and if she didn’t want to answer an inappropriate question, she shouldn’t have asked one in the first place.”
“What did your great-aunt say?”
“I believe it was, ‘Thank God someone’s finally told that old biddy to shut up.’”
“Not so friendly, then.”
“No, and I’d have believed her sentiment more if she hadn’t reminded me to get married before she died.”
“Is she still alive?”
“Yes. I stay single to spite her.”
William laughed. “Do you want to build a snowman?”
“What?” I stared at him, my lips stretching into a smile. “That’s so random.”
“It’s snowing. Do you want to build a snowman?”
“If I say no, are you going to break into song?”
He hopped off the path into the deeper snow, testing it out. “Don’t tempt me, Cinderella. I’m pretty good at karaoke.”
I looked at the hand he’d held out for me and reluctantly took it. “Fine. Let’s build a snowman like we’re six. You don’t have any photos of that on your magic drive, do you?”
“Maybe. You’d have to ask Mum. Where do we start?”
“With the body, I’d guess.” I bent down and made a snowball. “Like this.”
“That’s a tiny snowman body, Grace.”
“It’s not for the snowman. It’s for you.” I chucked it at him with a laugh.
William merely watched as it hit his arm and smashed. “Careful. That’s dangerous territory you’re wading into.”
“You started it.”
“Actually, no. I want to start a snowman, not a snowball war.”
“It’s not my fault you just look like you need to be hit with a snowball,” I muttered, bending over to make another. “I’ll do the head. You do the body.”
“It’s my snowman.”
“Yes, and now I’m in charge, it’ll get done correctly.” I flashed him a cheeky grin and started packing out the snowball to get it to a rollable size.
William sighed dramatically. “Over there is where we’ll build it. It’s a good spot and doesn’t look as deep as here.”
“Are you going to make me roll this up a hill?”
“I’ll help you. Just get started before I give up and opt for the snowballs.”
With a laugh, I set about putting my ball in the icy snow and rolling it. It quickly got bigger, and as the snow compacted, it got heavier. Rolling it quickly became a chore, and a glance at William showed he was having a much better time of it than I was.
That was unfair.
He was taller and stronger than I was, and while he was moving his snowball easily, I was one step away from grunting and falling on my arse.
This was a terrible idea.
Although it was good to be outside. Talking to him about a part of my childhood I couldn’t remember all that clearly had made me feel better, and knowing he had photos of my mum was both weird and comforting.
Weird because I wasn’t expecting it, but comforting because it meant there was a reason it was so easy to be around him. I recognised him, I knew him. Even if it wasn’t a conscious knowledge, there was a part of me that did.
That was why I liked being around him.
That’s what I was telling myself.
I didn’t want to think about the possibility of it being anything else. Not even with the way my skin tingled when he touched me or how nice it was when we hugged. How it wasn’t weird to lie in bed next to him.
Granted, the whole part about wanting to cuddle up to him was a bit strange, but I was steadfastly pretending that wasn’t happening and that was the end of that.
And no, it wasn’t up for discussion. At least right now. I was feeling better than I had all morning, and I wasn’t going to get lost back inside my head.
“What are you doing?” William asked, causing a shadow as he towered over me.
“Trying,” I grunted. “To move… this.”