Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Where are you going?” Harper asks, sounding utterly dejected at the idea that Chloe’s leaving us.
“She has dinner plans,” I supply, trying to save Chloe the trouble.
Harper sits up in her chair, suddenly interested.
“With who? You never eat with us! How come you’re going to eat with someone else?”
The intricacies of Chloe’s working and living arrangement are utterly lost on my six-year-old.
“Chloe has a date,” I explain, hoping that will solve it once and for all.
Harper looks at me like I’m a complete idiot. “So? We could take her on a date. Dad, don’t be such a slob—go put something fancy on and we can go for ice cream, my treat. I have money in my play purse. What does ice cream cost? A dollar? Dollar fifty?”
Chloe doesn’t even bother trying to quell her laughter. She’s enjoying this far too much.
“Not how it works, kiddo. She can’t ditch her friends.”
Harper shakes her head. “We’re her friends.”
Chloe looks to me and mouths, “What do I do?”
I wave her off, and when she escapes into the kitchen, I lean over the porch table to explain things to Harper. “Chloe is an employee here. Yes, she’s our friend too, but we can’t force her to hang out with us.”
Harper crosses her arms and leans back in her chair to sulk. “It’s because of you and your attitude. That’s why she’s always running away from us as fast as she can.”
“My attitude?”
“Yes! You get quiet when she’s around, and sometimes you act like you’re better than she is. It’s exactly how Amy S. acts when I try to sit by her at lunch at school.”
“Okay, well let’s just enjoy the pizza, yeah? And later we can watch a movie. Your choice.”
Harper grumbles under her breath, only mildly placated by this plan. In fact, she can’t resist throwing out one more barb.
“And for the record, she’s a way better cook than you, Dad.”
“Yeah, well, like I said, it’s her job.”
“Still, you could never make pizza this good.”
Thanks, kid.
Later, we’re on the couch, watching Moana and sharing a bowl of popcorn with M&Ms when Chloe’s light footsteps sound on the stairs.
Harper perks up and spins around so she can poke her face over the back of the couch.
“Wow!” she exclaims.
Chloe’s effervescent laugh makes my chest tighten.
“You look amazing,” Harper tells her. “I’ve never seen you with makeup on.”
I narrow my eyes on the TV, concentrating on the maniacal singing crab like my life depends on it.
“You like my dress?”
“I love it.”
“I’ll let you borrow it,” Chloe teases.
“Okay!”
Chloe makes it down to the bottom stair then walks right behind the couch on her way into the kitchen. Every hair on the back of my neck stands on end as she passes by, and still, my eyes are on the damn Disney movie. I don’t think I’ve so much as blinked in the last few minutes.
Then Harper’s bony elbow collides with my rib.
“Aren’t you going to say something to Chloe, Dad? You’re just like ignoring her!” she hisses.
While she might think her voice is quiet, it’s not.
“This is what I meant. You can’t just sit there in silence. Tell Chloe she looks pretty.”
Chloe laughs again. “Harper, give your dad a break. Besides, it’s enough that you think I’m pretty.”
“Dad!”
Dammit.
I’m prepared to whip around and throw out a “You look pretty” remark as fast as I can then refocus my attention on the movie once again. Instead, I turn back, and my voice stalls in my throat.
Chloe stands in the kitchen doorway with her long brown hair tumbling down around her shoulders. On one side, it’s tucked enchantingly behind one ear. She’s wearing dark mascara that highlights her already large eyes, pink gloss on her lips that makes them look edible, and some blush high on her cheekbones that gives her a healthy glow. She’s poured herself into a thigh-length spaghetti-strap dress in a sky blue fabric that’s set off by her olive skin tone.
Fuck me.
That’s the first thing that pops into my little pea brain.
Chloe fidgets under my intense scrutiny. Her features scrunch up in confusion as her smile spreads just a little wider.
“Dad.” Harper reprimands me again.
I clear my throat and barely manage to choke out my words. “You look beautiful.”
Her chest and neck flush with color.
“Thank you, Mr. Allen.”
Mr. Allen.
I’m her boss, and she’s reminding me of that.
“Have a good time at dinner,” I say, my voice taking on a stern edge all of a sudden. Then I turn back around, reach for the remote, and turn up the volume on the movie.
When Chloe leaves and the front door closes behind her, Harper shifts to face me, no doubt prepared to give me more unsolicited advice, but I hold up my hand.
“Not now, kid. Let’s just watch the movie.”
She sighs and steals the popcorn bowl from me, punishing me by taking all the warm M&Ms at the bottom before I can get to them.