Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Are you going to go check on your sister today?” I ask him while going to the counter, where a mug of coffee and my shake are waiting for me.
“If I have time.” He looks at me over his shoulder, and I bite back the urge to tell him that he should make time. I get that he and his sister have always had a rocky relationship, but the broken woman I saw a couple of days ago needs someone in her corner. And if he’s right about her friends and his mom, then they are not going to give her the support she needs right now. “I sent her a text last night after we got home from dinner. She said she was watching romance movies and drinking the wine you had delivered.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know you sent her a message.” I bite my lip as he opens the door to let the dogs in, and they both come over to greet me.
“It’s not a big deal,” he mumbles as I squat down to give both the pups some love and attempt to hide the look on my face, because it is a big deal that he reached out to her.
“Maybe she can come over for dinner this week.” I peek up at him as he walks across the room toward me.
“Maybe.” He helps me up, then his hands wrap around my sides, and he ducks his face closer to mine so that we’re eye-to-eye.
“It’s sweet that you want my family and me to have the relationship yours and you do, baby, but you need to know that will likely never happen.”
“But it might.” I rest my hands against his chest.
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
“My hopes are always up.” I lean up on my tiptoes to kiss him, then whisper against his lips, “I need to get to school. Friday is prom, and I volunteered to help Toya and the seniors get things ready this week so I’ll be a little later than normal.”
“All right, I’ll figure out dinner for us tonight.”
“Thanks.” I kiss him while saying a silent prayer that he doesn’t attempt to make dinner himself, because Lord, the man cannot cook. I thought he was exaggerating, but he most definitely was not. So far I’ve had to eat toast that was burnt and eggs that were so overcooked it felt like I was chewing rubber, both which I consumed with a smile on my face because it was sweet he cooked for me.
“All right, get out of here before I lock you in the bedroom for the rest of the day.” He pats my bottom, and I laugh before letting him go. Taking my cup with me, I walk around the island and get a travel mug down, then dump my coffee inside before I grab my lunch out of the fridge. As I’m putting on my jacket, the theme song from Jaws begins to play from his phone on the island, and I watch him let out a sigh.
“I can walk myself out while you talk to her.”
“I’ll call her back.” He grabs my bags as the phone goes quiet, then a second later, it begins to ring again. “Come on.” He places his hand against my lower back and urges me out the door and down the walkway to my car.
After I’m loaded in behind the wheel, he drops a kiss to my lips, then slams the door, and I watch him stand back. Knowing he’ll wait for me to leave before he’ll go back into the house, I put my car in reverse, then back down the driveway. When I reach the end, I blow him a kiss, and he smiles, and the sight of it loosens the tightness in my chest, making it easier to get on with my day.
_______________
“THAT’S GOING TO be beautiful,” I tell a group of four senior girls who are adding gold rope, lights, and hanging flowers to a huge arch that will go above the photo area where students will stop to take pictures after they get checked in to the dance Friday.
“Thanks, Ms. Mayson.” Mark’s girlfriend Jenna smiles at me.
“Here you go, girl,” I hear Toya say as she comes up to my side, and I lean into her while accepting the iced coffee she hands me.
“I love you.”
“I’d believe you if I ever saw you outside of school anymore,” she says quietly, and guilt fills the pit of my stomach.
“I’m sorry. Things have just been so crazy.”
“I remember what it’s like when it’s all new and exciting, and you’re too busy falling in love to think about anything or anyone else.” She bumps her shoulder into mine. “But I do miss my best friend, and I would like to meet this guy who’s taking up all your time.”