Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Absolutely.”
“Awesome.”
“You know, your dad and I learned to ski together.” Memories flood my mind of two little boys as excited as Alex was today to learn to fly down the mountain.
“Really? You knew him that long?”
“Pretty much his whole life,” I confirm.
“What was he like?”
I glance at Alex. I feel like I’m treading on thin ice here, but Alex doesn’t look sad or upset. It’s as if he’s asking me what anyone is like.
“He was funny. He always had a joke to tell.”
“Mom says I’m funny, too,” Alex says.
“You probably get that from him, then,” I say, nodding. “He liked to fish and go out on the boat. Basically, if it was outside, your dad liked it.”
Alex frowns. “What was his favorite movie?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure. He liked Star Wars, and he loved action movies. I think Die Hard was one of his favorites.”
“Mom won’t let me watch it, even though Pierce says it’s a Christmas movie.”
“Well, that just gives you something to look forward to, I guess.”
He shrugs a shoulder. “Did he have a dog?”
“Have you ever asked your mom or your nana and papa these questions?”
“No,” he says quietly. “I think talking about my dad makes them sad. Especially Nana and Papa.”
“I’m sure they’d be happy to answer your questions,” I insist. “It was a long time ago, Alex. And I know that they will always love him, but you have every right to ask questions about him, too.”
“Yeah. Nana and Papa are coming to visit next week. Maybe I can ask about him then.”
“That’s a good idea.” My phone rings. “It’s your mom.”
I accept the call on the Bluetooth.
“Hi, guys,” she says happily. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” we reply in unison. “We’re headed back to my house. Unless there’s something you need first.”
“No, I’m fine, I was just checking in. You’re just now headed to your house? Where have you been?”
I glance at Alex, but his eyes are wide, and his skin is whiter than before. I have a very, very bad feeling.
“We went skiing,” I reply and watch Alex gulp.
“You did what?” Willa demands.
“Uh-oh,” Alex whispers.
Chapter Thirteen
~Willa~
“I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS,” I mutter as I throw my stuff into my handbag, stomping around my office like a caged animal.
“Don’t freak out,” Mom warns me, watching me pace. “You don’t know the whole story.”
“They went skiing. That’s all I need to know. I can’t believe I trusted him.”
“Should I drive you home?”
I glance over to find Mom scowling in concern. “No. I’m fine. Are you sure you’re okay here with the two new girls? They’re good, but they’re still green.”
“I’ve got this,” Mom assures me. “Go take care of things, but keep an open mind, Willa Elizabeth.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I mutter as I toss my scarf around my neck and hurry out to my—I mean Max’s—car. He assured me over the phone that he’d meet me at my house, and I’m going to have to restrain myself from driving dangerously fast to get there. To see with my own two eyes that my baby is safe and whole.
I’m so fucking pissed.
Wouldn’t Max know better than to take my son to the very place where his father died?
“What the hell is wrong with him?” I ask the car at large as I speed down the highway, praying I don’t get pulled over and issued a ticket.
I don’t.
I’ve also never made it home so fast from downtown in my life.
Max’s Mercedes is in the drive, and the lights are on in the house. I put the Range Rover in park, shut it off, and without even reaching for my bag or anything else, I hurry out of the vehicle and into the house to find Alex and Max grinning from ear-to-ear, standing in my kitchen as if nothing of interest is happening.
“You.” I point to Max and quickly shed my scarf and coat, tossing them onto the floor. “I’m going to need an explanation. And when I say explanation, the only appropriate answer is that someone held a mother-effing gun to your head and gave you no other choice but to take my son to that godforsaken deathtrap.”
“Willa—”
“No. No.” I shake my head and stomp around the kitchen island as both of them watch me with wide eyes and somber faces. “I’ve made it perfectly clear to Alex how I feel about this, and you should know that the last place I’d want my son is on that mountain, Max.”
“If you’d just listen to me—”
“Listen to what, exactly?” I stop and prop my fists on my hips. “You took it upon yourself to make a decision without even calling me. Max, you are not Alex’s father, and you don’t get to call these kinds of shots. These are decisions for me to make.”
“Wills.”
“No.” I stop and glare at him through the tears filling my eyes. “I’m so damn angry with you. So frustrated. My heart fell to my feet when you said you took him skiing. It’s a feeling I don’t ever want to have again, and if you can’t understand that, then I’m not sure what we’re doing here. What’s the point?”