Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Some boxes were labeled with Hux's name, and those made me feel some kind of way before I reasoned that Larkin would probably want to have things that belonged to her father when she got older.
The gifts under the tree were already things bought by people in town long before I reached out to Adalynn. The woman owed me a favor for almost getting me arrested last month, but she went above and beyond my expectations with what she was able to set into motion with a few phone calls.
I knew from listening in on prior conversations that Larkin makes out like a bandit at the holidays, and it's the one time that Claire doesn't argue about people getting into her business. I know the reasoning behind that. She's a prideful woman but she also doesn't want her little girl to suffer because of it. It killed me to watch that battle play out on her face earlier.
The bar parking lot has a few vehicles I recognize and several I don’t, but the place doesn't look like it's packed. Of course, there's no telling how many people are inside because nearly every college student who frequents the place walks from campus.
I pull in a breath of relief when I step inside to see only about twenty or so people.
The jukebox blares an older country song, but everyone seems content to just stand around on this Monday evening rather than dance and get crazy.
"You're not supposed to be here," Maggie says when I make it around the bar.
"Tell me about it," I mutter.
"You're not supposed to be here."
I look over at Corbin who is sitting at the bar. He didn't used to spend much time here, but he's been coming a little more often in the last month or so. I thought it was for Claire, something that had the power to make me see red, but Corbin was part of the plan today, agreeing to keep Claire busy a little later if we needed more time. Thankfully, we didn't, but the man knew I was taking her home to a pretty tree. He fully expected me to still be there with her.
"She didn't like it?" he asks as I grab a bottle of water from the fridge behind the bar.
"She loved it," I tell him because I know she did. What makes Larkin happy makes her happy, but it's more complicated than that.
If Claire wants to go to work tomorrow and spill her guts about how she feels to this man, I can’t stop that, but he won't get me to speak about her when she's not present. I know she hates that more than anything else. It's bad enough that everyone gets into her business, but I get the idea that she feels like everyone whispers about her failures behind her back as well.
I get to work because it's the only thing I can actually do about this situation.
If I thought forcing my way into her house and demanding that she just let me take care of her and Larkin would work, I never would've left. My chest wouldn't have had to constrict with every inch of physical distance I put between us.
I also have to consider that maybe she isn't just acting this way because she wants to protect her heart. Maybe she really isn't interested in a relationship. My heart skips a beat, pain lashing at me at the mere thought of this not working out with her.
Waiting and being patient is a struggle, but until now, I never considered that her yield signs were actually stop signs that I've been sliding through.
"Don't do that."
I look up, finding Corbin with a sad smile on his face. Confused, I look down at my hands but quickly realize he isn't talking about what I'm physically doing right now.
"She's been happier at work the last couple of weeks."
I dart my eyes down both sides of the bar, but he's the only one right in front of me with several empty stools on either side of him.
I shake my head, wanting so badly to grill him about her, but I know doing it would go against her wishes. If there was any way to ruin what we could have, it would be that.
Shit. I overstepped today with the damn Christmas tree in a big way. Although she'd never demand it be taken from Larkin, it doesn't mean that she's in any way overjoyed. It was bad enough when I went into her yard for that damn battery. Today, I went into her home, and I know how I'd feel about someone doing that to me, even if they had the best of intentions like I did.
"She's been smiling more," Corbin continues when I refuse to ask questions.
I know I'm splitting hairs here, but it feels like less of a violation to let the man talk. Maybe something he says will help me find a solution a little less heartbreaking than walking away and giving her the space she's demanding.