Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
—Bindi to her mom
BINDI
“The rent is going up in June,” my mother read. “What the fuck?”
“By how much?” I asked.
“Not much. Only a hundred dollars, but I thought that you were locked in rate-wise?” She sounded angry.
I laughed. “Mom, rent going up is normal, especially in this economy. Plus, it’s not like I’m paying for the rent, anyway.”
That was another thing that Joseph’s family had agreed to pay—my rent for an entire three years.
A loud woof had me spinning around to where I’d heard the bark.
“You need to go outside, Rooster?” I asked.
Another softer woof.
“Stay on the phone with me and tell me about him,” my mother pleaded.
I laughed and grabbed the leash for Rooster. He walked to me and sat, waiting patiently for me to clip the leash on.
Once finished, we headed downstairs via the elevator, then Rooster led the rest of the way to where the outside dog area was.
“Gee took me to his friend that does medical needs dogs. Or whatever,” I said.
“Gee.” I envisioned my mother shaking her head in awe. “I can’t believe that he’s in the same apartment building as you.”
I felt a dip in my belly, then immediately felt bereft. “Yeah, but also, remember that he is moving away in a little while. He’s building a house.”
We reached the dog yard, and I let Rooster head to potty as I leaned against the chain link fence and spoke into the receiver.
“Your dog went to the far corner of the yard, I can’t see him anymore.” Mom liked to explain everything that was happening around me. It was a new habit that she’d started to make me feel not so lost. “I mean, what are the odds that you not only wind up in Texas—damn, but Texas is huge!—but that you wind up in the same city with him. In the same apartment complex. I could not have asked for a better situation for you. Plus, he’s handsome.”
“I heard that,” I heard my dad say as he must’ve walked through the area my mom was talking in. Likely by the fireplace with a glass of wine in her hand. “I’m right here, dammit.”
I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my face.
Gosh, I loved my dad.
“It’s okay, Ruben,” my mother said. “I still find you the most attractive of them all.”
My mom and dad bickered back and forth, and I kept an ear out for Rooster.
I was so lost in thought, listening to the normal background noise of my parents, that I didn’t hear the back door open and close behind me.
I did, however, hear the gate click beside me.
Gasping, I said, “Oh, shoot. I’m sorry.”
I moved over, but a smooth, silky voice said, “Don’t. I made it.”
My mom and dad stopped bickering, but I didn’t pay them much mind as I said, “Sure.”
“Who are you?” the man who’d just come through the gate asked.
“Um, Bindi,” I said, trying and failing to come up with a believable lie.
I didn’t want this man knowing my name for some reason.
“Bindi. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl,” the silky voice said.
Close.
The voice was too close.
“Rooster, come!” I called, hoping that I didn’t sound as panicky as I felt.
I heard Rooster’s nails as they clicked across the concrete that led to the back of the dog yard, then he was woofing that he was there.
I reached forward to grab the gate’s handle, but found a warm body there as well.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I apologized. “Do you mind? I need to let him out.”
“Sure,” the voice said. “I got it for you.”
I heard the gate open, then felt Rooster’s body against my own.
Relief that he was there was overwhelming.
“Come on,” I said to the dog. “Let’s go for a walk.”
For some reason, everything inside of me told me not to go straight to my apartment.
Instead, I walked around the side of the building and said, “Let’s go to our usual spot, okay, Rooster?”
Rooster woofed in agreement, and we started walking.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that the man had followed.
He may not have said anything, but I knew he was there.
We walked for maybe half an hour when my Spidey senses got even worse and told me that I was not safe where I was.
That’s when I remembered my mom.
“Mom?” I asked.
Nothing.
I pressed the button and said, “Siri, call Mom.”
Nothing.
What the hell?
I tapped and tapped on my phone screen, wondering what the hell was wrong with it.
Was it dead?
No, it couldn’t be. I’d literally just charged it an hour ago.
“Mom?” I said again. “If you can hear me, call me back.”
Maybe she was still there. Maybe I’d somehow muted it. Maybe…
“Need help?”
That same silky smooth voice.
My heart started to pound.
Picking up on my discomfort, Rooster placed himself between me and the man.
“Um, no. I got it. Thanks,” I said. “Let’s go home, Rooster.”