Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 764(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 764(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
“I'm Tatum.”
Her face lights up for some reason and her faded blue eyes sparkle. “Tatum! What a pretty name. You don't hear that one too often. It's nice to meet you. And it's nice to have that house in use again. It was empty for so long.”
Now I'm tingling again, but curiosity makes my pulse flutter this time. “Have you lived here long?”
“My late husband and I bought this house... oh, forty years ago. No, forty-five.” She chuckles, shrugging before she starts going through her oversized leather purse. It’s seen better days, scarred and scratched. “It's easy to lose track of time when you’re as old as me.”
“I guess you've seen a lot of changes around here.”
“Oh, yes. Ups and downs. I considered selling the house a handful of times. Things do seem to be picking up again.”
She looks at the house next door, keys in hand. It seems like she forgot she meant to use them. “I've seen him. Romero. I was happy to find he came back. I always wondered about him. He always seemed like a nice boy.”
Yeah, we'll have to agree to disagree on that one, lady. “Did you know him well?”
She doesn't get the chance to answer before the door to his house opens and he pokes his head out. His eyes narrow when he spots me one house over, and I can practically feel the waves of boiling rage from here. “What are you doing?”
“Getting to know our neighbor.” Let him be a dick now in front of a witness.
“Hello, Romero!” Millie calls, waving. “I've been hoping to get a chance to tell you how nice it is to see you back.”
His features shift from indignant anger to… plain old anger. It’s almost like it’s such an imposition, having to talk to a human who seems glad to see him for some reason. Personally, I can’t imagine it. “Mrs. Cooper. Hello. It's good to see you as well.” Even those few words seem like they bring him pain. God forbid he has to be friendly or social.
“Thank you, Tatum. It was nice to meet you, but I can handle it from here.” I hand the bag over, and she leans in, whispering. “You come by anytime you want, sweetheart. I miss having someone to bake for. What a shame you weren't here over the summer—I had a million tomatoes to give away.”
“I'm sure we'll see each other again soon.” I'm not in a hurry to get back, but I can't avoid it forever. He's glaring at me like I... well, like I listened in on him pleasuring himself in the shower. Evidently, he has no knowledge of that, but it feels like he does.
My feet are cinder blocks even as I force myself to keep a quick pace, like there’s nothing wrong in the world. Once I’m at the foot of the front steps, he whispers to me, “What the fuck do you think you're doing? Making friends?”
“What if I was? I mean, please don't get me wrong, you're such great company.” All he does is lift an eyebrow, so I do the same. “What? I came out here to get a little bit of fresh air, and Mrs. Cooper was having problems with her groceries. What gives?”
“I don't need the whole neighborhood knowing our business.”
“You sound crazy right now. Do you realize that? You sound unhinged. Our business?” I make air quotes around the term. “I was helping an old lady carry her groceries before they landed all over the ground. That doesn’t have anything to do with “our business.” Plus, she seems like a nice lady, and I could use a little friendly conversation in my life.”
His scowl tells me he disagrees, which comes as no surprise. “She's a busybody and always has been.”
“Do me a favor and lighten up at some point.” I fold my arms, bracing myself, trying my best to forget the sound of his groans as they intensify in my memory. “I want to go into town and do a little job searching, and you need to come with me. If I don't do it today, I'm going to go crazy. Maybe I’ll burn the house down? That sounds like fun.”
“Is this supposed to convince me that you're mature? Threatening to burn the house down?”
“I would happily go by myself, if it would make you feel better.”
“You know damn well it wouldn't, and I also know damn well you have no intention of getting a job.”
“That's not true. Maybe I'd like to earn a little money of my own and make a few friends along the way.”
He snorts softly but manages to keep from laughing out loud. “I can’t believe this… you’re serious? Are you really this determined to make an ass out of yourself?”
My spine stiffens, and I lift my chin, staring at him with determination. “Fuck off, asshole. I'm doing this either way. Your options are to either come with me, or I'm going alone. Please, let me go alone. I’d probably have a better chance of obtaining employment without you scaring people with that face of yours.” I do my best attempt at scowling the way he does.