Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
“I know, but it’s cold and it’s late, and it’s dark.”
There had been several drunken men who she would have crossed the street to avoid.
Shoving her hands into her pockets, they once again managed to walk in silence, but it didn’t seem awkward, at least not to her.
“How was your competition today?” she asked.
“No competition problems today. Just work. Lots and lots of work.”
“Ah, so the good old reliable work.” She nodded her head. He never said what he did, and she found that she didn’t need to know. She had learned that Antwone would tell her when he was ready, and there was no need to rush him.
“Do you have any family?” she asked.
“A brother.”
“Oh. Are you close?”
“Sort of.”
Again, all the vague answers.
“I don’t have any siblings. I was a surprise child to my parents. Actually, they had been trying to have a child for years, and then one day, when my mom was like fifty, she got pregnant. I think it freaked a lot of the doctors out at the time. I know they were worried about being much older parents, but I didn’t care how old they were. They were my parents and I loved them so much.” She shrugged and smiled just thinking about it. Candice had already told him that her parents were gone. It had dropped into the conversation a few days ago.
She didn’t mind telling him about her life. She figured she was more used to talking than he seemed to be. Antwone seemed to be more talkative about non-personal ventures than anything else.
Again, she didn’t mind. It never felt awkward with him.
“Do you wish you had a brother or a sister?”
“Sometimes. I know my parents tried to make sure I was part of everything. They made me go to every single invite for a birthday party or whatever. They didn’t want me to miss out. I’ve never been great at making friends.”
“And yet you work in a bar where you talk to everyone,” he said.
“Ah, but you see, that’s the trick. I talk to everyone and no one. I don’t have any friends.” She shrugged then frowned. “Okay, now I see I shouldn’t brag about that. I’m openly admitting that I have no friends.”
“Neither do I,” Antwone said.
“Ah, but that could be your modesty ego problem. No one likes a know-it-all.”
“Even you?” he asked.
“I don’t mind a know-it-all. It’s kind of fun to watch.” She couldn’t help but laugh.
“Are you laughing at me?” Antwone asked.
“No, but don’t you think it’s kind of fun? You’re a know-it-all, and I’m friendless. Maybe together we could be best friends.” She gave his shoulder a nudge.
“Best friends?”
He repeated the word as if it was a foreign term to him.
She sighed and then slid her arm through his, linking them together. “Yeah, we can be friends. You know, share secrets, and tell each other everything. Maybe even have sleepovers?”
“I have my own bed,” he said.
Candice smiled. “I wasn’t being serious. Lighten up, Antwone.” She sighed and then felt her stomach start to growl. “I’m starving, and there’re no good places to get food that are open.”
She saw her place just up ahead and quickly grabbed his hand before he could pull away. She marched him up the street, going to her building. Pulling out the key she turned to him and saw he was a little unsure.
“Look, I can make you those pancakes I was telling you about. That is all I’m offering,” she said.
“Pancakes?”
“Yes. That’s all. Pancakes. You know, food. It’s way too late to eat anything too big and I’m so in need of some fluffy pancakes right now.” Her stomach chose that moment to growl. “What do you say, bestie?”
She didn’t know why she was inviting him to her apartment. Antwone was a stranger. She never, ever, ever, ever invited anyone from the bar to her place. It was a firm and absolute rule of hers. Just like she never dated anyone she went out drinking with, or met in the bar. Her mother had once told her the best dates were the unexpected ones where the guy remained sober. Candice had stuck by it.
And so she waited, looking at Antwone.
He nodded. “I’d enjoy some pancakes.”
She chuckled, turned to the door, typed in the code, and released the lock. She held the door open for him and waited as he stepped into her building. Closing the door behind him, she took the stairs leading to her apartment. She wasn’t on the top floor as she couldn’t stand heights. Unlocking the door, she let him in and immediately switched on the light, flooding her apartment.
“Come in.”
Antwone entered her apartment and she noticed he was tense.
“Are you okay? You’re not like a vampire or anything, expecting to be sprayed with holy water, are you?” she asked.
“I’m not a vampire.”