Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Moving the bottle back and forth in front of her nose, she inhaled. “How did you cope?”
“The way you’d expect a ten-year-old kid to cope,” I admitted. “I broke down a lot. I was a kid who wore my heart on my sleeve.”
She blinked, and her eyes looked shiny. “That makes me want to give ten-year-old you a hug. Is he in there somewhere?”
I laughed and held up one palm. “No. He’s gone. He grew up into a big bearded goon. Stay away.”
Smiling, she held up the cologne. “This one is my favorite.”
“Good to know. I’m never wearing it around you.”
She set it down and picked up my camera. “Are you a photographer?”
“I wouldn’t say that. I just like to take pictures.”
“Of what?”
“Whatever. Places I visit. People in my life. Lately I’ve just been chronicling the progress at the bar.”
She hefted it in both hands, then switched it on. Focusing on me, she clicked. “Gotcha.”
“Don’t,” I told her.
“But it’s fun to be on this side of the lens.” Another click. “And you’re kinda cute when you frown. Yes, give me mad—you’re a tiger. Rawr.”
“Will you stop?” I got up and moved toward her, reaching for the camera. She immediately ducked under my arm and sat on the edge of the bed, hiding the camera behind her back.
“Come and get it,” she taunted.
I folded my arms and leaned back against the dresser, determined to keep my distance. “I’m not coming to get it.”
“Why not?”
“You know why not.”
“Because you’re afraid of me?”
“I’m not afraid of anything.”
She smiled, brandished the camera again, and clicked one more picture.
Kelly waited downstairs while I packed a bag with a few more articles of clothing, a better pair of running shoes, and my camera. Checking my reflection in the mirror over the dresser, I heard her singing to the dog in the front hall. I smiled—I really did like her voice.
And I liked her warmth and her sense of humor and her kindness. I liked her legs and her hips and her breasts. I liked the smell of her skin and the color of her hair and the gleam in those green eyes when she willfully pushed my buttons.
I liked that she’d climbed on my lap last night. I liked that she’d called me out on my bullshit. I liked that she wanted me.
What I didn’t like was that nothing could come of it.
But I still sprayed myself with the cologne she said was her favorite before I left the room. I even stuck the bottle in the bag—along with a handful of condoms.
I was halfway down the stairs when I saw her bending over to play with the dog.
That’s when I decided to go back for the entire box.
“You made it!” Veronica called, jumping up from her chair as Kelly and I walked into Austin’s backyard. My brother waved from where he sat at a big table beneath an umbrella, and my dad called hello from the lawn, where he and Owen were playing a game of horseshoes.
Veronica came over to greet Kelly, a huge smile on her face. “Hi, I’m Veronica. Thank you so much for coming.”
“Thanks for inviting me. I’m Kelly.” She glanced down at the salad she’d made. “I brought a salad, but it’s nothing much.”
“This looks amazing!” Veronica took the salad from Kelly. “Is that arugula?”
“Yes. Arugula, strawberries, feta, shallot, pecans, a little mint.” She made a face. “I’ve got the dressing in my bag—it’s store-bought vinaigrette, sorry.”
Veronica laughed. “Listen, a couple months ago, I would not even have been able to identify arugula, so don’t feel bad. I’m still learning my way around the kitchen. Come on in the house, I’ll get you a glass of wine.”
“That sounds great, thanks.” Kelly followed Veronica, who belatedly looked at me over her shoulder. “Oh, hi, Xander.”
“Hi, Veronica.” But it was obvious she could not have cared less about me as she eagerly led Kelly toward the back door.
“Adelaide cannot wait to meet you,” I heard her saying. “When she found out you were coming, she went into her room to get ready and hasn’t come out since.”
Kelly’s laughter faded as they disappeared into the kitchen.
Fishing a beer from the cooler, I dropped into the chair opposite my brother and twisted the cap off the bottle. Took a long swallow.
“So how’s it going?” Austin asked, glancing at the kitchen window. Through the screen we could hear Kelly and Veronica chattering a mile a minute, like they’d been friends forever.
I shrugged, scanning the perimeter of his yard. “Okay.”
“Veronica said you and Kelly don’t get along?”
“It’s not that we don’t get along.”
“What is it?”
I tipped up my beer again. “The situation is just difficult.”
My brother laughed. “Because she doesn’t like you?”
“Turns out, she likes me just fine,” I couldn’t resist telling him.
“Oh yeah? From what Roni said, I thought she was giving you a hard time.”