Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
I close my eyes, shutting out the sight of the burning blue sky at sunset—and any attractive speck of Samuel that my peripheral vision might be picking up.
Behind my eyelids, I see my sister in a playground. I’m with her. We’re kids. She was crouching down next to the metal poles and colorful knobs of the jungle gym, peering at a rabbit she had found, a rabbit that seemed scared and lost. She kept baby-talking at it, trying to coax it toward her. I watched from the swing set with a distant, uncertain frown on my face.
“My sister Aurora is the animal-lover in my family,” I find myself divulging for some reason. “Ever since we were kids.”
“That so?”
“She went off to study zoology in Maine and … never came back. Found herself a husband and made a baby with him. I guess her dream changed.” I turn away from the window. “I don’t think she’ll ever come back now. I hope she’s finally happy.”
Samuel leans against the side of the cage and listens, his brow furrowing with curiosity. Even Luigi perks up his ears, seeming to be interested in my—Nope, false alarm, the bunny hops over to the corner of the cage to inspect something far more interesting than me. A dent in the cage, perhaps. Or the blank wall.
“I’ve been Uncle Malcolm for about a year and a half,” I go on. “I don’t think I spent more than five minutes of it actually being an uncle. Strange feeling.”
“I’m sure you’d be an awesome uncle if she lived closer.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” I find my hand drawn to my scarf, which I start to fidget with. “Anyway, I’m sorry animals aren’t my thing, but I’ll tell you what: if my dear sister was here, she’d be all over Luigi De Magic Bald-Ass-Hair here. Don’t expect me to pronounce it correctly,” I cut Samuel off the moment he tries to correct me. “I’m not gonna get it right.”
He lifts his hands in surrender. “Got it.”
I purse my lips in thought, feeling playful suddenly. “Is that what you are? A rabbit?”
He lifts an eyebrow. “You mean my animal?”
“Is it true what they say about them?” I tilt my head. “Are rabbits actually horny all the time? Mate every day?”
“Pretty much, yep. They’re also able to mate all year round. Not to mention that a doe—a lady rabbit—has two uteruses, so she can literally give birth while being pregnant with the next litter.”
I gawk at him. “Seriously?”
“Yep. Plus, their gestation period is only thirty days. Really gives the term ‘busy bunny’ its due context, right?” He puts his finger up to the side of the cage. Luigi hops up to it, gives it a sniff, then loses interest at once and hops away. Samuel smiles. “I love these little guys. That’s the thing with animals. They don’t judge. They just look up at you, figuring you out by how you treat them, not by how sexy you look or what your name is. You can see your own soul in their eyes if you look long enough.”
I watch Samuel as he stares down at the bunny in thought. “Is that what you do here all day long? Stare into animals’ eyes?”
“Whatever it is you’ve got going on,” he says suddenly, facing me, “with your feelings about … the wedding, or Bobby, or … or whatever it is, I just want to say that I can relate. I’ve been there. Unrequited love, bad breakups … I’ve experienced both. You don’t have to go through this wedding alone.”
I frown. This isn’t the turn in conversation I was hoping for.
“I can tough it out with you,” he tells me. “Like a buddy.”
“Like a buddy …?”
“Sure, yeah. Whatever you need. Someone to confide in, or … make fun of the drunk-ass relatives dancing badly. Hell, we can even talk shit about Bobby and Jimmy if you want. I don’t mind. I’ll be your ear and your shoulder.”
Luigi comes up to the cage again and wiggles his little nose, as if suddenly choosing now to overcome his shyness. I stare down at him and consider Samuel’s proposal—if that’s what it is. It’s a bit strange, to think that we only just met a few hours ago. It feels like we’ve known each other a lot longer than that.
“Thanks,” I tell him, “but not necessary. I can handle myself.”
“You sure?”
“Yep.” I turn away from him—and the cute bunny—and head for the door.
“The offer’s open-ended, y’know,” he calls at me. “Hell, you can decline a dozen times, then finally accept my offer on the thirteenth try, and I’m still all yours.”
I stop at the door. “It’s time to head back, don’t you think?”
A flicker of frustration crosses Samuel’s face. After throwing a glance down at Luigi, he finally nods. “Yeah, sure is.”