Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Scottie sighs, barely hiding her grin. “I can’t find anyone who wants to work here, probably because the owners can’t afford to pay anyone but me. As much as I love this job, and I do love it, I need a little time off now and again. It would just be for a few hours, maybe two or three nights a week.”
I have a long list of reasons why I can’t work. A list I can’t share because it’s complicated.
“Easy work?”
She nods. “You can hardly call it work. In fact, if mopping is too much, I’ll pop in and mop before I go to bed.”
“I’m sure I can mop. Does it come with instructions?”
Her face breaks into a full grin. “The funniest part about this is that I do not doubt that you’ve never used a mop.”
“You know, they make robots that clean hard surface floors.”
She weighs my apples. “You know, if my boss could afford a robot, I wouldn’t be begging you to take this part-time job.”
“Have you done that yet?”
Glancing up from the register, Scottie narrows her eyes. “Done what?”
“Begged me?”
Her smile fades. “I thought about it. But that was a long time ago.”
It’s like a sky full of clouds covering my sunshine. Who is this woman before me, radiating less warmth and more of an air of melancholy?
“Scottie—”
“Can you be here tomorrow at five for training?” She recovers so quickly that I question if the sad expression is hers or just a reflection of mine.
“I can.”
She inflates with a big smile on her next breath. “Really? You’re going to do this?”
I hand her cash. “How else can I contribute to society while simultaneously standing up for human equality?”
I swear she looks ready to burst with excitement, but she swallows hard and clears her throat. “Thank you, Price. I’m happy for both of us.”
I hug my bag of groceries. “Me too. It’s such a win-win.”
Her mask slips, and she acknowledges my sarcasm with a tiny eye-roll. It feeds my smile. Who am I kidding? It feeds my fucking soul.
“Later.”
“See you tomorrow,” she singsongs.
As soon as I exit the store, I blow out a long breath. This is a terrible idea. Evenings and mornings are not my best times, but she didn’t ask for a one-to-three shift. Maybe I can renegotiate my schedule with her tomorrow.
When I arrive home, my Legos await me. They’re unfinished, just like my life.
“Goddamn.” I wince, rubbing my lower back. I’m so tired today. The good days outnumber the bad ones, but the bad ones pack a punch.
Feel everything.
I shower, switching the water to straight cold for five minutes at the end. Shivering, I swipe the towel over my hair a few times before blotting my body and hobbling to the bed. Tugging on the neatly tucked sheets, I wrap them around my body, teeth chattering, heart pounding. I question if I’ve ever been in control of my life or if I’ve simply stacked the odds in my favor.
This is what it feels like to let go of control. Letting go of fear isn’t as easy.
Closing my eyes, I blow out a slow breath. “There’s nothing to fear.”
Feel everything.
CHAPTER FIVE
TIMING IS NOTHING, IF NOT EVERYTHING.
Scottie
“Hello?” Koen answers on the third ring. He sounds distracted—short and a little out of breath.
“Hey. It’s Scottie. If this is a bad time—”
“Uh, no. Just a sec.”
There are muffled voices in the distance and scratching noises like his phone’s speaker is rubbing against something. Then there’s a click, and it’s quiet.
“Sorry. What’s up?”
Shit.
Nothing is up.
“Really, if this is a bad time. I can call you later.” I pick at a loose thread on the frayed cuff of my denim button-down.
“Nope. The time is fine.”
My nose wrinkles while I silently berate myself. I should have texted.
“Scottie?”
“Yeah, uh …”
“Hi,” he says in his confident tone. “Did you call just to say hi?”
My body relaxes as I slowly spin in circles on the swivel stool behind the counter.
“Or are you calling to cancel our date? That would suck, but I would understand. I was pretty creepy the other night.”
I chuckle. “No. I’m not calling to cancel. I’m bored. It’s a slow day in the store, and I thought maybe you were taking a lunch break. But you sounded busy when you answered. So yeah, I called to say hi.” I can’t stop smiling; I can’t tame those butterflies. “Hi,” I whisper, stopping the stool as a customer enters the store. “Hi,” I say to the customer. “Let me know if I can help you.”
“Sounds like someone came into your store.”
“Yes. I’ll let you get back to work. I’ll try to control my bored impulses in the future.”
“Hey, man! Are you coming?” A deep voice drifts from his side of the call, along with several thumps.
“Well, good chat,” I say with a tiny laugh.