Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Of course, when he made the invitation and asked me to think about it, he added on that after a few beers at The Sneaky Saguaro, I’d be coming home with him for the night.
It wasn’t a request.
It was a demand, and damn if I didn’t just roll over and capitulate.
So tonight it’s about a few beers and some fun with the team. Jett and I will put on a friendly appearance and nothing more.
After, I will go to his condo and stay all night.
Sighing, I tell myself I’m going to do it, no more doubts about it. I pull out my favorite lip gloss to put on as my finishing touch. While The Sneaky Saguaro sounds fun, I’m really in it to spend time with Jett after.
To make myself available for this Friday night out, I had two choices. I could easily have Jenna watch Felicity.
Or, find a babysitter for Felicity and convince Jenna to come out with me. She made big steps going to the Fan Day a week ago and while she was skittish and on edge, she ended up admitting she had a modicum of fun.
As it turns out, Jim’s wife, Ella, sent out word through the grapevine that their thirteen-year-old daughter, Lucy, wanted to get some babysitting experience, under her mother’s watchful eye, to start out.
I had to convince Jenna to come out with me. That wasn’t easy to do but after much begging and pleading, I got her reluctant agreement.
A phone call to Ella and babysitting arrangements were made. Ella volunteered to come to my house with Lucy and stay the entire time, since this was Lucy’s first time and she was a little nervous. But ultimately, they invited Felicity to come to their house and have a slumber party of sorts with Lucy, to make it fun for both of them, meeting for the first time. Felicity, who is forever my adventurer and social butterfly, was beyond excited to have a big girl sleepover away from our house.
“Jenna,” I yell from the master bath, knowing my voice will carry through to the hallway and guest bathroom not too far away. Last I saw she was putting waves in her hair with a round iron. “You ready?”
No answer so I don’t bother calling again. I check my lip gloss, turn my head side to side to make sure my makeup passes muster, and put on a spritz of my favorite perfume. We didn’t go to the game tonight, but we did watch most of it on TV until it was time to get ready to go.
I wanted to be there to watch Jett in person, but I have to be frugal as to which games I go to. As a single mom, I simply can’t afford to buy those pricey tickets often, even given my employee discount.
As much as I love the Vengeance, the point of this evening is to hang out with Jett and the team at their favorite bar and start integrating into this family dynamic that’s been fostered by the owner.
I flip off the bathroom light, grab my purse off the dresser and exit my room. I find Jenna in the bathroom as I had anticipated, but she’s just staring at herself in the mirror, much the way I had just been doing.
Except I didn’t have that expression.
One of anxiety and doubt.
“Oh no you don’t,” I say, moving in quickly beside her. I loop my arm over her shoulder and grab her gaze in the mirror. “You are not going to start doubting yourself.”
“It’s not myself I doubt,” she mutters. “But the humanity of others.”
My stomach clenches from the pain in her voice. If all of the pain and suffering she’s been through from her burns isn’t bad enough, she’s had to endure stares of pity and disgust. She’s had people whisper about her, refuse to make eye contact, and even abandon her.
If anyone has reason to mistrust, it’s her.
But she has to keep confronting the hard to get to the good. I believe there are far more people out there who will accept her—scars and all—than those who don’t.
I need her to see it for herself, so I will never stop pushing her.
“You’re coming with me tonight and I’m not going to hear another word about it,” I say fiercely.
“Why?” she demands, a spark of fight in her eyes.
“Because you need to open yourself up,” I explain, squeezing her shoulder in encouragement. “You need to take chances and risks. Stop hiding behind your fears.”
Unease fills my veins as I see triumph flash across her expression. “So it’s okay for me to have to open myself up and take chances, but those same ideals don’t apply to you?”
My face flushes hot and Jenna snickers. “It’s not the same.”
“It’s completely the same.” She all-out laughs at me now, but not in a mean-spirited way. “You want me to put myself out there? Fine. I want you to put yourself out there with Jett.”