Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“Soon, honey,” Emma replies.
“Did you hear me, Dario?” Leo says.
I wink at my brother. “You said you want to introduce me as CEO of Bulwark at the meeting tomorrow. You think I should be proud of my position and good work, keeping people safe for a fee. Do you think I should leave out the for a fee part?”
Leo grins, taking me back a few years to when I was a kid. Now, his hair has gone full silver, and mine is starting to go too.
“Uh oh,” Rosie says, walking over to Enzo’s playpen and scooping the little two-year-old up. “Somebody’s getting jealous. Am I holding him right, Mommy?”
“It’s perfect,” Emma tells her.
I reach over and tickle the little guy behind the ear. He smiles and laughs, like he always does, flashing his eyes at me—one blue, one brown, just like his dad.
The doorbell rings.
“That must be Rosa,” Leo says.
“I bet her boyfriend’s terrified to meet us,” I joke.
Leo rolls his eyes.
“Maybe I should come to the door and make sure he’s extra scared.”
Leo laughs, shoving my arm playfully when I walk to the front door with him.
“Hey, Dad,” Rosa says, hugging him. “Hey, Uncle Dario.”
“Hey,” I reply. “Where’s lover man?”
“He’s just parking the car. I hope it’s okay, but his kid sister tagged along. Well, I say kid. She’s nineteen. Sorry, I’m rambling.”
“Don’t be nervous,” Leo says, giving Rosa another hug as he shoots me a look, but I can barely pay attention.
I’m staring at the woman walking up the lane. I don’t even see the boyfriend. Just the woman with her light yellow hair cascading below her shoulders like she’s making a statement with it. The freckles dotted across her cheeks, the rage and resentment in her eyes, a fire I recognize from my own reflection.
Her body, the curves, the way she walks, everything. I’m losing my mind. Suddenly, I realize something, a sad truth that gives a devastating perspective to all these years I’ve wasted. I never knew what real love was, but I do now, and I don’t even know her name.
THE END