Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“But you want to, I can tell.”
“She has a boyfriend, Ally. He’s a douchebag, but nonetheless, her boyfriend. And I’m . . . well, you know.”
“Kyler, you don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re a catch. You’re going places in life. You won’t ever have to depend on welfare to pay your bills or to put food on the table for your family. But you do need to be careful. The puck bunnies only want one thing.”
“I’m aware.” I don’t need to tell her Thea isn’t like the girls who hang out at the rink or come to the parties, and not all the females I talk to are either. But there are a few out there. Ally could’ve easily been one of them. She used to hang out at the rink all the time, waiting for me to finish practice. I know she dated a few of the older guys before she got involved with Lacey’s father.
“I worry about you,” she tells me. “I don’t want to see someone taking advantage of you.” What she really means is she doesn’t want someone taking time away from Lacey. I love my sister, but like my mother, she depends way too much on me.
“Can you let Mom and Lacey know it’s time to eat?”
Ally nods and kisses me on my cheek before leaving. I look at the spread and snap a picture of everything. I’m pretty damn proud of myself and know Thea would appreciate the effort I put in. She’ll also be happy to know I’m not alone today. She asked me a half dozen times what I was going to do today, and each time the answer was nothing. We’re not a big holiday family. When you grow up as poor as we did, these days don’t mean anything but heartache. I wasn’t a kid who got excited for Christmas or my birthday. Those are just days of the week to us. Ally and I do everything we can to make sure Lacey is taken care of, though. She knows what it’s like to have a birthday party and have presents under the tree. Christmas with my niece is magical and something I look forward to. Plus, the handmade gifts she gives me are the best, and I have them hanging on my wall.
Lacey and my mom come into the kitchen. My mom’s eyes widen at the spread in front of her. She’s sober today, which is great. But, most days, she’s tipping the glass a bit too much. It bothers me because that’s money she could be using elsewhere. But she’s never saved a damn penny in her life. The check comes in, and it’s gone—nothing for the next week except struggle.
“Uncle Ky, did you make all of this?” Lacey asks as I hold the chair out for her.
“I did.”
“Hey, I helped,” Ally blurts out.
“Smashing some potatoes isn’t helping.” I point out. “Besides, you were only in here to gossip.”
“I love gossip,” Lacey says excitedly. “Can I have some?”
The three of us laugh. Lacey brings so much laughter to our lives. It’s hard to imagine where I’d be without her. She’s definitely given me a purpose to work harder and be a better man, and she’s shown me a bit of what it will be like when I’m a father. If I ever get the chance.
My mom insists on saying grace, which makes Lacey laugh. But, unfortunately, her giggles are infectious, and my mom ends up snorting halfway through her words. As soon as my mom says “amen,” Ally and I do as well, but Lacey mumbles something like almond.
“Well, let’s eat,” I say, much to the satisfaction of the women around me.
After the kitchen is cleaned and Ally has taken my mom and niece back to their place, I finally decide it’s time to relax. I figure I can catch the tail end of the football game or something or at least work on some homework. I have a paper due next week, and I could get a head start on it instead of leaving it until the night before. My professor might appreciate the extra effort. As soon as I sit down on the couch, I open my social media app and start to scroll. I have purposefully stayed off my phone all day to avoid the temptation of texting Thea. We’ve started a friendly little chat on text, and while I’d love to continue it, I don’t want to interrupt her time with her family. I’m sure she misses her parents. Only, she’s not just with her family, but Adam and his family as well, and they’re looking awfully cozy. The picture before me shows the gorgeous woman who I want to get to know better. The one I kissed with such abandon and slept next to, in what had to be one of my best night’s nights of sleep in a long time, sitting next to her douchebag boyfriend. They look cozy. Too cozy if I’m honest. They look like they’re in love. In one image, they’re together, with DBA’s arm around Thea, and in the next, he’s looking at her like she’s the last woman on earth and she’s meant for him.