Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
I sense of note of disapproval and have the urge to defend my mom. “Well, for a while it worked.” I snort at the memory. “Especially once Libby was old enough to tattle to my mom whenever I spoke to boys.”
Now, it’s a cute, funny memory. Back then I wanted to strangle my little sister.
A thoughtful frown still creases his forehead.
“They kept me busy taking her to all the after-school activities they couldn’t afford for me when I was little—ballet, piano, singing lessons.” Damn, why do I sound so bitter about it?
I open my mouth, dying to ask him about his wife but unable to think of anything that won’t be rude or invasive. And in the back of my mind a thought tries to form that I have to push away.
I don’t want to exist in the shadow of his first, dead love.
There it is. And now that it’s a complete thought, it won’t go away. It takes on a life and shape of its own.
Why is it, the more I try not to think about something, the more it taunts me?
Dex
Telling Emily about Debbie doesn’t feel as awful as I expected. I want her to know something about my past that I rarely share with anyone.
Emily’s silence on the subject is also a relief. I may not mind sharing that bit of information with her, but the details are too much.
My chest aches listening to her try to make light of being her sister’s caretaker since she was a kid.
“So, all those activities, and she settled on theater?” I ask to keep the conversation centered on Emily.
For the first time in a long time, I’m focused on the road ahead instead of the wreckage behind me. I’m enjoying time with someone outside of work or my club and I want it to remain that simple.
“Oh yeah. All those classes were good preparation.”
She falls quiet again. Maybe that’s a topic I should quit poking at.
“Did you get the full story of what happened at that party?”
“I think so. Some older boys brought beer. One kept trying to get her to drink it. Her friends were annoyed with her, etc.”
“She doesn’t give in to peer pressure easily, huh?”
“No, thank God.” She blows out a relieved breath. “I’ve been drilling it into her head to think for herself and listen to her intuition since she was little.”
Her story of caring for Libby from such a young age only increases my affection for her. Emily’s loyal. Fiercely protective. Qualities I admire.
“How’s the car been running?” I ask.
“Tip-top. Whatever Griff did to it, I think it’s running better than before.”
“He’s a gearhead. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if he tweaked a few other things besides the starter.”
“That was awfully nice of him. And you,” she adds quickly.
I shrug off the comment. I didn’t do anything special. Listening to Emily helps the drive go by fast. Before I know it, I’m signaling for the exit.
Emily
“Sorry I babbled so much.” I rub my hands over my pants. Why is it so easy to open my mouth and say all the dumb things that come to mind around him?
“I like listening to you,” Dex says.
“Thanks,” I murmur, heat searing my face.
He turns onto a narrow dirt road. Branches smack at the windshield and he curses under his breath.
“They don’t seem to keep up on the grounds maintenance very well,” I joke to lighten up the mood a little.
“I guess not.”
He stops short, jolting me forward a bit.
I take my eyes off him and stare at the rusty chain blocking the rest of the road. A small metal sign reads “closed” in big, orange letters.
Dex huffs a cynical laugh. “Well, shit. In all my planning, it never occurred to me to make sure they were actually open today.”
He says it jokingly but I sense he’s genuinely upset. “Don’t feel too bad,” I say. “I did look up the place and still didn’t notice they weren’t open.”
“Were you worried I was dragging you off into the middle of nowhere?” he teases.
“No.” I glance at my sneakers. “I wanted to dress appropriately.”
“You’re perfect.” He shifts the truck into park and glances over his shoulder. “Well, where should we go now? I have lunch in the back. Picnic in the woods okay with you?”
I glance around. We’re surrounded by woods. Majestic pines, maple trees, oaks, and others I can’t name. Some stand stark naked, their branches pointing at the sky and their leaves scattered on the ground. Not a person in sight.
Beyond the trees, what looks like a house breaks up the scenery. “What if a werewolf tries to eat us?”
“Werewolf?” He chuckles. “I’ll protect you.”
Dex shifts into drive and eases the truck off the road, parking under a large maple tree.
“Do you think we’ll get yelled at for trespassing?”
“If we do, we’ll leave.” He shrugs, completely unconcerned.