Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
I rolled my eyes at her and signed, “He hates me.”
She grinned then, and seeing that was a relief. “No, he does not. He looks at you like he wants you.”
I shook my head. “No,” I said aloud.
“He is like a guy in this book I read,” she signed.
“Definitely not book-boyfriend material,” I told her.
“What about book boyfriends?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I replied.
“Do you both like to read?”
“I, uh, me not so much, but she loves it.”
“Maeme has a big library in her house.”
Dovie’s eyes went wide, and she clapped her hands together with a giddy grin on her face.
“Seems I won her over. Just need to work on you now,” Storm said.
I sighed and leaned back in the seat. “I’ll be won over if Dovie is safe.”
“She will be. So will you.”
I turned my head to look out the window. “What if Maeme doesn’t want us in her house?”
“Oh, she’ll want you. I might even get my own punch bowl of banana pudding for bringing you back to her doorstep. Dovie will be a bonus.”
He sounded so sure. I hated to get Dovie’s hopes up, but if this worked out, it would be nice to not always be looking over our shoulder at every moment. Even if it was for a little while.
• Twenty-Three •
“Easy enough to guess there was someone important to you that you were hiding.”
Briar
Opening my eyes, I yawned and started to stretch when I realized Dovie was still asleep and lying on my arm. I blinked, and it took me a moment to realize why we had stopped, but the large, lit-up house reminded me. I sure hoped Storm was right about this Maeme thing. She had been ready to let me stay a night because I had been shot, but she might not be so keen on me and a teenage girl who was on the run moving in for a bit.
Storm opened his Jeep door, then climbed outside and stretched.
I nudged Dovie. “We’re here.”
She moved slowly, sitting up, and then her eyes turned into saucers as she took in the house we were parked outside of. I’d been just as impressed the first time I saw it.
“Nice, huh?” I asked her.
She nodded her head.
“Stay here and let me talk to Storm a minute, okay?” I told her.
She nodded, looking nervous. It had been easier when it was just the two of us. I’d been able to protect her from rejection, and for the most part, I kept the fear to a minimum. Sure, it had taken things like dance parties, buying ridiculous outfits at a thrift store, or making up an elaborate story to entertain her, but it had worked. She was getting older now, and those things didn’t do the job they once had.
Opening the door to the Jeep, I stepped out and closed it behind me, not wanting Dovie to hear. She was already worried enough.
“I think I should keep Dovie in the Jeep until you’ve talked this over with Maeme,” I told him, preparing for an argument because this man always wanted things his way and, heaven forbid, I not do as he said.
“Maeme is going to be happy you’re both here, I swear,” he told me.
I knew he believed that, but I wasn’t as certain of Maeme. “Even so, I think I’ll stay here with her while you speak to Maeme.”
By the grace of God, the man finally nodded and headed for the door. That had almost been too easy.
Turning back to the Jeep, I winked at Dovie, who was watching me. I still wasn’t convinced us staying here was a great idea, but then I didn’t have any other options at the moment. Being shot at had been alarming. Dovie and I had been in some tough spots before, but near death was not one of them.
The door opened, and Storm didn’t go inside. He remained on the front porch, and although I couldn’t hear him from here, I could see them. Maeme immediately stepped out onto the porch and looked out at the Jeep as he spoke.
He’d barely had time to say anything when she started down the steps and headed our way. The woman might be small, but the determination in her expression came with a force that commanded attention. Glancing once at Dovie to see she was also watching Maeme approach, I turned my attention back to the woman.
“Let that girl out of the car,” she demanded. “No need to keep her locked up inside, only making her anxious.”
I nodded, moving to the door and opening it. “Come on out,” I told her.
She looked wary, but she slid across the back seat toward me, then climbed down from the Jeep.
“Maeme, this is Dovie. Dovie, this is Maeme.”
Maeme took a step toward her and gave her a kind smile before reaching out and taking one of Dovie’s hands in hers. “Well now, you are just lovely,” she said, patting her hand. “You must be hungry. I’ve got plenty inside I can warm right up.” Maeme hooked her arm around Dovie’s. “Perhaps I can fix those taste buds of yours while you’re here. If you’re real partial to those Pop-Tarts of yours, then I will make you my homemade version. They’ll melt in your mouth, and you’ll never be the same.”