Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Nicole’s nose wrinkled. “I’m not really a heel girl.”
“No, you like bare feet, baby,” Josh whispered.
Because subs got to pick. Heels or bare feet. He liked Nic’s feet. He liked to rub them and tickle them and suck on her toes.
This wasn’t so bad. How had he thought for a second his Nic would wither under the pressure?
Of course he was surprised at her ally. Her mean-girl ally.
“Maybe this town ain’t worth saving,” his stepfather stated and then strode out of the place.
“Good riddance,” Christa called out.
Pastor Mike was on his feet, hand reaching out to Grim, who shook it. “Hey, are you okay? I know we’re all laughing about that drama your stepfather played out, but it also had to hurt.”
It weirdly hadn’t. Having Nicole stand up for him had settled his heart. “I have a dad. Two, actually, and they love me. I don’t need that man in my life. I wish there had been something more for the woman who gave birth to me, but she made her choices.”
“And Abigail Barnes-Fleetwood made hers,” Pastor Mike said with a nod. “Good. You three, if you need anything, you let me know. I might not live your lifestyle, but I don’t believe love is degenerate.”
“I wish you would tell Pastor Fred at the Baptist church,” Alyssa said under her breath.
“You come by any time you like, Alyssa, and we’ll talk about God,” the pastor said and rejoined his wife.
The patrons of the café went back to their meals, but there was a buzzing through the space that couldn’t be denied.
“You three sit down and enjoy your pie,” Christa ordered. “This is on the house.”
“Chris…” Josh began.
She waved a finger. “Nope. I know you’re a little moneybags, but I get to give gifts too, and there is no greater gift than my lemon meringue pie.” She frowned at Alyssa, who was still standing there. “You going to cause trouble?”
“No, ma’am,” Alyssa replied, sounding humbler than Grim could remember. “I would never endanger my momma’s ability to get your Saturday morning cinnamon rolls.”
Christa nodded and walked away.
Alyssa took a long breath and faced Nicole, who was tucked in beside Josh now. “Nicole, I would like to apologize to you. It has recently come to my attention that I can, on occasion, be less than fair to the people around me.”
Josh’s brow rose.
Alyssa frowned. “Fine. I can be a bitch. I thought I could have my cake and eat it too, and I wasn’t in a relationship with Josh for the right reasons.”
“It wasn’t much of a relationship,” Josh corrected.
“Who told you he’s thinking of firing you?” Grim asked.
“He’s not going to fire you,” Nicole argued.
Alyssa shrugged a slender shoulder. “My mom, and she told me I would deserve it and made me go and spend time with this therapist in Tyler. I hate the whole examining my own actions stuff. It’s awful. But I meant what I said to your stepdaddy. One of the things I’m working on is the fact that when I don’t stand up for myself, I tend to put my anger somewhere else. Like on Nicole. But I’m not going to feel bad for saying what I did to Ezekiel Smith.”
“You shouldn’t,” Grim replied. “You keep standing up to him. He has no right to make you or any woman feel uncomfortable.”
Alyssa turned to Grim. “Also, I just got the cutest poodle and she’s so sweet, and I don’t want to have to drive her into Tyler for checkups.”
At least he had some value. “Bring her by the shelter and I’ll check her out.”
“Are we okay, Nicole?” Alyssa asked. “I know I’m a bitch, but I do feel bad about saying those things. Especially when I think about those Crocs. You don’t have any other shoes, do you?”
“How about you stop at I’m sorry and I’ll tell you I accept your apology and will ensure that Josh doesn’t visit his vengeance upon you,” Nicole replied dryly.
Alyssa’s smile brightened. “Oh, that works. I like my job. There aren’t a lot of places to work around here, and I didn’t like the city. The people there are… Well, I didn’t get along real well with them. I belong here, so I need my job until I lock down a man. Though my momma says I shouldn’t trust any man to take care of me the rest of my life. Mostly because Daddy is married to a woman who’s only a couple of years older than me now. I refuse to call her Mom. I remember her from high school.”
“Alyssa, is there anything else you need now that we’ve effectively put a leash around Josh’s inner beast?” Grim was getting annoyed because he wanted to be alone with Nic again.
Alyssa shrugged. “No. I’m good now. I’ll bring Brit Brit by next week. See y’all at work.”