Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” I say. “Don’t want to cause too much conflict.”
Those doubts I have blossom. He’s hiding something from me, and when it’s something like this, it’s definitely a red flag.
“Really, though?” he says, his smile trying to get the conversation back on the right track. “What I want is something like that. I want to work with my hands. Work with the land. Maybe make my own farm. Your brothers could be an inspiration to me.”
“Farming might be a bit of a rough go, learning from them, but they can all teach you to be a proper Evergreen Valley woodsman. Or mountain man. Or whatever type you’re willing to be. As long as you’re willing to learn.”
“I am. I might not be sure what I want to be, but I definitely know what I don’t want. I’ve enjoyed the crisp air and clear skies too much to go back to being a city boy.”
I giggle. “You’re going to miss the unidentifiable odor of the city at some point, I’m sure. It’ll become nostalgic.”
“I assure you, I can live without that.” He slurps some water. “And I also know that whatever I do, I think I want it to be with you, Serena.”
My face turns red. “Laying on the charm, huh?”
“What? You’re beautiful, sweet, sexy, and everything else I could ever want. Any future I have, I want it to be alongside you. And I want to help you find your dreams while I’m at it.”
I can’t help but grin at his words. I adore him, too, but the growing specter of uncertainty, I can’t shake.
We finish our meal, and we head out to my car. Well, my mother’s car. She always lets me borrow it if I ask nicely.
Tristian, the sweetheart that he is, wraps his hands around my waist, and pulls me close, the embrace as powerful as everything else between us.
We seal the night with a kiss, as wonderfully as all the last twenty-seven other times he’s kissed me thus far, but who's counting?
“I’d invite you home, but I think you’re not welcome.”
“And I’d invite you home, too, but I think your brother will freak out if I keep you away too long.”
“Rain check on the wild, passionate, new love-fucking, sadly.”
“Don’t worry, babe. I’ll definitely make it up to you.”
Another kiss. God, I’d just stand in this parking lot making out with him all night if I didn’t think people would start staring at us.
Departing from him, he watched me pull out of the parking lot, and I started my trip back home.
“Hey, take a right here.”
“Oh sure,” I say, without even thinking.
“Thanks, we’re going on a little side trip. I’m sure I won’t keep you long.”
I turn toward the voice.
It’s some guy I haven’t seen before.
I scream.
He screams.
For a time he just glares at me.
“Well? Keep your eyes on the road! I’m not looking to cause a five-car collision here.”
I obey, agreeing with him on that, even if I strongly disagree about other things.
“Follow my directions. Don’t make me get more forceful with my suggestions and we’ll get along beautifully.”
My brain catches up with what’s happening, and I manage to sputter, “F-forceful?”
The man twirls a butterfly knife in his hand.
Oh. That kind of forceful.
Well.
This sucks.
SEVEN
tristian
I headed home to my small apartment on the edge of Evergreen Valley. It was actually the only apartment building in the town, which isn’t surprising, given Evergreen's size.
It is tiny as all hell, but it does what I need it to. I’m one guy with no family now, and even if I can afford more, I don't need more. The money I saved over the years, I told myself, would be put to building something I could really live and thrive in. Something worthy of a family.
The Evergreen Valley way of things is to build it yourself, and that little nest egg I’ve built up will still be good for that. Lumber and labor aren’t exactly free.
On my apartment door, I see something pinned.
I cock an eyebrow as I approach and peel it off. A single piece of paper. I’m filled with dread as I see it. If the superintendent had a message for me, he'd use the mailbox.
No, this is the way of a certain skinny slimeball.
I rip it off. And read it.
Come Home, We’re Waiting For You.
I shudder and crumple it up.
I go into my apartment. I’m sick of it. How long were they going to bother me about this? I told them I wouldn’t talk. That I didn’t want anything to do with any of this. And yet they still persist on nagging me.
All further threats of drunk perverts in my life will be done, free of charge. I’m not going back.
I found something so much better in life.
I clean myself up. I’m a bit wound up by it, so I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do. I kind of want to spend it with Serena. I want to spend all my time with her, actually. But life is cruel sometimes and denies me. What can I do?