Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 555(@200wpm)___ 444(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 555(@200wpm)___ 444(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
It wasn’t the sort of thing I could just believe in a moment, but I could see the conviction in his expression as he spoke, and I couldn’t deny that, had I stayed, I would have missed what had truly become the best part of my life.
“Seems easier for you to say than for me to believe,” I admitted.
“Well, fortunately, I have plenty of time to convince you.”
The strength in his voice as he spoke the words and the way he held me didn’t leave much room for me to doubt that, at the very least.
Eventually, we said screw the two-at-a-time rule, and I snuck James in with Cheri and Mel.
If they wanted me to pick who would stay, they’d have to put up a stink about it, because I couldn’t do this without James. But no one bothered us, and as the hours passed without change, Cheri and Mel eventually went to a hotel nearby, leaving just James and me. At some point I fell asleep in my chair, and when I woke, it was light out again.
“Fuck,” I muttered, then saw the box of doughnuts near me with a coffee and a passed-out James in the opposite chair. As much as I’d bawled on him the night before, I could have cried just seeing him, sticking by my side, having gotten me doughnuts.
I opened the box to see the goddamn crullers. I was too emotional for this kind of sweetness. Although, I was starving too, so I devoured them as quickly as I could shove them down my throat before I heard him stir.
He turned to me, smiling at my mouth being stuffed.
“Don’t say a goddamn thing,” I warned him, hardly able to say the words with how much cruller I had shoved in.
He raised his hands before him in surrender. “Not touching this one, for sure.”
“You didn’t go to work?”
“This is what subs are for.” He winked, and I glanced around, ensuring we were alone before I said, “I love you, James.”
“I love you too.”
And fuck anyone who didn’t get it. Fuck anyone who tried to stand in our goddamn way.
We spent the remainder of the day at the hospital.
James was good enough to bring my books from school, more than willing to bring me anything I needed. But just him being there was beyond enough.
Taryn and Ben came by after school for a few hours, Mel and Cheri as well, and we played a few card games and Catch Phrase before things wound down.
Another day without Uncle Tex regaining consciousness.
Another day reminded that my mother didn’t give a shit about her own blood.
Another day I feared our time at the fair might have been my last to spend with my uncle.
Sometime later, I said, “Go home, James. You have to work tomorrow.”
“I haven’t taken off any time this year. It’s fine. Come over here.”
He didn’t have to ask twice. I went to him, and he patted his lap. I checked the nearby curtain before settling in on his leg, his arms naturally folding around me, our foreheads pressing against one another’s.
I let the tears fall as he pushed soft kisses against my lips. It took me a moment to find the strength to return them.
I did my best to keep aware of the curtained-off entrance, to make sure we remained alone, a reminder that we couldn’t truly let go and abandon ourselves to this moment.
There would be time for that later, I told myself, yet after what happened with Tex, I couldn’t help but reflect on how precious each moment was, how I had to take advantage of it with my all.
“Guess we’ll have to save that trip for another time.”
He caressed his hand across my scruff. “It’s fine. We have all the time in the world now.”
“I don’t know that I’ve ever been this scared for him my whole damn life, James.”
“I believe it. It’s okay to be scared.”
And I knew I could be scared with him, that he would protect me and keep me safe while I was weak.
“I love you, James.”
“I love you more.”
A sound caught my attention, and my eyes shifted to the curtain. I leaped off James, not really thinking it through, and tripped on the leg of an adjacent chair. I went tumbling back, catching myself in an awkward position, my hand firmly grasping the arm of one of the chairs we’d dragged in to accommodate everyone in our crew. Once I realized I was safe, I glanced around for the source of the sound, and saw Tex watching me, a broad grin on his face, the sort that let me know he’d seen far too much. His eyes lit up in that familiar way he had when he smiled.
“Looks like we’ve been caught,” I noted, pushing back to my feet, unable to make my stumble look cool in any way.