Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 40128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“I’m only a few feet away, Son,” his mother reminds him with an added tut-tut.
“It has to be done right,” Will insists. “Is your book facing correctly?”
“Yes, it’s perfect,” I answered.
“Good.” He clasps it and then turns around to face me. “Now it’s right where it should be. You better get going before I forget all the reasons I shouldn’t kiss you again, my love.”
“When will I see you again?”
“I’d like to say soon, but that wouldn’t be wise. Be a good girl and know that I’m always with you.” He presses his hand to the locket and then opens the store door, nudging me out. I walk away without saying another word and head to my car, which is good because the ass closed the door behind me.
I hear yelling inside and know he’s getting chewed out by his mom. Is it because she doesn’t approve of me, or just because of the timing? I hope it’s the latter. Driving home, my mind races and a big part of me can’t wait until my birthday next year.
****
Months have passed without a word from Will, which I expected but hoped wouldn’t happen. Will’s lack of contact aches more than it should.
“So, what are you going to do about school?” Beth asks.
“I’ve already gotten accepted to several schools in the state, and I’ve decided to stay close. It makes no sense to go far because I’m spoiled rotten by my parents and I’m not ready to move away yet.”
“Or you’re waiting for Will, and moving across the country would ruin your relationship.”
“Even if that were true, why would that be such a big deal? It’s not like it matters since I’m getting a degree I can acquire easily around the nation and it’s more affordable here.”
“True, but you are a bit pathetic when it’s for all the wrong reasons.”
“I thought you were a fan of Will’s.”
“I was when he wasn’t playing games with you.”
I hug her. “Thank you for being a good friend.”
“No problem, but you can do better than a guy who can’t be around even if he has tons of money.” I hug her, but his money has nothing to do with why I love him.
Chapter Five
Will
I’ve missed the fuck out of my future wife, but I console myself with the fact that soon she’ll be mine. It’s been six months since I’ve seen her, and the torture is unbearable. The only thing that has helped me through it is the knowledge that she loves me the way I love her.
It’s been difficult to keep my distance, but it’s for the best because I want to flip her over my shoulder and fill her with every inch of me until she understands we’re one forever. We’d crossed the line within seconds in each other’s presence, and now that I’ve had a taste of her, the need to feel her is agonizing.
Still, at Christmas, I sent her a giant gift and had her guard deliver it to the door while I watched from the safety of my vehicle because I couldn’t risk that she answered the door. The stuffed bear was meant to be a replacement for me while she slept at night. Around the neck was a necklace with a book charm because my Melanie is a bookworm and a future librarian. The angry voicemail she sent me made me smile when she realized the necklace wouldn’t come off. It has a tracker to keep her safe while I’m gone. Yes, she has guards most of the time, but that doesn’t mean shit can’t happen, especially when word gets out that she belongs to me.
Her birthday is coming soon, and that’s when I’ll ask her to marry me and show her our house. I only need to finish the final touches, which seems to take forever. Every time I get close to finishing, something goes wrong. Uncle Jackson came over and had his inspector come over to inform me that the contractor screwed up the entire electricity in one room, forcing me to tear it apart and rebuild the room and the surrounding hallway. Unable to trust anyone else with my wife’s future home, I took over the project with the help of my cousins, which meant that I couldn’t even steal moments with Melanie. I’ve been working double time since I returned from school. It’s been two damn weeks straight of nonstop work from sunup to sundown.
****
My work is finally done, and today is the big day. The day I’ve waited for—for so damn long that I could weep—but I’ve never been one for tears, even when I was a boy. Today I claim my woman. The past three weeks have been grueling, a test of endurance, patience, and heartache as I stayed away from her a little longer than I wanted to, but things had to be just right, and she hadn’t been eighteen. If I’d even heard her voice I would have cracked, given in to the desire that I’ve held onto for the past four years. My father always said the best things in life required the most sacrifice, and she was the best there could be.