Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“Honey, you’re in his truck, you haven’t been at your house in days, and I know because I drove by. First, because I was getting coffee in town and thought I’d see if you wanted to join me. I found a new antique store.” Mom fiddles with the rings on her fingers. I know she misses the man she fell in love with, but he took a turn, went down the wrong path, and never looked back. His new family became the center of his attention, and we were discarded like yesterday’s trash. I also know she’s been on a few dates; but the moment a guy will start talking about a future, Mom backs off. I’ve yet to bring it to her attention and probably never will, even though I want nothing more than to see her happy.
“The second time I did it on purpose because my messages went unanswered, and while it’s not unusual for Jace to go silent, it is for you.” At that, my eyes divert. That would be because I put my phone on silent, left it in my purse, and didn’t dig it out all weekend. “Anyway, two plus two equals four. Please, tell your brother before he finds out from someone else.” She gets up, goes to my even smaller kitchen, digs around in the freezer, comes back with ice cubes, and trifles with the drawers until she says, “Aha, you need this. For your neck.” She hands me the wrapped ice cubes.
“Thanks. And we’re planning on talking to Jace. You know how that’s going to go. He’s going to say something to piss me off, then he’ll probably decide to beat Locke’s ass, which good luck with that. They’re an even match. I’m going to have to wade in, and my brother, whom I love dearly, is going to make me choose. It’ll be a choice he won’t like, and I hate it. God, Mom, do I hate it, but a life without Locke in it, I don’t want any part of it.” I swallow back the lump forming in my throat at the thought of how everything will undoubtedly go down. The visual alone causes a shiver to slide down my spine.
“You never know.” Mom sits down and wraps her fingers around mine, holding them tightly.
“Mom, you heard about the reason we’re currently at a stalemate. He still won’t apologize.”
“And you still won’t answer his calls and have only responded in texts. My god, I have two bull-headed children. I have no idea where they even came from.” She raises her face to the ceiling looking for guidance.
“Ah, Mom. Have you met yourself?” Even if Jace or I got an ounce of something from our dad, we never acknowledge it. Is it healthy? No. Does it help us feel better about the situation? Yes.
“I know, I know. Still, it doesn’t make me happy that my two children are at odds.” I’d reply with a snarky comment about him being a crazy overprotective older brother, except she’d get upset over the fact that in a sense, she asked Jace to always keep his eye on me. He did it without holding a grudge against watching his younger kid sister.
“I’ll talk to him, promise. It’ll be through a text because he’s working, and I need to before he talks to Colt.” I take a deep breath, still unsettled about the whole situation.
“Honey, that car has given you a lot of years and a lot of miles. You knew it was coming.” I’ve yet to tell her about the conundrum, and she’s already figured it out.
“I know, but have you seen the prices for new vehicles? Even used, it’s like they’re out to rob you, and the last thing I need or want is an eight-hundred-dollar-a-month car payment. No thanks. I also know you and Jace would help, by either selling me your old car or even helping me with a down payment. Which I don’t need, by the way. And then there’s Locke. Mom, he told me to keep his truck for however long, and he won’t let me pay for anything on it besides the gas.” Her eyes get glassy. She gets it. If she didn’t before, she does now. Locke has always been an amazing person, friend, and extended family.
We never, not ever, explored anything like this when we were younger. Sure, I lusted after the man. He’s hot, and I’m not blind, but never did I think I had a chance until one night at the bar.
“Oh, my darling girl, it’s even more imperative you tell your brother. That look in your eyes means you’re in love, and with a man I could have only dreamed of for you.” Twenty years into the future, I’m hopeful I’ll have her youthful skin, her energy, and her determination. Whereas Jace is equal parts our dead-beat father and gorgeous mother, I got all of her looks—the dark hair, green eyes, olive skin color—and we even have the same freckle between our thumb and pointer finger.