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)
When I answered the phone with a sleep-riddled voice to say hello, Dad was on the other end of the line and said he’s sorry, but there’s another pile-up on the interstate. They’re desperate, the money is too damn good to pass up, and since my truck has a flatbed and a hook, I can tow two vehicles at the same time, making Locke & Key more appealing. Mom piped in and told me to be careful; no amount of money is worth her boy getting hurt. I told her I’d do my best and said I’d be out the door in no time.
I got dressed, being as quiet as a mouse, in a shirt, boxers, socks, and jeans, doing it all in the walk-in closet with the door closed and the light off. From there, I completed the rest of my morning routine, including brushing my teeth, and every time I’d get a chance to look at Jade, I did.
Right now, I’m standing at the foot of the bed, needing to get on the road but struggling to do so. What Jade gave me last night, what I gave her, and I don’t mean in the physical sense, it’s only a matter of time till I give her the words, give her a ring, give her the wedding she wants, and a few babies along the way.
Christ, her mom is right, and while I agreed to wait till this weekend for us both to have a conversation with Jace about our relationship, that’s not gonna happen. Shit is gonna come to a head, he’s gonna say shit he doesn’t mean, and then he’ll make my woman cry. I’ll get mouthy, he’ll get cocky, and while I’ll let him get one solid lick in, that’ll be the only one he gets.
We’ll for sure have a brawl, and I don’t want or need Jade seeing that. This will be nothing like the ones we’ve had in our youth or in our twenties. There’s a hell of a lot more at stake. Back then, it was kid stuff, one of us outdoing the other, stupid quarrels, pissing each other off by beating the other at a game of pool. And then there was a time Jace got his panties in a bunch because the girl he had his eye on tried to go after me. It didn’t matter that I told her to back off or that my hands were in the air when he came barreling through the shared house we’d been renting together. His fist went flying, and mine went flying right back. I had a black eye, and he had a busted lip. The chick left, and we laughed about it afterwards.
That was our last big fight. We grew up, didn’t let shit bother us, and we talk shit out.
Jade, though, she’s a different story, and I’m not sure if he’ll ever forgive me or if our friendship will weather the storm, this storm that’s brewing fast and wild.
I shake the thought away. I need to focus on work. I’ve got a reason to come home, and she’s asleep in my bed, smelling like me and wrapped in my sheets. I make my way toward her. She’s moved, kicking the sheet down until it’s only covering her ass and legs. Jade is on her stomach, and if I had time, I’d slide the whisp of the fabric away from her, place her on her knees, and take her from behind. Since that’s off the table, I gently sweep her long dark hair away from her face and slide the tip of my finger along her jaw.
“Fuck.” She lets out a low sigh, burrowing deeper into her sleep and not shaking me off. I bend down, careful not put any weight on her or the bed, and place a kiss on her bare shoulder.
“Love you, sugar,” I say the words into the quiet room. She can’t hear, not yet. Soon, though, very fucking soon, she will. With one last kiss and one last look, I stand up. The tightening in my chest, the fire in my stomach, and everything in between are telling me to stay. Shit, this job isn’t for the weak, that’s for sure.
I make a promise to myself to get back to Jade as fast as I can and in one piece. Before I walk out the door, I take a slight detour into the kitchen. There isn’t enough time to brew a pot of coffee, plus it’ll wake up Jade. My woman likes her coffee, and at the slightest smell of it brewing, it’ll have her up for the day. It’s bad enough I’m awake; her being up at nearly five o’clock in the morning is absolutely unnecessary. There’s a pad of paper and pen that she keeps on the counter to write a list for groceries or to doodle when she’s on the phone. It’s coming in handy for me today.