Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 163089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 815(@200wpm)___ 652(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 815(@200wpm)___ 652(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
“Yeah.”
“Mine loves diamonds.”
“Can you get her diamonds?”
“No, silly.” A soft laugh escapes him, light as a breeze shifting through the leaves overhead.
Something fascinating happens then. His cheeks crease, and two dimples appear, framing his face like a magic spell.
They turn shallow when he speaks. “I’m still too young.”
“Then how about your dad?”
He pouts, his laugh instantly disappearing.
No. Why are the dimples gone? I like it when he laughs and stirs a beautiful sound in the air.
The boy shifts closer to me, grass staining his knees so that they’re as green as his eyes. No, they’re not as bright or sparkly.
His mouth trembles into a small, reluctant downturn, like he’s trying not to show how much it stings. “My parents are getting divorced.”
“Why?”
He shifts forward further. “Mom said Daddy gets rid of anyone he doesn’t like anymore, and he just doesn’t like the two of us now, so we have to leave for a new home. Mom said he wants to have a new family.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, even though I don’t really know what that word means. I hear Mom say it all the time to people in our neighborhood, and it seems to make them feel better.
“It’s okay. At least I’ll always have Mom.” He jumps up, a grin curving his lips, and he extends both arms above his head. “When I grow up this big, I’m gonna make lots of money and buy her all the diamonds in the world.”
I stare up at him as the sky and wandering clouds frame his face and the dimples, making him look so pretty.
Like a prince.
A fairy prince.
“You can do that?” I ask. “Buy all the diamonds for your mom?”
“Sure can. I’ll be richer than Daddy, and I’ll never kick her out of my house.”
“Me too.” I push myself up, my body angling toward his. “I’ll be richer and bigger than Dad and make Mom proud.”
“Yay! We can be rich together.” He slings an arm over my shoulders, a broad grin breaking across his face.
He smells like the woods and roses, like something sweet and soft.
A small smile tugs at my lips before I can stop it.
I don’t really smile much. My teachers have told Mom I’m a withdrawn child. Bright but quiet. Intelligent but not social.
It’s not that I don’t want to smile, I just don’t like smiling for no reason like other kids do.
But this fairy-like boy is different. His hyper energy is contagious, and I want to be friends.
See what he does aside from climbing trees.
Maybe I’ll be able to smile more if he’s my friend.
“Wow. You look so pretty when you smile.” He places his pointer and middle fingers at the corners of my mouth and pulls. “You should smile all the time—Oh, found you!”
He releases me and chases a squirrel, who climbs a tree before he can reach it.
“Do you live here?” I ask in a low tone.
Maybe he’s my brother.
Dad said I can’t meet them, but this boy was right here in the tree. I couldn’t ignore him.
The boy shakes his head, his gaze drifting up to the branches above. “I came to play with Leo, but he’s sick, so I’m just having fun on my own.”
I follow him as he slowly circles the tree. “Who’s Leo?”
“Uncle Andrew’s son.”
Dad’s son? One of my brothers?
“Are you Leo’s cousin?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know him?”
“Dad and Uncle Andrew are friends, so Leo and I are friends, I guess. But Leo’s always so sick lately, and I don’t think he’ll be able to go to school anymore.” He stops abruptly, spinning back toward me, and I catch myself before I collide with him. “Why are you here?”
I lift a shoulder, not wanting to seem too uncool by talking about my parents fighting.
“Come on.” He straightens. “Why can’t you tell me?”
My gaze flits to the flowers in my hand.
The boy looks to either side of him, then leans in to whisper, “Is it a secret? Is it? I can totally keep a secret. I swear.”
“It’s not a secret.”
His shoulders hunch. “Then you can tell me.”
“Well, it’s my birthday, and Mom brought me here to see my dad. That’s all.”
His eyes widen, excitement bursting through them like a rush. “Your dad lives here? Are you going to live here, too? Will I see you when I come over?”
“I don’t…think so. My mom and dad don’t live together.”
“Aw.” He pats my shoulder softly. “They divorced, too?”
“I guess.”
“That’s okay. We can still be friends, right?”
I nod once.
“Yay!” He hugs me close, squeezing me so tight it hurts a bit, then he pulls away. “Not many people want to be my friend.”
“No way. You’re so pretty.” I bite my lip after I say that, and I feel my ears heating.
“Pretty like a girl.” His lips push forward in an exaggerated little sulk, his eyes flicking up to check if I’m watching. “I hate it when people say that.”