Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 93683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Sounds heavier than my goalie gear.”
“However,” Gillybean precedes as though I hadn’t interrupted, “you only need to make one if you’re going to homecoming with a date.”
“Right,” Bronny immediately agrees.
“Wait…” thrill bounces her in her place, “did you decide to go after all?!”
“After all?” I unhappily question. “Were you debatin’?” Curiosity cocks my head to the side. “When were you debatin’?” New waves of bewilderment burst through me. “Why were you debatin’? Why wouldn’t you go?”
“New school. New people. No allegiance yet,” the love I hate not waking up to every morning now that the season is in full sesh nonchalantly answers on his behalf before retraining focus on him. “So, you’re going?”
He nods.
“And you have a date?!” she struggles not to squeak.
This time when he nods it’s a bit more bashful.
Boyish.
The way I tend to get when I talk about my Slayer.
Awwhell.
We really are in trouble.
“When is it?” I cautiously ask not wanting him to hear judgment in my voice of any sort.
“This Friday,” they answer in tandem.
My retro, off white, Dolly Parton t-shirt covered shoulders sink to the floor. “I’ll be in Colorado.” Hiding the hurt in my expression is damn near impossible. “I’mma miss your first Texas HC.” More disappointment floods from me without my consent. “I thought for sure with you here I wouldn’t have to miss this kinda shit…”
“We’ll take lots of pics for you and Grams,” Gilly immediately promises at the same time she curls her arm around my waist. Her thumb encouragingly strokes my side as I look down at her in discontent. “Plus, we’ll video chat you, so you get the whole experience.”
“Yeah, jus’ like I used to back home,” Bronny adds, successfully receiving my stare along with a crooked grin. “Except Gilly can hold the phone instead of Grams.”
“I’d get her a selfie stick if I didn’t think she’d turn it into a weapon.” Chuckles from me spark a few from them eventually deflating the remaining anguish. “Alright, so you asked a girl?” Immediately, I amend, “Or boy? Person?” Proud nods are attached to me repeating, “Person is the right word choice. You’re welcomed to date whoever makes you happy in that aspect.”
“Execution? Lowkey? Cringe,” Bronny announces. “Message…passes the vibe check though.”
Cluelessness has me shrugging in confusion. “Thanks?”
“And uh…she,” a devilish grin grows in place, “asked me.” Smugness has him standing taller. “An older broadskie.”
“Runs in the Groff genes,” I haughtily chortle on an extended fist for him to bump.
“Not the time,” muses Gillian with a swat to my ass.
“Ronnie McDowell probably sang it best.”
“Definitely a message for you rather than him.”
“Look,” my brother interrupts our flirty exchange by wiggling around a cloth tote of some kind, “I got all the stuff from the school store – they have these pre-made kits and then you can just buy extra shiz, so I did – meanin’ all we gotta do is assemble it.”
“You need our help assemblin’ it?”
“Prolly.” His shoulders innocently bounce. “Ya know I don’t even know what it is.”
“We’ll definitely help,” Gilly informs.
“Yeah,” escaping in a quick agreement is followed by me inquiring, “what all do we need? Like duct tape and a stapler?”
Horror immediately hops onto her face.
“What?” There’s no stopping my brow from pulling together. “That wrong?”
“Very,” she giggles in entertained outrage. “You’re gonna need hot glue and glitter and felt pens and maybe sharpies and…” Her rambling comes to an abrupt stop. “And you’re both looking at me like you don’t even know what that shit is.”
“I know what it is, and I also know I damn sure don’t have it.”
More girlish laughs precede her declaring, “Okay, Groffs. Field trip to my house where I do have those things and other items we might need.”
“You know a field trip wouldn’t be necc if you would jus’ fully move in already.”
The sassy glare I’m hit with is growing to be a favorite. “You know a realtor?”
“I can find one.”
“Would be a good idea if you want me here fulltime, all the time.”
“Noted.”
“Now, can we get going? I remember this process taking a hot min.”
“You sure you don’t mind us doin’ it there?” Concern cakes my expression. “Sounds like we’re about to make a big mess, and I don’t wanna ruin your stuff.”
“It’s fine…” An unexpected flash of excitement is seen. “I don’t mind. We’ll order pizza-”
“Za for the win, baby!”
“-put it together, and I’ll pack a few more pairs of scrubs for the week.”
Post the three of us collecting what we respectively need for travel, I load up into my truck while Gilly lets Bronny clock a few more driving hours behind the wheel of her car, further fulfilling the mom like role I’m glad he’s finally able to have.
That I helped provide for him.
Truth is, I would’ve figured out how to navigate all this shit without her…but I thank the man in boots in the sky that I don’t have to.