Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“You did?” I asked. “I thought you fell asleep pretty quick.”
Wes shook his head slowly. “Nope, but you did. You were out cold. I think I had a pile of drool on my chest when I finally fell asleep about four o’clock.”
Oh shit. I thought he’d been asleep when I snuggled up to him. Wes had a sparkle in his eyes as he looked at me across the table, and I was grateful when Joanna changed the subject.
“What are your plans for today, honey?” she asked.
Wes shrugged. “Not much, other than going over to visit Grandma.”
“Did you have a certain time in mind?”
“I figured I’d give Juliette some time to shower and get ready, then head over. Maybe an hour or two. Is that all right?”
“That’s perfect. I’ll go over and see her now and then stop back later tonight. That way she has visitors throughout the day.”
“Sounds good.” Wes nodded.
Joanna finished her coffee and stood. “All right, you two. I’ll see you later on.”
After Wes’s mom left, he rinsed our empty mugs in the sink and leaned a hip against the kitchen counter. “Why don’t you go shower first, since you take longer to get ready?”
“Okay. How’s your back feeling today?”
“Great. Thank you for last night.”
I smiled. “And thank you for letting me use you as a pillow.”
Upstairs, the shower felt incredible. One thing I missed about living on the East Coast was the water pressure. My rental didn’t compare to this or what I’d had at home in New York. I lingered longer than usual and let the pounding water unwind the tension in my shoulders. When I finally stepped out, I realized I’d done the same thing as Wes had last night: left my bag in the other room. So I walked out in my towel.
Wes was making the bed. When he turned, he froze, and his eyes raked up and down my body. After a long, heated stare, he looked away. “You should get dressed. You already broke my no-touching rule by sleeping on top of me.”
My eyes narrowed. “I didn’t sleep on top of you. I rested my head gently.”
He met my gaze. “And that turned into wrapping your arms and legs around me about ten seconds after you fell asleep.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah—oh.” He shook his head. “I’m trying to be good, Juliette. And you’re not making it easy. I can’t be on my game to protect you if I’m distracted.”
“Maybe…we would be less distracted if we took care of our pent-up frustrations.”
“Absolutely not.”
I sighed, and in a moment of utter insanity, I untied the knot of my towel. It fell to the floor, pooling around my feet. “I’ll be here if you change your mind.”
***
The car was quiet on the drive over to Wes’s grandmother’s house. In fact, he’d barely said two words to me since storming out of the bedroom. I thought about apologizing, but really, why should I? I wasn’t sorry. I liked Wes, maybe too much. My physical attraction to him was off the charts. And I knew in my bones that he felt the same way.
But yet again, my father was in the way of my life.
We pulled up to his grandmother’s house, and, as always, Wes told me to stay in the car until he determined it was safe. I watched as he scoped out the block before opening my door. As I climbed out, our arms brushed, and a bolt of electricity shot through me. Wes’s eyes jumped to meet mine, and I had no doubt he’d felt it, too. He looked away quickly, but I decided right then and there that he and I were going to have a talk later.
Inside, the house was quiet. His grandmother’s hospice nurse was just coming out of the bedroom. Her face fell when she saw us, and I knew what was coming before she even spoke.
“I’m so sorry,” she said softly. “Your grandmother just passed.”
CHAPTER 13
* * *
Wes
Engulfed in sadness, I lay on my bed, staring into space. I’d told Juliette I wanted to be alone after we got back from my grandmother’s.
I found myself more grateful than ever that we’d gotten to New Jersey when we had. Just one more day, and I wouldn’t have had the chance to say goodbye. I could thank Juliette for that opportunity. I also wondered if Grandma had waited to see me before letting go.
Despite finding some comfort in the fact that I’d gotten to see her before she died, I was in shock. I’d been thinking I’d talk to her again today, yet instead of spending time with her, I’d sat with her lifeless body as we waited for the medical examiner to arrive. Still, it was an honor to be by her side.
Mom had met us there as soon as I called to tell her about Grandma’s passing. My mother seemed to be handling that better than I was, maybe because she’d been here day in and day out and had seen how my grandmother had declined, how little she could enjoy her life. At least Grandma wasn’t suffering anymore.