Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“No, Mom,” he answers softly, “I’m okay.”
“But you didn’t eat anything.” Her voice is low.
“He’s going to eat when he’s ready to eat,” Jensen interjects. He’s now stretched out just like I was, with his hands on his stomach. “Leave him be.”
“I’m good, Mom,” Caleb assures her softly, then he looks at me. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“He’s the most polite when he’s tired,” I mumble to Jensen, making him laugh. “I think what you are supposed to say is, ‘Theo, thank you so much for staying here and making sure I’m okay.’”
“Yeah, whatever,” Caleb says, “but seriously, why didn’t you leave with everyone else?”
“And leave these two alone? Where would the fun in that be? Let’s say something happened to Sierra, and you go apeshit bonkers.” I sit up. “That makes your mother go a bit more bonkers. Which then would make your father really go bonkers. Who is going to keep everyone calm?” I wait for him to answer.
“I would have been okay,” Hailey says, and Jensen gives her a look that says he doesn’t believe a word she says.
“Sure, you would have been because I would have talked you down.” I stand up. “Okay, then. Since I’m really not needed . . . Aunty Hailey,” I walk to her, “you call me when you’re ready to come to the house, and I’ll come and get you.” I kiss her cheek, and she puts her hand on it, just like she did when I was younger. “I might even let him come with us.” I point over my shoulder at my uncle.
“As if he would leave me alone.” She rolls her eyes and then turns to her husband.
“Till death do us part.” He smiles at her big.
“Or till I kill you, either-or,” Hailey retorts.
“I’m heading out.” I look at Caleb. “Unless you want me to stay, man. Say the word.”
“No, no.” He shakes his head. “She’s going to be fine, we’ll be good.”
“I’m a phone call away,” I remind him, and he nods at me before I turn and walk out of the emergency room. The sun is long gone, and in its place is a quarter moon that barely lights the sky. The warm breeze rolls through as I walk to my truck and open the cab door.
I get in and opt to drive home with the windows down. There isn’t another car on the road. The soft chirp of crickets sounds in the distance.
As I pull into my driveway, all the houses are quiet, with their inside lights off, while some have their porch lights illuminated. I walk up the steps, and the crick in my neck starts to nag me.
I slide the key in the lock and turn it. Stepping into the darkness of the house, I bend to untie the laces of my construction boots before I’m able to kick them off. I bypass everything and make my way up to the shower. Taking my phone out, I see I have texts from Mikaela.
Mikaela:
Cleanup crew is on its way.
Mikaela:
Cleanup crew is done.
Mikaela:
I’ve got us covered for tomorrow.
Mikaela:
Let me know if you guys need anything.
Mikaela:
Wow, thanks for answering. I could be dead.
I laugh at the last message and think about replying, but knowing her, she probably has the phone beside her, and the last thing I want is to wake her if she’s sleeping.
Instead, I pull up my uncle’s number and text him.
Me:
Not that you care, but I made it home.
I turn the shower on, pull my shirt off, and toss it into the empty basket in the corner. My phone vibrates, and I check the screen.
Uncle J:
I was so worried. Thanks for not having our backs. We could be in jail right now.
I snort at his text and put the phone down before completely undressing and stepping into the shower. I put my head down to let the water run over my neck. My mind immediately wanders to Collins.
Seeing her was definitely not on my bingo card. Today, in general, was not on my bingo card, but coming face-to-face with Collins? Boy, did that throw me off. Not as much as someone I know being shot, but it’s high up there.
Ever since I came to town, I had a strict rule with myself that I wouldn’t go home with anyone who lived here. Thatcher’s has always had people staying in the area drop in to taste the local wares. I mean, I did cave a couple of times here and there with people that lived here, and Collins was one of them. But running into her was a fluke. It should never have happened.
I had spent that night in the bar with a couple of guys from work. Usually, Nino drives Frankie home since Frankie’s rental is a street over from where he lives. But Nino left really early that night, so I stepped in, even though it was in the opposite direction of where I was going. I saw her blonde hair as soon as I turned the corner, and my headlights caught her. She moved back away from the road as I slowed down to see that her tire was flat.