Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
What could I say? Nicole had become very important to me over my time dating Alex, and in the few weeks since she and Alex moved in, she’d changed. She laughed more, joked with the same cutting wit as her son, and seemed to almost glow with happiness. Alex noticed it as well. We’d spoken about it a few times, and both assumed the change came from stress relief. Specifically, the relief of no longer living under the same roof as Kenny.
“Good afternoon and welcome to Meridian. Table for two today?”
I turned to the hostess booth where a blonde-haired woman, maybe a few years younger than my twenty-five, stood holding a pen and a clipboard.
“Yes, two.” I smiled at her, and her cheeks turned pink. I swear she straightened and pushed her chest out as she batted her lashes.
“Excellent,” she practically purred. If she weren’t careful, the pearly buttons on her white Oxford shirt would pop off and risk taking out an eye.
“Do you prefer indoor or outdoor seating?” She tucked her glossy lower lip between her teeth as she waited for my answer.
Sorry, toots, your effort was wasted on me. Even if I had a thing for the ladies, I only had eyes for Alex. Now, if he wanted to bite his lip and look at me with fuck-me eyes, I’d be all for it, but this woman was out of luck.
I turned to Nicole, who answered, “Outdoor, please.” Narrowing my eyes, I stared until she swatted my arm. “This has nothing to do with my wheelchair, promise. I much prefer sitting outside on beautiful days like this.”
“As long as you’re not making concessions because you think it will be easier for someone else.”
This time, she squeezed my hand in a motherly fashion. “Promise I’m not. You’re too sweet.” Her gaze flicked to the hostess’s, where it turned a bit hostile. “It’s no wonder my son is so in love with you.”
To keep a loud bark of laughter from escaping, I pressed my lips together and ended up making a strangled snorting sound. Nicole was too funny. I turned back to the hostess. “Outdoor table, please.”
She wrote something on her clipboard, no longer making eye contact, then said, “Please follow me.” Her cheeks remained pink, but now it appeared to be from the embarrassment of an incorrect assumption rather than interest.
“Your mama-bear routine is a little scary,” I whispered to Nicole as I gestured for her to follow the hostess ahead of me.
She winked and did just that with a confidence I’d yet to see from her. Alex was going to love this story. I couldn’t wait to see him later so I could tell him. Yep, I’d become that guy. The one who couldn’t go a few hours without telling every detail of my day to my man.
And I loved it.
“Is this acceptable?” the hostess asked as she stopped beside a four-person table set beside a beautiful hedge of peach-colored roses.
“Perfect, thank you.”
Without us having to ask, she removed two chairs from one side of the table, allowing Nicole to drive her chair up to the table without difficulty.
“Your server will be by in just a moment,” she said as she set a menu in front of each of us. “Enjoy your lunch.”
“Thank you,” Nicole responded, which I parroted. After the hostess left us alone, Nicole opened her menu with unsteady hands. Her fine motor coordination wasn’t stellar, but I’d learned the hard way not to jump in and help. The woman was nothing if not independent—now I knew where Alex got it from—and did not appreciate things being done for her. She’d told me last week that she preferred to do anything and everything she could on her own, even if it took her ten times as long as a fully non-disabled person. So, I let her struggle turning the pages and focused on my own menu.
“How was your first week of classes?”
I glanced up from my menu and couldn’t keep the grin off my face. “Good. Great, actually. It’s been a while since I was in school, so the new routine will take a little getting used to, but I don’t have a single class I don’t like.”
“That is wonderful, Ryder. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you,” I croaked. A lump rose in my throat that I couldn’t swallow down. Where was our server with some water? My parents weren’t the type to give compliments. Not the ones that made you feel warm and fuzzy inside like Nicole’s did. They said things like, “Well done” or “as expected,” but I don’t think they ever claimed to be happy for me or proud of me. In the short time since Nicole and Alex moved in with me, I’d heard her tell him how proud she was no less than a dozen times. Hell, she’d said it to me almost as often.