Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Mom gives me a knowing smile I know all too well. “You’re right. I should give this a go. See if he can handle me and this town.” I nod adamantly at my own plan.
"If you say so, honey."
"Maybe we should check on them." I'm still a little surprised how easily my dad is going along with all of this. When I enter the kitchen, he is going through a pile of mail on the counter. "Did you kill him?" I ask when I don't see Pierce.
"Nah, I like him."
"What?" Both my parents have lost their minds. Maybe he slipped them something. "You like him?"
"Yeah." Then he smiles. "Got you running circles."
"I am not. I run in straight lines away from him." There might be a few pictures out there that say otherwise. Dad only shakes his head and keeps shuffling through the mail. I go in search of Pierce, finding him in my bedroom.
"What are you doing?" I ask when he opens one of my boxes.
"Going through your things," he says casually as though it’s no big deal, and he has no damn shame because he doesn't stop.
"I caught you red-handed."
"Not sure it counts as caught; not trying to hide it. Besides, going into each other's rooms and poking around is kind of our thing." He’s got me there. I shut my bedroom door and lean up against it.
"My panties are in that drawer." I point over to my dresser.
"Why would I want your clean panties?" He pulls out one of my many sketch pads and starts to flip through it.
"That's gross." I walk over and take the book from him.
"I licked you off my fingers, and I have plans to bury my face between your thighs soon. My face will be your panties." A burst of laughter comes from me, and I quickly lock it down.
"Stop going through my things." I take the next book he pulls out.
"You're right, there." He takes them back from me, putting them into the box. "No need to unpack when we're not staying here. We can just take all these things." Pierce checks his watch like he's got somewhere to be.
"I'm not taking all this to the B&B. I'll pack a bag."
"I'd get to it," he tells me.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I ask, giving him an out.
"Yes," he says without hesitation, and I enjoy it far more than I should, relief filling me. My body is telling me what I don't want to admit. "I'm already doing it if you haven't noticed." I have; in fact, he's overdoing it. Which I would love if things were different. Now I'm worried about ulterior motives. "Get your toiletries, babe. It appears to be all you've unpacked so far."
"I unpacked some clothes," I say defensively, motioning to the open doors of my closet, where it appears a clothes bomb has gone off. "You want this to be your life?" He's so put together. Even at Betty's, all of his stuff had been unpacked and put away nicely. His bathroom items were all lined up with the labels facing out. I only know because I shoveled them around.
Pierce glances around my bedroom. "Yeah, I think I do."
"You're a weirdo." I grab one of the empty boxes and head into my bathroom. I sweep everything off the counter with my arm into the box before grabbing a few other items and shit off the floor. I really am a mess. "Done," I chirp, bouncing back into my bedroom to see he's putting clothes back into the empty boxes. "I'll pack an overnight bag."
"You're not staying over just one night." He checks his watch again.
"Do you have somewhere to be?" Why am I the one who sounds annoyed? I'm trying to annoy him.
"No, I'm expecting someone."
"Who?" I ask as I hear the doorbell. "As in expecting someone here?"
"Yes." I turn around to go see for myself and almost run right into Brandon.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Pierce hired me to come over and help."
"Help what?"
"Move your things." I open and close my mouth. "Can't believe you didn't tell me you're engaged." I cover the ring. "I'm not going to tell anyone, but they'll know."
"It's new-ish."
"If you say so." Brandon walks over and grabs a few boxes.
"Wait, I don't need to take all this to Betty's," I protest.
"Not taking it to Betty's." Brandon gives me a look like I'm the one that has lost my mind as he continues on his task, heading out of my room with a few of the boxes.
What the hell is happening?
Maybe I am the one that has lost my mind because I stop protesting. Pierce wants to live with me. So be it. I smirk over at him, and he only winks in response, and I know I am once again in over my head.