Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“Hey. Did Layna steal all your money last night?”
“And most of my clothes,” he said, his smirk indicating he wasn’t upset about it. “Want some coffee?”
“The club coffee makes me sad,” I admitted. “I like it sweet and flavored. But thanks. I think I’m just going to get some on the way home.” Then, because I couldn’t help myself, I asked, “Where is everyone?”
“Spike and the twins are still passed out. Heard Perish digging around in the garage, so I assume he’s messing with the lawn.”
My heart leapt at that.
I went ahead and pretended to ignore it.
“You want me to give you a lift home? Got nothing going on.”
“No, thanks. I have my car. Layna might need a ride when she wakes up, though.”
“I’ll be here.”
“Thanks for escorting us last night,” I said, offering him a little wave before making my way to the door.
Did I smooth my hands over my hair and dress?
Yes, yes, I did.
I also kind of wished I had some makeup to swipe on.
But I was as good as I was gonna get.
So I made my way outside.
Then there he was.
With a big plastic container of soapy water and a bunch of colorful glass bottles all around him.
Curiosity piqued, I made my way over.
“I have to know what you’re doing.”
He jolted at the sound of my voice but shot me a ghost of a smile as I approached.
“Washing the hummingbird feeders.”
“I didn’t realize that was something that needed washing.”
“The sugar water ferments. Then it grows mold and bacteria and can cause infections in the hummingbirds’ tongues. Then they can’t eat anymore and die.”
“Aw. I had no idea. How often do you need to wash them?”
“In this weather, every two or three days. In the summer, daily.”
“Wow. That’s a lot of work to commit to. I think that’s why Billie plants pollinator gardens.”
“I like doing it. It’s nice having the birds around.”
He glanced over toward the trees where no fewer than eight bird feeders were hung. Each was its own shape and style, from a Victorian-style house to a little log cabin.
“Those are so cute.”
“Cain made a few of ‘em.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, he’s handy like that.”
“What’s the picnic table for?”
“The squirrels.”
“Okay. I am going to need to see pictures of the squirrels sitting there.”
Perish wiped his hands on his jeans before reaching for his phone and handing it to me.
“Got a whole folder,” he explained as I started to swipe through them.
“It’s like a timelapse of this one actively getting fatter.”
“He has trouble squeezing through the fence now. Usually just runs out the gate.”
“Is this his little squirrel wife?” I asked.
“Think so. They chase each other around like they’re flirting.”
“That’s so cute.”
“Thinking about having Cain make ‘em a squirrel box so they’ve got somewhere safe to be. What?” he asked, making me realize I was watching him with a smile on my lips.
“It’s really sweet how much you care about the animals around here.”
“Tell your cousins that,” he said, taking his phone back, careful not to brush my fingers.
“Do they make fun of your old man hobbies?” I asked, making him chuckle.
“Something like that.”
“Well, don’t listen to them. It’s nice. Well, uh, I’ll let you get back to the cleaning. Thanks for, um, being our guard last night. I’m sorry we, uh, interrupted your night. I, um—”
Needed to stop rambling.
And feeling awkward around him.
We were both adults.
I didn’t have to feel weird about what happened.
“Gracie,” he said, his voice impossibly soft for such a big man. Suddenly, I wanted to hear him say it just that way forever. “It’s okay.”
“Like, I know I didn’t… that I did, but that you didn’t…”
“For fuck’s sake, don’t finish that sentence,” he cut me off. “What has happened was what we wanted to happen. That’s it. Don’t overthink it.”
“But I should—”
“Stay away from a fuck like me,” he interrupted again. “I’m no good for you, baby. That’s why there are rules.”
My shoulders slumped.
My heart did something similar.
“Right,” I agreed, my voice tight. “Well, see you around,” I said.
Then I turned on my heel and walked to my car with stupid, useless tears slipping from the corners of my eyes.
He hadn’t rejected me, not really. But he’d made it pretty clear that we were done with… all that.
It shouldn’t have hurt.
We were two grown adults.
It hadn’t even gone that far.
But I guess some part of me had been holding out hope that something more could come of it.
I was just… tired and overworked and, yeah, lonely.
I’d been trying to bury that under work, familial obligations, and chores. But it had been a really long time since I’d had someone to share my free time with, to cuddle with at night.
I missed it.
That was all it was.
I was overworked and under-loved. That was the reason for the waterworks. It wasn’t about Perish. It couldn’t be.
I dropped into my seat, discreetly wiped my eyes, and got the hell out of there before anyone saw me crying.