Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
He chuckled. “I don’t think that’s a rule. Mr. Jones?”
“My mom named our cat after a Counting Crows’ song from the nineties. Smartest fucking cat you’ve ever met. Dead now, but…” And just like that, I ran out of words. My Adam’s apple slid precariously in my throat as I finally acknowledged the inevitable. “You’re packed. Does that mean…”
“Tomorrow,” he rasped.
“Ah.”
“I’m picking Celine up bright and early. She wants to visit her family, too. It’s a long drive, and I can use the company.”
I nodded, unsure what to say. I checked my watch. “We have approximately eight hours to do…everything. Where should we start? My opinion…you need to sample all your favorite foods. Things you can’t get anywhere else, like pizza and french fries.”
Rafe bit his lip. “They have pizza and fries everywhere, Gus.”
I scoffed. “Not from Vincento’s or Bear Depot, they don’t. Those are one-of-a-kind establishments, my friend. You’ll probably be full from the pig-out session, so after, we can walk the lakeside path near campus and maybe skip some stones before we come back here to fuck like bunnies. Thoughts?”
His nostrils flared as he inclined his head. “Sounds perfect.”
Don’t ask me why, but it felt like a date. A real date.
We walked through town, popping into the bookstore, sniffing candles in Misty’s shop, and stopping at the bakery to sample the avocado brownie the owner had let his friend Jackson highlight this month. For the record, it was nasty.
We ended up at Vincento’s, sharing greasy pizza in a corner booth. We talked about a movie we’d watched a week ago, fantasy books, and a rumor that a popular band had agreed to play at The Tavern next year. Apparently, the drummer went to Smithton and there was a philanthropic component, which we both agreed was cool.
I wondered if Rafe knew how hard it was for me not to say, “You’ll have to come for it. You can stay at my place.”
Afterward, we drove to the lake and collected rocks to skip along the surface. Twilight slowly faded, painting the sky in shades of blue, navy, and indigo. I gave Rafe my Bears sweatshirt when he shivered. It was so big, he had to roll the sleeves to get a good grip on the stones. I wanted to tell him to keep it, but I was afraid that would lead to topics we’d done a great job avoiding. I didn’t want to be the one to fuck that up.
In the end it was Rafe…
He stood facing the lake, his gaze focused on the rippling water while I pretended to be engrossed by the little kids playing tag with their parents nearby.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” I replied, absently rolling a stone between my fingers.
“Do you think you’ll be busy in August? If I’m in the area and…I call you…” Rafe inhaled deeply and released his breath on a jagged exhale. “Will you be here?”
I squinted, wishing I could see more clearly. He was sharp angles in shadows, but his eyes were bright and earnest.
“Of course.”
“Good.” He sighed in relief. “I was afraid you were going to say we shouldn’t see each other again.”
Fuck, I couldn’t look at him. “We shouldn’t.”
He didn’t argue. In fact, he didn’t say anything at all. “I was thinking the same thing, but…the idea of not knowing you hurts. I don’t know how to go from this to…nothing.”
Me either.
I dropped the rock I’d picked up and moved behind Rafe, wrapping my arms around him fiercely. “You’re gonna fly, baby. You’ve got wings, the air is just right, and good things are going to happen for you.”
Rafe stiffened, emotion thick in his tone. “What about you?”
Silence.
I waited till I was sure my voice wouldn’t hitch to reply. “To be determined. I have a job and I’ll still get to play hockey, so it’s looking up.”
“I wasn’t talking about hockey or skating. I just wondered if you think there’s a way to still be us.”
Oh.
“You want me to be honest?” I asked softly.
“Yes.”
“Then…no. I’m your Smithton distraction, Rafe. We don’t translate in the real world.”
“That’s all we are? A distraction?”
“No, we’re friends.”
He shrugged me off and stepped aside. “So we’ll be friends?”
“I’d like that.”
“You’re lying,” he deadpanned.
“Yeah, I fucking know I am. Jesus, Rafe.” I raked a hand through my hair and closed my eyes briefly. “I would give anything to be with you. Anything. But the timing is all wrong, and we both know it. You deserve more than me.”
“I don’t want more. I want you…just the way you are.”
It was nice to hear.
Except I knew it wasn’t enough.
“You have me. But you have some badass shit to do, baby. I’ll be cheering you on.” I smiled wanly and reached for his hand. I kissed his wrist, his finger, his forehead, his nose, his chin, and finally his mouth.