Total pages in book: 196
Estimated words: 186555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 933(@200wpm)___ 746(@250wpm)___ 622(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 933(@200wpm)___ 746(@250wpm)___ 622(@300wpm)
“Girls are fun,” I agreed with a shaky exhale. “And I’m sure you still have time. If you wanted. I’ve heard of men having kids in their fifties and sixties.”
I felt his “mm-hmm” through his chest as his hand moved down my thigh again. “You?” he asked.
“I don’t care either. I’d love them anyway.” I sniffled. “I might have to settle for a puppy though at the rate I’m going.”
His laugh was a soft puff, his words damn near a whisper, “No. I don’t think you’ll have to do that.”
I lifted my head and looked at his handsome face. This close, the color of his eyes was even more incredible. His lashes were thick, his bone structure perfectly pronounced. Even the lines at his eyes and alongside his mouth were shallow but added so much to his features, I’d bet he was even more handsome now than he’d been in his twenties. Even though my cheeks felt tight from the tears, I managed to smile at him a little. “At this point, I think I’d be happy to have someone to grow old with so I’m not alone. It might have to be Yuki.”
Rhodes’s face softened as his gaze, which I felt to the tips of my toes, roamed mine and his hand slipped back down my leg to rest on my thigh. He gave it a squeeze. “I don’t think you have to worry about that either, Buddy.” His gaze settled on mine, and the next thing I knew, he hugged me again.
He hugged me for a long time.
And after a while, he eventually pulled back and said, “I got news today. I have to leave for a few weeks.”
“Is everything okay?”
Rhodes’s nod was grave. “Another warden in the Colorado Springs district was in an accident, and he won’t be able to get back to work for a while, so they’re sending me there.” The hand on my thigh flexed. “They said two weeks, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was longer. I’ve got a few days to get things sorted. I need to call Johnny and see about Amos.”
“Anything I can do to help, let me know,” I threw in.
His mouth twisted, and I had to fight the urge to hug him. “You sure?”
“Yes.”
His mouth twisted a little more. “I’ll talk to Am and get back to you.”
I nodded and thought about something. “Is he still grounded?”
“Technically. I still tell him ‘no’ to a few things, so he doesn’t think everything has been forgiven and forgotten, but I’m letting him off the hook a little. He barely complained about his punishment, so I don’t see a point being too hard on him.”
I smiled.
But the twist of his mouth dropped off, and Rhodes said, seriously, “You’ll be fine here.”
“I know.”
“I might let Am stay, but I might not. I haven’t thought about it enough, but I’ll tell you as soon as I do.”
I nodded.
“You’re welcome over at the house any time you want,” he said, his eyes careful. “Might save you some hassle to do your laundry there from now on.”
From now on? That got me to smile. “Thanks.”
“Colorado Springs is only a few hours away. You need help, call Am or Johnny.”
“If you or Am need anything, tell me. I mean it. Anything. I owe you big-time after today.”
“You don’t owe me anything.” His hand moved back up to my hip. “I’ll only be away for a little while.”
“I’m not planning on going anywhere. I’ll be here,” I told him, setting my hand down on his forearm. “Whatever you, Johnny, or Am need, I’ve got you three.” I owed him for today and yesterday—for so much, really, regardless of what he thought. I wouldn’t forget, not any of it.
He looked right into my eyes as he said it. “I know, Aurora.”
Chapter 23
The next three weeks went by in basically a blur.
With the changing colors of the leaves, something inside of me changed right along with them. Maybe it was the sheer fear I’d experienced on the Hike from Hell that had been the catalyst, or maybe it was just something in the cool air, but I felt some part of myself growing. Settling too. This place that I had come back to, where I had spent some of my best times and the single worst moment of my life, embedded itself into my skin even deeper with each passing day.
I wanted to live. It wasn’t like that was a new thought, but there was a difference between living and living, and I wanted the latter. I wanted the latter more than anything. An entire life could change in a single moment, with one action, and in a way, I had forgotten that.
Maybe every day wouldn’t be perfect and it was naïve to expect that, but every day could be good.