Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“Thank you, Nanna.”
“It wasn’t that awful was it?” she asks, her expression saddening.
“What?”
“Being here? Taking care of me? I meant that when I said if I thought I could find a way to get rid of you, I would. For your own sake.”
“It’s just ’cause I’m stronger and won’t listen,” I tease.
“No jokes right now, Timmy. I’m being serious. Has it been all that horrible having to put up with me all these years?”
I can tell she wants me to be honest, but I can also see the pain in her face. Like it will kill her to know that I’ve been unhappy for all these years.
“They haven’t been easy,” I say. “But I chose to be here because I love you, and I care about you. And being with you has meant the whole world to me because you’re the only reason I ever had for doing anything at all with my life.”
Her lips curl upward.
“Thank you for saying that,” she says before hugging me.
“Now, have fun and wear protection.”
“Nanna!”
She pulls away and shrugs. “Just trying to keep things safe.”
I finish getting ready and play some rummy with Nanna before I hear a knock at the door.
It’s him.
My man.
My beautiful man.
I hurry to the door and open it.
Mark stands on the porch, looking so much hotter in a button-up and tie than I could ever hope to. He was fucking made to look like he belongs in his mother’s environment.
But the way he checks me out makes me feel more confident about how I look.
“Look at you,” he says. “Don’t you clean up nice.”
I’m blushing again. I want to fucking punch myself. I don’t ever get like that. What have you done to me, Mark? You’ve fucking broken me, and I sure as hell don’t want to be fixed.
“Shall we walk arm-in-arm to the car?” Mark asks with a big grin across his face.
“Whatever,” I say.
He comes in for a minute to chat with Nanna before we head out in his car together and drive to the steakhouse he made reservations at.
When we arrive, the host takes us to our table.
I keep checking around at the décor. It’s a nice place. Way too nice of a place. White tablecloths are covered with so many fucking dishes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many dishes on such small tables in my life. An orchestra plays on the other side of the restaurant before an empty space where a few couples are dancing to the slow song that’s playing.
I check out the menu on the table, and when I see the prices, I want to hop up and leave.
“Mark,” I say. “The steaks are all like fifty bucks.”
“So?” he asks. “I wanted to celebrate everything that’s happened. It’s all on me. Just don’t order wine or go crazy with that, and we’ll be fine.”
As I pick up the menu, I’m shaking.
I’d never come somewhere like this on my own.
I take a few deep breaths, trying to find the cheapest item on the menu, which isn’t easy.
“If you order the goddamn chicken,” he says, “I’ll kill you.”
I check the price and it’s only like thirty dollars.
“Well, we aren’t at McDonald’s.”
He laughs.
“Please enjoy this,” he insists.
I remember what Nanna said back at the house about enjoying myself.
A few more deep breaths.
“Sorry,” I say. “I think I’d feel better if I hadn’t just given up my main source of income. How did you even find out about this place?”
“They host a bunch of functions I’ve attended with Mom, so you know…”
“Oh, makes sense.”
A bunch of rich guys can certainly afford to drop some cash on a restaurant like this, and as I check the wine menu, I can tell that they drop even more money on their drinks.
“It’s definitely not like going to The Independent,” I joke about my new place of employment. “A beer’s like five bucks.”
Mark chuckles.
The way he’s looking at me, I can tell he thinks it’s cute having me in an environment I’m not comfortable in, which is a rarity for me.
His smile helps soothe me, though.
30
MARK
I knew Tim would stress out about the money, but I wanted him to have a good time tonight.
He deserves it. I’m so proud of him for starting this new job. That he’s moving his life in a direction he’s proud of…a direction I can see has made him happier even over the course of a week and a half.
We haven’t been quiet about our relationship, either. We’ve gone out to a few parties together and hung around my friends without stressing about it getting out. Even if people do make a big deal about his past and my connection, I love him, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks.
When the waiter arrives to take our orders, Tim fidgets uneasily with the menu as he orders his steak.