Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 106538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
She wraps her arms around my waist. “Thanks for loving my dad and me.”
Tears burn my eyes just as something in the window moves. Tia folds her arms over her chest, eyeing me with displeasure, and I know I have to get out or go all in.
Lola is Ozzy’s world. Maybe they can be mine. And perhaps that’s all I’ll ever need.
“I think your dad is bringing you to my house later.” I release Lola.
“Yeah.” Lola tips her head back, surveying the sky. “But Nana said it’s supposed to rain.”
“Hopefully not.” I open my car door, and Lola glances inside my RAV. “Do you want to sit in the driver’s seat? I used to sit in the driver’s seat of my dad’s car and pretend I was driving.”
With an unreadable expression, Lola slowly shakes her head and whispers, “No.”
It’s the first time I’ve seen actual fear in her demeanor, tiny lines forming along her forehead while she chews on the inside of her cheek and wrings her hands together.
“If it rains, I’ll send pictures. And you can come tomorrow. Did I mention I bought a soft, blue velvet sofa?”
It takes Lola a few seconds to recover. Where is her mind? Back with the accident? Does she remember much from that day? I regret suggesting she sit in my driver’s seat. I’m sure more intelligent, more convincing people than me have tried to get her into a car.
She mumbles something, bringing her gaze to mine.
“What?” I ask.
“You should have bought leather.”
“A leather sofa?”
She nods. “Nana said something about a six and a dozen something. Like cats scratch leather but shed on fabric.”
Again, this girl makes me smile. My face cracks with a huge smile, or my heart breaks with her. “Six of one, half dozen of the other?”
Lola nods. “Yeah, I think that was it.”
I glance toward the window again, and Tia’s still keeping a watchful eye on us.
“She’s right. I’m going with a sticky roller for the fur instead of the scratched sofa.”
“Bandit’s worth it,” Lola says.
I climb into the driver’s seat. “He is,” I say. Bandit’s worth it because he makes Lola deliriously happy, which makes me happy. I hope she knows that her father thinks she’s worth every mile he’s put on his bike.
Every missed opportunity.
Every scowl and snide word from Tia.
I hope she feels worthy of happiness and all the love from everyone around her.
“Be careful,” Lola says with a sad smile. “Ignore Bandit if he meows.”
Oh, Lola . . .
“I will,” I say.
“And be careful when you’re flying.” She keeps tugging at my heartstrings.
“I will. I’ll see you later if it doesn’t rain, or tomorrow if it does.”
“Okay.” Lola waves when I close my door.
I’m in. I’m all in.
I love this little girl.
I love her dad.
I love this version of myself with them in my life.
It rains.
I finish cleaning what little Jamie left for me. Then I sit on my one piece of furniture.
It’s quiet. Too quiet.
I don’t have a TV yet, and my internet won’t be connected until Monday. While I stare at the popcorn-textured ceiling from my velvet sofa with Bandit purring on my lap, someone knocks at my door.
A soaked Ozzy grins when I open it.
“What are you doing?” My jaw drops.
He shakes like a dog, and I wrinkle my nose when the water hits me.
“I snuck out,” he says, removing his boots and stepping inside. He digs his hand into the pocket of his rain jacket and pulls out six dandelions.
We both stare at the sad, wet, and wilted little flowers.
“It’s the thought that counts, right?”
I bite back my grin and nod while peeling them from his open palm. He has no idea how much his thoughts count, how much they matter to me and my sappy heart.
“Where can I put this so your wood floor doesn’t get wet?” He holds out his jacket.
“Uh.” I look around. “Maybe the bathroom. It has vinyl flooring.”
Ozzy tosses his jacket into the half bath and lifts his T-shirt to dry his face.
I set the dandelions on the counter and turn, staring at his abs and tattoos.
“I assumed you and Lola would come tomorrow. It’s almost ten, and it’s raining,” I say.
“I heard you got a new sofa.”
I flip out my hip and cross my arms over my chest. “You heard I got a new sofa? That’s why you’re here? You couldn’t wait until tomorrow to see it.”
Ozzy cants his head, gaze shooting over my shoulder. “It’s a bold color.”
“I’m a bold woman. And you have blue appliances in your kitchen.”
He smirks.
“I’ve missed you,” I whisper.
Ozzy’s attention shifts back to me. “I figured. That’s why I’m here.”
“You’re so arrogant.” I narrow my eyes.
“You mean thoughtful.”
“Thoughtful?” I twist my lips.
“I knew you were missing me, so I rode in the rain to be here for you, and I remembered flowers this time.”