Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 94874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Before I can offer any more condolences, he changes the subject. “Is your brother up?”
“Yup, he’s packing.”
“Good. We need to get moving.” Even though the day has only begun, he blows out a breath as if already exhausted. “We’ve got a long trip ahead of us.”
“Do I have time to run over to my friend’s house and say goodbye?”
“Ummm.” He glances at the sports watch adorning his left wrist. “Sure, just be quick about it, all right?”
A smile of relief curves my lips as I press a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks, Dad. I will!”
With that, I race out the door and down the porch stairs before hitting the gravel driveway. Then I head north, jogging along the side of the road. Only now am I wishing that I’d paid more attention to where his house was located. If memory serves me correctly, it was a gray two-story with white trim. Hopefully, I’ll recognize the place when I see it.
If not, I’m screwed.
Even though it’s early, and the temperature is in the low eighties, a fine sweat breaks out across my forehead and gathers at the back of my cotton shirt. It feels like I’ve been running for half a mile. Did I somehow miss it?
Time is running out. My parents have enough on their plates without me delaying our departure. My feet slow to a stop and I’m about to turn around when the gray behemoth comes into view. Nerves explode in the pit of my belly as I haul ass up the brick drive. Parked near the front door is Kingsley’s silver Range Rover.
This is definitely the right place.
I pound up the front porch stairs and peek through the beveled glass door. Nothing stirs from inside. Sucking in a breath, I rap my knuckles tentatively against the glass and wait. As the seconds tick by, my nerves stretch taut and I hop from one foot to the other. When there isn’t a response, I knock a little louder.
My efforts are met with more silence.
I chew my lower lip before huffing out a breath. One more time and then I have to take off. There’s nothing more I can do. Maybe this fledgling relationship with Kingsley wasn’t meant to be anything more than a couple of amazing hours spent together in the sun.
When I knock again, the sound reverberates loudly and I wince. The last thing I want to do is wake up his parents.
Movement from inside catches my eye. As the person grows closer, I realize it isn’t Kingsley. I’ll apologize profusely and hopefully they’ll understand the situation. The door swings open and an older, dour looking woman glares at me from the other side of the threshold.
“Hello,” I say anxiously, “I’m so—”
“Can I help you?” she asks, cutting me off with a clipped tone.
Maybe it’s better to get right to the point. “Yes, ma’am, I’m looking for Kingsley.”
“He’s still asleep.” Her sharp gaze rakes over me. Only now do I realize that I’m a sweaty hot mess. “You’ll have to return later.” She tacks on with a grumble, “Or preferably not at all.”
“Oh, I—”
“Look, young lady,” she snaps, “it’s early, and the household is still asleep. You need to vacate the premises before I’m forced to call the police.”
“Call the police?” I echo in disbelief, eyes popping wide. “What for? I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“You’re trespassing and refuse to leave.” The woman folds her arms across her chest as she stands in her robe.
“But I’m not trespassing,” I say with frustration. “I’m friends with Kingsley.”
A skeptical look flickers across her face.
“I am,” I gulp. Obviously, this was a terrible idea. I shouldn’t have come.
With her lips pressed into a tight line, she glares until I shift awkwardly beneath the scrutiny. Unsure what else to do, I point to the road beyond the driveway. “I’m going to leave.”
“Excellent idea,” she grunts before slamming the door in my face.
Birds chirp from the trees that surround the property as I stare at the glass door in shock.
What am I supposed to do now?
My cell phone rings, breaking into the whirl of my chaotic thoughts. With shaking fingers, I pull the slim rectangle from the pocket of my shorts before sliding the green button across the screen.
“Summer?” There’s a pause. “Where are you?”
Dad.
I squeeze my eyes tightly shut. I’m out of time. There’s nothing else I can do but leave.
“I’m on my way home right now. Sorry it took so long.”
“All right,” he sighs. “We’re all packed up and ready to go. Just waiting on you.”
“Be there in five.” With that, I disconnect and slip the phone back into my pocket.
Well, this sucks. Then again, maybe it’s better this way. No hurt feelings.
What would have really happened between us?
I guess the world will never know.
Chapter Five
As Dad’s pearly white Volvo crawls through town, my brother and I press our faces against the glass so we can check out the place we now call home.