Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 127712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
This had actually not occurred to me. “You’re seeing someone?”
She nods.
“Who?”
“Olsen.”
“Shut the fuck up.” We both look around, trying to figure out if Veda heard that. But she’s still busy in the goat room.
“He’s here all the time, Locke.”
“Shut. The fuck. Up.”
“I’m serious.”
My eyebrows crease. “Did you do a test? Did you find out—”
She cuts me off. “No. Nothing like that. It’s not even serious. It’s just… fun.”
I let out a long breath. “Whatever. I’m here, though. I’m not leaving.”
“Well, then I suggest you get a room in town. Because Olsen is staying in the guest room tonight.”
At least she didn’t insinuate that he’s sleeping in her bedroom. She doesn’t let me sleep in her bedroom, either. So I guess it’s all fair.
“Fine,” I say. “I will. I’ll get a room in town and I’ll be back tomorrow.” She doesn’t say anything. “Will you have time for me?”
I get a one-shoulder shrug. “Probably. He’s taking Veda to the beach tomorrow.”
The beach is like two and a half hours away. That’s a five-hour drive there and back, plus beach time, so that gives us all day. And this is her weekend. Farm is closed on Monday and Tuesday. I always show up the night before her weekend.
“You’re not going with them?”
The cash register opens with a ding and she pulls the drawer of money out. “Not now, I’m not.” And then I even get a little wink.
Well. I wasn’t expecting that. Something has changed. I’m not complaining, exactly. But something has changed. “Won’t Olsen be pissed?”
Another half-shrug. “He knows the rules.” Then she walks away, towards her office, to presumably count the day’s money.
“Wait,” I call after her. “What rules?”
But the only answer I get is a knowing over-the-shoulder smirk.
I don’t go to a B&B, I score a rental cabin a few miles away. If something really has changed then I might stick around.
Olsen is here.
Olsen is taking Veda to the beach tomorrow.
And Nova was going to go, and now she isn’t.
She’s going to spend the day with me.
I don’t just come for Nova, I come here for Veda too. If she’s mine, I want her to know me. And I like her. She likes me. I want to give her memories of me being around when she’s small.
But I have been in love with Nova for so long now, I don’t remember what my life was like before she took it over. So I’m pretty happy about how things turned out today.
Still, there is a nagging thought in the background. The missing cat and Veda’s announcement that Nova wouldn’t want to talk to me.
Did she say that because she felt it was true? Or was she covering for Olsen?
She’s four, Michael. She’s not covering for Olsen.
Yeah. Probably not.
The next morning, I wake up early. There’s no food in this rental, but I’m not hungry. Not for food, anyway. But Nova… yes. I dreamed about her body. I want to kiss her mouth, and push her legs open, and be inside her.
Soon.
I don’t know what time Olsen and Veda are leaving for the beach, but I guess ten AM. Maybe as early as nine. But it’s only seven right now, so I force myself to walk to the corner grocery and pick up some provisions.
When I get home, and after I put the food away, it’s still only eight-thirty.
I could call and see if they’re gone, but I decide to just drive over there and take my chances.
When I get there the only vehicle in the parking lot is Nova’s Suburban. Which doesn’t give me much to go on.
She answers the door in a short bathrobe pulled tight across her middle. Her hair is wild and messy. It’s got that just-fucked look. But then again, it could be that I-just-woke-up look. “You’re early.”
“Is he still here? What time are they leaving?”
She yawns cavernously. “They left last night.”
“What?”
She opens the door a little wider, inviting me in, then turns and walks away. I stare at her bare legs and the way her ass moves under the thin, cotton robe. She must let the front drop open because it flutters behind her.
I step inside and close the door. She’s got all her shutters closed to keep the sun out, so it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust. By the time they do, she’s disappeared down the hallway.
I follow her back to her bedroom.
She takes the robe off—she’s naked underneath—and climbs back under the covers. Her smile is small but her satisfaction is big when she turns on her side and pats the pillow next to her. “Come on. It’s way too early for Monday. Let’s sleep.”
I am caught off guard again. Nothing about this visit has gone the way I thought it would. But, then again, everything about this visit has pretty much gone the way I want it to.