Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
He disappears into the kitchen, his footfalls fading as he continues down the hall. Maybe he’s going to put a load in the washing machine. Or at the very least, toss his socks in the hamper. Chad is fun to hang out with, but he’s still in bachelor mode, and I’m firmly entrenched in adulthood and taking care of my personal space. Unlike Chad’s apartment, mine has matching furniture that doesn’t include a gaming chair.
He returns a minute later, minus the dirty socks. “You still working on that assignment you needed to finish tonight? We have half an hour before we need to leave for the pub, and I can entertain myself if you need me to.” He motions to his Switch.
“I’m almost done, just finishing up the last question.”
“No problem, I’ll get changed. You need anything while I’m up?”
“I’m good. Thanks, though.” I tip my chin up as he bends to press his lips to my cheek on his way to the bedroom.
He returns a few minutes later wearing jeans and a T-shirt. He plops down on the couch and starts setting up his gaming station while I finish my assignment. I’ll need to read it over one more time before I turn it in, but at least it’s done. I close my laptop and set it aside.
“What are the chances you can get away this weekend?” Chad asks, eyes on the TV and the game he’s currently playing.
“We have a wedding on Saturday, so it’s all hands on deck. I have the weekend at the end of the month off, though, why?”
“Allen was talking about going camping, and I thought it would be a fun trip, but I don’t want to be the seventh wheel with a bunch of couples.” He glances at me for a second before returning his attention to the game. “They’re leaving Thursday night, though. Maybe you could come up for one night.”
“Who all’s going?”
“The usual suspects: Allen and Andrea, Belinda and Ted, and another couple from work.”
“Would that other couple happen to be Marv and the Howler?” That’s my nickname for his girlfriend.
He grins. “No, they can’t come this weekend. Try not to look so disappointed about that.”
“You can’t tell me it’s not awkward when people start freaking out thinking we have a wild animal on our campsite.” It’s happened before. I don’t know if it’s a good thing that those two are oblivious about the racket they make or not. I check my calendar, even though I already know I can’t go. Which is disappointing. Andrea is a mutual friend, and the reason I met Chad in the first place. I enjoy spending time with her and our other friends. “The rehearsal dinner is on Thursday.”
“What time will that go until?”
“Probably pretty late, I’m thinking around nine or ten.” I bite the inside of my lip, not loving the furrow in his brow or the way he purses his lips. This isn’t the first time I haven’t been able to make a last-minute weekend getaway.
I feel bad, but there isn’t much I can do about the way my work schedule is laid out. “Why don’t we plan something for the end of the month? We can organize a camping trip, and if there aren’t any sites available, I can always see if we can set up in the back of Spark House. The last weekend of this month is a sporting event, and Avery is always front and center for those.”
“That could work. I thought you said you’d be getting more weekends off soon. I get working one weekend a month, but three?” His player dies and he tosses the controller on the table. “Seems like you don’t get to have much of a life when all you do is work on the weekend.”
This has become a real sore spot for Chad recently. I get it. Summers are short, and we have a limited supply of warm weather weekends here in Colorado before it turns cold again. He’s big on camping and hanging out with friends and weekend getaways. But summer is our busiest season, especially on the weekends, which means I have less free time, not more. Add the course I’m taking, and it’s been hard to make myself available, particularly for spur-of-the-moment stuff.
“We’re working on freeing up more time, but it’s an event hotel, Chad,” I remind him. “Weekends are when events happen and that’s not going to change. We have that meeting with Mills Hotels coming up too. It has the potential to change a lot. We just need to be patient.”
He blows out a breath, but nods. “Yeah, I get it. But this is supposed to be the time in our lives where we’re making memories, traveling, hanging with friends. We’re not supposed to be responsible for at least another five years. Before you know it, you’ll be thirty and you’ll have missed all the good stuff.”