Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 111400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Standing in the doorway of the bedroom after work, I could hardly believe it. “Wow,” I said to Bianca on the phone as I drove home. “I don’t know how to thank you. Everything is perfect. Please send me the bill for everything.”
She laughed. “We’ll get to that. When are you going to show it to her?”
“Soon, I hope. Maybe this weekend.”
“And you’re moving in for real the following week?”
“Yes.”
“Nice.” Then she paused. “This might be a personal question, but is Cheyenne going to live at the new house with you?”
“I hope so.”
She laughed. “Well, if anything can convince her, that master bedroom will do the trick. Let me know how she likes it—although I already know she’s going to love it.”
“I will. Thanks again, Bianca.”
Later that night, I went in to say goodnight to Mariah. She was speaking to me again, but our relationship had been strained since Christmas.
I sat on her bed. “A week from tonight, you’ll be sleeping in your new bunk beds in the new house.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not excited about it?”
“I am. I just wish Cheyenne was moving in with us too, like she was supposed to. I miss her.” She looked up at me. “Don’t you?”
“I do,” I said. “In fact, I wanted to talk to you about that.”
She propped herself up on her elbows. “Are you going to try to get her back?”
I smiled. “I’m going to try to get her back.”
Mariah fell back on her pillow, a relieved smile on her face. “Yesss.” But then she frowned. “Wait, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to bring her over to the new house and show her something I’ve been working on.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a window seat, the kind she said she’d like to curl up on and read a book.”
Mariah nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
“I’m also going to apologize for lying to her about the bad dreams. And tell her that I’m going to talk to a therapist about them.”
Her eyes widened. “You are?”
“Yes. I have my first appointment on Thursday.”
“Are you nervous?”
“A little,” I admitted with a smile. “But I’m still going to go.”
“Don’t worry. It’s not that bad.”
“That’s because you’re so brave.” I brushed the hair back from her forehead. “And I’m going to remember how brave you are if I get worried.”
She smiled. “Good.”
“Any other ideas for when I talk to Cheyenne?”
“Hmmm.” Her brow furrowed. “Definitely tell her about the dog. She likes dogs.”
“I will definitely tell her.”
“And maybe sing her a song. That’s what Danny did for Sandy in Grease. And she wore tight shiny pants for him.”
“I will not be singing her a song or wearing any kind of shiny pants.”
She sighed. “How about candles? In movies when someone tries to be romantic, there are always candles.”
“Now you’re talking. I can do candles.”
“Okay. When are you going to talk to her?”
“Well, if she agrees, I’m hoping Friday evening.”
Mariah frowned again. “What if she doesn’t agree? She’s really mad at you, isn’t she? I mean, maybe I should ask her.”
I was about to argue with her, but I decided she might be right—and besides, Mariah deserved to play a role in bringing us back together. “You know what? I’d love your help winning her back.”
She grinned at me. “You got it.”
Thirty-Three
Cheyenne
Friday after work, I came home and flopped face down on the couch. I was trying to decide between a workout and a nap when my phone rang. Blair Dempsey calling.
The name on the screen almost made me smile. I flopped onto my back. “Hello.”
“Hey. How’s it going?”
“Same.”
“Still no word from Cole, huh?”
“Nope. And it’s been a week since New Year’s Eve. A week and a day.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry. I really thought he was going to get himself together. And Griffin isn’t saying anything, even though he was over at the new house all weekend!”
“I don’t want him caught in the middle anyway.”
“Want to come over tonight?” she asked brightly. “Watch a movie or something?”
“Thanks, but I’m too tired. I haven’t slept well this week.”
“Okay. Hang in there. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will.” We’d just hung up when I heard a knock on the front door. Curious, I sat up, tightened my ponytail, and went to answer it. It was Mariah.
“Hi there,” I said, smiling at her. “It’s good to see you.”
“Hi.” She looked serious. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I need help with something. Could you come over?”
“You never bother me. What do you need help with?”
“Homework.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Homework? On a Friday afternoon?”
“Yes. It’s, um, a really hard math problem. And Grandma doesn’t remember how to do it.”
“Okay. Just let me grab my coat and get my boots back on.”
A minute later, we were heading up her driveway. “I didn’t see you much this week,” I said. “Did you have a nice break?”