Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Downy’s eye twitched.
I pushed.
Why I thought this was the time, I would never know, but since he wasn’t running away like he usually did, I thought I should press the matter.
“Why do you call me Ridley?” I asked softly.
Downy’s eyes flicked to Drew, then back to me.
I flicked my eyes at Drew, and he took the hint.
“Be right back,” he muttered. “I’m gonna make sure they’re gone.”
He disappeared in the next instant, closing the door quietly behind him as he went.
“Well?” I challenged him, crossing my arms over my chest to stare at my stepbrother… who was actually my real brother, only he didn’t know it yet.
I didn’t expect him to answer.
Not really.
And what he said blew me away.
“Aspen was my father’s name, and it hurts to call you by that. It’s a constant reminder that you’re here and he’s not,” Downy hissed defensively.
My mouth dropped open.
That was the first time he’d ever told me that. Sure, I’d known his father’s name. My father’s name. Stupidly, I’d thought it was an honor to be named after our father, but apparently I was wrong.
“I…” I said. “I don’t know what to say.”
Downy shrugged.
“I can’t help it. I just hear your name, and I’m reminded of how much I miss him. It’s nothing against you…it’s just how it is,” he hedged.
“Okay then,” I said. “Well, that sucks, but at least I know now.”
I started backing away, a strange feeling welling up in the back of my throat.
“I gotta use the restroom,” I whispered softly, backing up faster now.
Downy started to reach for me, but I stopped him with my next words.
“I want you to leave.”
Downy’s brows furrowed.
“But what about lunch?” He challenged.
I shook my head.
“I think that’s enough for today, thanks.”
With that I left, not looking back.
If I had, though, I would’ve seen the devastation on Downy’s face.
Would’ve seen the instant regret filling his eye and in his entire demeanor.
But right then, I chose instead to focus on myself.
Seemed like a good time to do that.
***
It was hours later when I heard my bedroom door open.
I didn’t bother looking over my shoulder.
I knew who it was.
Drew got into the bed with me, curled his big body around mine and settled in deep.
The room was dark except for the glow from the street lights streaming in through my blinds.
The clock next to my bed read nine P.M. Meaning I’d fallen asleep, seeing as I’d come into my room a very long time ago.
I lay there, with Drew’s arms wrapped securely around me, thinking.
Thinking about what’d happened that day. About Downy and his inability to ever see me as anything but a reminder of what I was and was not. Then finally about Drew. About how he was in the process of divorcing his wife.
And I just wanted to be someone’s first choice.
I wanted to be loved by someone forever, someone who’d never chose anyone else over me.
Danny. Downy. Drew.
Maybe it had something to do with ‘D’ names. Maybe I should look for a Sam or a Michael. Possibly a Luke.
When Drew’s breaths finally evened out indicating he’d fallen to sleep, I inched my way out of his hold, heading to the kitchen.
Maybe some ice cream would be helpful right now.
Blue Bell had finally returned to Texas grocery stores, and not a day went by that I didn’t gorge on my favorite ice cream. It’d been a helacious few months without it after they pulled all of their ice cream off the shelves, and I still got kind of panicky when I was close to running out.
I’d just put the first spoonful in my mouth when a sound from outside had me walking out of the kitchen to the window that looked out over my front yard.
I moved the blinds down, hunching over so I could see out, and blinked when I saw the same two men that I’d seen in the same exact spot a week ago.
“What are you two doing?” I whispered, absently spooning up some ice cream and shoving it into my mouth.
I’d just moved my spoon down for a third dip when one of them lifted his hand toward his car, presumably using his keychain to pop the trunk open.
Then movement caught my eye as a young girl came out of Drew’s house. The further she moved down the driveway, the more I realized that I knew that form. It was Attie, Drew’s daughter.
She was nearly all the way down the driveway when she heard the men talking.
She was shielded by the bushes that ran down the length of Drew’s driveway, and the men never saw or heard her.
She stopped and turned, peering over the bushes.
And screamed.
I dropped my spoon and my bowl of ice cream and started running.
The front door was locked, bolted and chained, giving me a very hard time as I tried to get out in my haste to get to Attie.