Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Dolly shrugs. “I’m not too sure. Sounded good at the time.”
She seems overwhelmed, like she didn’t expect to win despite her normal overwhelming confidence. But the pageant is only the first thing we have on our agenda today. My mind is now firmly set on that bonfire and seeing if there’s more than a little flirting at the diner between me and Red Rough.
We open the door to the farmhouse and I’m greeted with a surprising sight.
The tall, foreboding figure of my big brother. I rush to him without hesitation.
“Angus? Angus, you’re back,” I say, wrapping my arms around him and shocking him a bit. “I didn’t know you were coming home today.”
My brother was always a bit of a silent type, but right now he seems as overwhelmed as Dolly is, looking over my shoulder at her and her shimmering pageant gown.
I count the years since he first took off. Four of them, long enough for him to finish college. “You’re home for good now, right?”
“Yeah, I’ve graduated. Fully accredited degree and all that fun stuff,” he says with a nod, very distracted by Dolly. Did he have a thing for her?
“Still seems useless, but glad you got it done all the same, son,” Dad pats him on the shoulder as he walks past. The whole college thing has been a point of contention between the two of them ever since Angus first said he was leaving.
Dolly heaves a breath, setting her tiara down on the side table. “Kinda takes the wind out of my accomplishment.”
Angus’s eyes remain stuck on Dolly. Yeah, he has a thing for her. “You win the beauty pageant at the county fair?”
“Real proud of myself too. They don’t often let girls like me win that sort of thing, it’s always some stick figure wannabe model type, but I guess they couldn’t deny my natural charm and charisma this time around.”
Not wanting to step into their little conversation, I slip past and head to my room. I dressed practically for being Dolly’s second, and now I want to show off my own best assets. I change out of my jeans, and take my time choosing. Looking over a few of my T-shirts, I struggle with indecision before I settle on a cute pink one. To go with it, I pick a little red miniskirt that shows off my legs.
Dolly follows me upstairs soon enough. “Angus’s certainly gotten a lot more handsome hasn’t he?”
“Dolly, he’s my brother.”
“Well, what’s that matter?”
“I’m not going to agree with you that my brother is handsome, Dolly. That’s kinda weird.”
“Oh. Right. Well, he’s really handsome now. Just saying.”
I shake my head. The two of us focus on getting ready for the bonfire.
She’s in Daisy Dukes, I’m in a mini-skirt, and we head back to the living room, my dad and Angus talking about college life, Dad showing his usual disdain. It goes on for a bit, Dad asking Dolly to sing her pageant song again, and now nothing can be more obvious than that there’s some chemistry going on between my best friend and my brother.
I guess I always knew something was there, but maybe I just thought it was Angus being as weird as he always is. The guy’s quiet and keeps to himself, and is a bit awkward after all. I don’t really know what to think of them together. Calling Dolly my sister-in-law would be a bit strange, but it would hardly be the worst thing to happen to me.
“As nice as it is to hear the encore, we got the cassette, Dolly,” I add, pulling Dolly’s arm to get her going and to get her to stop staring at my brother. “You’re dressed. Are you ready to head out to Home? Red’s waiting for us.”
She snaps out of her haze. “Sure, sure, let’s go, Annie.”
Angus clears his throat. “Wait, wait. Red? Redford Rough? The douchebag from Home?”
Oh God, not this. Now’s not the time to be that sort of brother, Angus. “Yes, that Red. You got a problem with that?”
“I just called him a douchebag, so yes, I have a problem with that.”
Hands on my hips, I fire right back. “He’s invited us to a bonfire over in Home. With the rest of the gang from high school. Do you want to come along? Or is your college-educated self too hoity-toity for a bonfire?”
Angus turns to Dad. “You're going to let them go out like that, Dad? What they’re wearing ain’t exactly modest.”
Dad, though, is cool in his own Dad way. “You know I’ve never been that kind of controlling, Angus. Besides, they’re eighteen. They can go out wearing whatever they want. I ain’t gonna stop them because it’s none of my business.”
Angus nibbles his lip and lets out a grumble, admitting defeat. “Alright, if that’s the case then I’ll give you two a ride.”