Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 72427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“I have something I want to talk to you about. It concerns a friend,” I admitted, excited now.
“A male friend, or a female friend?” she wondered.
I chuckled softly.
“You know me so well.” I chuckled again. “It’s a female friend, and yes, I’m considering asking her to be more than my friend.”
“Oh, Lock.” My mom sighed. “I’ve always waited for this day.”
I started to laugh. “Mom, I haven’t even said anything about her other than I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“True,” Mom agreed. “But you also never even mentioned the other ones. I had to find out you were dating that one chick by seeing you talking to her at the supermarket. Then, when I came over, you introduced her by name. There was no ‘this is my female friend’ or ‘I need to talk to you about my friend.’ Hell, I don’t even know what to think right now. You’re not asking for my engagement ring, are you? I still wear that.”
I started to laugh in earnest. “Chill the hell out, Mom. I promise, this is very new…and depending on your answer when I get there and ask, it might very well be not at all.”
“The answer is yes, then,” she immediately announced. “Whatever the question.”
“What if I ask to move back in because we’re having a love child together, and I think we can’t raise it on our own?” I wondered.
“I’d say double yes,” she said. “Your dad, on the other hand? He’d likely lose a couple of screws. According to him, he just got rid of y’all.”
I snorted.
“That’s a lie,” I said as I glanced around the parking lot. “I’ve been gone for years.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “But your sister just moved out last fall.”
That was true. Ares had been living at home for quite a while. Rune had been gone since she turned eighteen and could legally live on her own without offending my parents.
“That’s your husband’s fault,” I told her, seeing something in the very back of the parking lot that drew my attention.
A car. One that looked slightly familiar, but I couldn’t figure out why.
There was a lone figure sitting inside of it, smoking.
I could just see the cloud of smoke drifting out of the window with the quickly darkening sky.
“That was my husband’s fault,” she agreed, sighing. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours. I’m making brownies. You better be here before nine, or there’s no telling how many will be left. Your father is insatiable.”
I gagged. “Mom, there are just some things that I don’t want to know.”
My mom laughed.
“Oh, shut up. You know what I mean.”
I went back inside after hanging up and taking one more look at the car in the back of the parking lot.
Unfortunately, there was a storm rolling in and the twilight was quickly losing what little light it had left. Making it almost impossible to see without walking closer.
And since the object of my desire was inside in the opposite direction, I would be letting this one go.
But I made a mental note to check before I left, just in case.
Likely it would no longer be there, but I’d check anyway.
Arriving inside, it was to find the place in chaos.
Saylor had set her family to work helping her set up the cake table.
I was set to work putting up the refreshment table by Justice’s parents.
And Justice didn’t arrive with his new bride for at least another hour.
By the time he arrived for the small, intimate reception, it was time for me to leave.
But I made sure to congratulate him and his new wife.
Then I looked for Saylor, only to find her surrounded by the Dixie Wardens MC.
Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to get in there without making an utter fool of myself and announcing to them all that I had a thing for Saylor, I decided to wait.
Tomorrow, I’d catch her before she left.
Tonight, though?
I had a couple other things that I had to do. One of which was going to see my mother and asking her about a job.
One that would hopefully keep Saylor in Kilgore, Texas long enough for us to explore what burned bright between us.
Chapter 6
And for my next trick, I’ll dazzle you with the illusion that I have my shit together.
-Coffee Cup
Saylor
The last of my boxes were packed, and I was staring at my now fully-ready-to-move shit that was piled high along the living room walls.
I felt a wave of melancholy sweep through me at the sight.
I didn’t want to leave my apartment.
I didn’t want to leave this area.
And after last night, I didn’t want to leave Lock Downy.
I swallowed hard and looked away, wondering if I could make the hour-plus drive here once a night just so I could see Lock.
Then I realized that no, without a steady job, I couldn’t make that drive often. Gas was freakin’ expensive.