Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“Wow, a kiss good night at least?”
“Does it count if it’s a brush against your forehead?” I respond, biting my lower lip. The answer doesn’t even need to be spoken.
“Yeah, you know it doesn’t. No wonder you’re confused. I think you might have to confront this head-on.” Nelle saying that only solidifies the answer to my question.
“No kidding. Everything going good for you?” I’ve dominated the conversation with my woe is me enough the past two days. Whereas my life has been inundated with one tragedy after the next, Nelle has both her parents, who were there for her as well as I was when her body rejected the pregnancy she wasn’t sure she wanted. In the end, it broke a piece of her. Nelle had been there for me since Ledger dropped me off at our dorm room, so it was time for me to do the same. We rallied, leaned on one another, and slowly, she was able to smile again without feeling guilty.
“Ugh, don’t get me started. Work is work, which is fine, but the chick who was going to move in and take your room backed out, literally, right before you called me.” Shit, now I really feel bad. I know the apartment is expensive, even if I did leave her with a few months’ rent to cushion the blow.
“Okay, don’t hate me, but please tell me why you can’t move here when you work remotely the majority of the time. I have two bedrooms here that are not doing anything except sitting empty.” I’ve tried my hardest to convince her to move to Florida with me. She made up one excuse after excuse—work, the lease at the apartment, which I would have helped pay in order for her to leave with me. I mean, her parents are in Alabama, and if mine were still alive, I probably wouldn’t move permanently either, but this way, she has a place for the time being until she knows what she wants to do.
“I know. I’ve been thinking on that, too. I’m going to see how the next month goes, talk to my parents, and make sure work is able to set up a secure line for me to do loan approvals in a different state. It’s been less than twenty-four hours, and I’m being a clingy best friend.” She scrunches up her face like it’s a bad thing.
“Um, hello! The feeling is entirely mutual. Speaking from one clingy best to the other, am I not the one in this duo who is practically begging on my knees? There’s a pool here, no kids, a few acres, which by the way, I’m going to do something I haven’t done since I was a kid. And I could really use your help even if you don’t get your hands dirty.” There haven’t been flowers in the yard since Mom passed away. I want to plant wildflowers, maybe a small vegetable garden. Of course, that’s going to require some heavy lifting, building raised beds, along with some fencing because squirrels, rabbits, and deer would have no problem eating your crop as a snack.
“Are you trying to convince me to move or convince me to stay in Alabama?” Nelle jokes.
“You can stand there and look pretty. I’m about to have weekends free, and after Ledger works on the pool, and I get the outside of the house painted, I’m going to be pretty bored. So, why not start a garden of sorts?” I shrug my shoulders. Apartment living was nice at the time, but I couldn’t imagine myself living in a city without a big yard to occupy my time.
“That’s a great idea, since you left me with the tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers on the patio. I can’t be held responsible for keeping them alive. You know what? Maybe moving is a bad idea. You have giant life-sucking mosquitos. Eww!”
“Okay, drama queen, the offer stands. I’m going to let you go to work and keep working out how things will go with Ledger. Call me later,” I tell her.
“I will. Love you, and keep my posted. You sure you’re okay?” This almost seems too easy for me, which makes me realize I either need to make an appointment with my therapist via Zoom, or I’m finally allowing myself to heal.
“I’m positive. You do the same. Love you, bestie!” I look around the floor, at the bags upon bags I need to lug downstairs.
“Love you.” We each hang up, and I continue on my task, going through the rest of his bedroom, scrunching my nose at the box of expired condoms, wondering if I should ask Ledger to finish this task, except I’m no quitter, so I’ll carry on, doing what I should have done years ago instead of being a coward and staying away.