Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
My dad is leaning heavily on his cane, rubbing his hip. “We should be thanking you, Abby. You and Alexis are keeping us young.”
With Alexis still in my mom’s arms, I thread my arm through my dad’s. “You going to sit and talk to me while I eat? I’d like to talk to you and Mom about why I was late for dinner.”
My dad’s eyebrows raise. “Oooh, sounds interesting.” He rubs his belly. “But I might have to have another piece of pie to tide me over while you enjoy your dinner.”
I can’t help but laugh. I definitely got my sweet tooth from my father. My mom has always been thin and fit. For the longest time, I wished I looked more like her, but it’s only in the past year that I’ve come to love my body, flaws and all. I help my dad inside, and even though I know he doesn’t want to talk about it, I still ask, “How you feeling, Dad?”
He rubs his thigh, but I don’t think he realizes he’s doing it. “This new hip is doing wonders for me. I’m good as new.”
My mom grabs my plate that she’s been warming in the oven and sets it on the table and then nods at her husband of thirty years. “He was going to try and mow the yard tonight. I had to hide the key.”
I glare at him with a stern look. “Dad, I told you I’d mow tomorrow. Actually, Alexis and I are coming to do that right after school.”
He frowns at me. “You’re not mowing my grass. I can do it just fine.”
My mom and I share a look, and I see her pat the front pocket of her jeans, letting me know she still has the key hidden. Deciding not to get into it right now, I turn my attention to Alexis. “So what have you done all afternoon?”
She sits in the chair next to mine. “I did all my homework.”
My dad grumbles, “Who gives kindergartners homework? When I was in kindergarten, we got an A if we didn’t eat the crayons.”
Alexis laughs out loud. “Papaw, that’s crazy. You don’t eat crayons.”
He shrugs and tries to look serious but ends up laughing at the incredulous look on Alexis’ face. “Okay, it wasn’t that bad, but I know we didn’t have homework.”
She pipes up, “But I love homework.”
I run my hand through her hair. “I know you do, honey. So did I at your age. You get it naturally.”
My mom sits down next to Dad. “Okay, so eat… and tell us why you missed dinner.”
I take a bite of lasagna, chew it slowly, and then swallow it all as my mom’s face transforms into impatience. She can’t stand not knowing something. After taking a sip of water, I lean forward. “I invited a friend to dinner tomorrow night. I hope that’s okay.”
She blinks at me while my father frowns. My mom must see it because she swats her hand across his arm. “Well, that’s wonderful news. Of course, honey, any friend of yours is welcome here. You know that.”
It’s then I realize they think I’m bringing a date. “Oh no, it’s not like that. He really is a friend. Well, he’s more of Zach's friend than mine.”
“Who is it, Mommy?” Alexis asks.
I turn to her, and she’s watching me with wide blue eyes. “He’s an old friend of Zach’s. You met him a few times, but you were younger. His name is Davis.”
She just nods her head, but my mom gasps and reaches for my hand. “Davis is here, in Whiskey Run?”
I take another bite of my food because just talking about him has me unnerved. I can’t hide anything from my parents, but I don’t want them to know that I still have feelings for my brother’s best friend. “Yep, he’s in town. He’s been going to the new rehab center for therapy, and Walker offered him a job. Zach actually called me today to let me know Davis was here. With everything, I wasn’t sure if he wanted to see us, but get this, he wasn’t sure if we would want to see him.”
Both my parents are shocked, and I don’t blame them. None of us has ever hidden the fact how much we love Davis. It’s not even the fact he’s my brother’s best friend or that I’m sure he’s saved my brother’s butt a few times. Davis is a great guy. My mom is shaking her head like she doesn’t understand. “Of course we want to see him. Did you tell him we tried to come see him?” She holds her hands up to her face. “Oh my gosh, Abby, does he think we just deserted him these last two years? He has to know we tried to see him and wanted to be there.”