Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
I was hoping the same could be said for Jensen.
“I’m fine,” he pushed out the moment he heard me step onto the wooden patio. The patio creaked, too, in certain spots. I should look into that. Jensen didn’t look back toward me as he continued. “Dad’s just a dick.”
“Didn’t come to check on you,” I lied. “Figured you were fine,” I lied again.
His shoulders dropped slightly, and he fiddled his hands together nonstop, forming fists repeatedly before letting them go. “Oh. Okay.”
I sat next to him and copied his hand gestures.
We were quiet, staring out at the lakefront, uncertain if any words could make things better. I wondered what Peter did this time to push Jensen over the edge. Even though he said he was fine, he seemed extra tense that morning. Extra fragile. To the point that if I tapped my finger against his shoulder blade, he’d shatter into a million pieces.
I rested my hands on my lap for a second before I flicked my pointer finger across my nose. I pointed toward the right corner of my land. “Was thinking of getting that area dug up to plant a garden. Figured maybe you could help with the build.”
Jensen looked up for a moment and huffed before dropping his head back down. “Don’t do that, Theo.”
“Do what?”
“Try to make me feel better.”
“I ain’t trying to make you feel better. I’m telling you I want a fucking garden.”
“I’ve been trying to get you to plant a garden for years. Why now?” he quipped.
Because you’re sad, idiot.
With a shrug, I let out a small breath. “I’m sick of buying overpriced tomatoes.”
Jensen snickered.
A laugh.
I’d take a laugh.
“How big of a garden are you talking?” he questioned.
“Giant,” I expressed. “Grandma would love some squash. Zucchini. All kinds of things she could add to her sourdoughs, honestly.”
“Some red peppers could be good,” Jensen commented, sitting up a bit straighter. He gestured toward the area. “You could probably get a good herb garden going, too, if we space everything correctly.”
“You think? I figured it could all grow together. Spacing be damned.”
“Spacing be damned?!” Jensen remarked with a look of shock.
“Language,” I scolded.
“You said it first.” He tossed his hands up in a frenzy. “But the idea of just tossing together a garden without a plan is wild.”
“Oh?” I shrugged. “Didn’t think it mattered.”
“That’s because you don’t think, bonehead,” he commented, standing to his feet. “Lucky for you, I stopped by. I can whip up a plan and something for the landscape of it all, if you want.”
I tossed my hands up in surrender. “Only if you feel up for it.”
“What’s the budget?”
“Balls to the walls. Bring me your best A-game landscaping, and we’ll make it come to life.”
His eyes lit up. “Balls to the walls?”
“Don’t say balls. That’s not very gentlemanly of you.”
“You said balls.”
“I’m not a gentleman.”
Jensen smiled.
A smile.
I’d take a smile.
“I got some old construction paper somewhere in my office if you want to snatch that up. You can stay with me, too, as long as you need if it’s easier for you to be on the property to plot this out.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re just doing this to make me feel better, aren’t you?”
“Why the hell would I need to make you feel better? You said you were fine. Aren’t you fine?”
“Yeah.” He dipped his chin in a stern nod. “I’m fine.”
“Good. So just whip up a plan for me, will ya?”
“All right.” He paused and kept fidgeting with his hands. “It might take me some time, though. I might have to stay for a few days.”
“Take weeks for all I care, as long as you’re making something worthwhile.”
“Okay. Cool. Cool.” He headed into the house. The moment he was gone, I released a breath. That poor fucking kid.
I stood from my chair, and before I could fully stand, the back door opened, and Jensen came rushing out. He didn’t say a word but darted straight for me and wrapped me in a tight hug. I paused for a moment before wrapping my arms around him and patting him on the shoulder. He sniffled a bit but then let me go and headed back inside.
A hug.
I’d take a hug.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling the heaviness on my chest. I wished I could take that boy’s hurt and feed it into my own heartbeats.
“So they do exist,” a voice said, breaking me away from my thoughts.
I turned to find Willow in a swimsuit, drying her hair with a towel.
I huffed and grumbled before distracting myself from her and her body by moving the patio furniture around. “What exists?” I asked, allowing my curiosity to get the best of me. I didn’t know what it was about that woman, but she had a way of making me curious about the thoughts that lived in her head. I hated that. I hated that she made me wonder about…her.