Total pages in book: 198
Estimated words: 186242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 931(@200wpm)___ 745(@250wpm)___ 621(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 931(@200wpm)___ 745(@250wpm)___ 621(@300wpm)
“I don’t think I’d be good company today,” he muttered.
“That’s subjective, but you should come anyway,” I told him. “You don’t even have to talk if you don’t want to. Maybe you’ll let some steam off though.”
The man grunted and started shaking his head. “No, it’s not a good idea.”
I knew what I could handle, and him in a pissy mood was nothing. “Okay then. I’ll be back this afternoon.” I took a step back. “Wish me luck.”
He had started turning back toward his truck when he suddenly stopped and looked at me again, suspicion bubbling beneath the grumpiness his features were formed into.
“Bye—”
“Where are you going?”
I told him the name of the location where I was renting the UTV from.
“You’re going for a hike?” he asked slowly.
“Nope.” I extended both my hands forward and made a driving gesture. “I rented a Razorback UTV.” I lifted a hand at him before he could ask another question. “All right, see you later!”
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
“Does anyone really know what they’re doing?” I joked.
There wasn’t even a second of hesitation before he tilted his head back toward the sky, let out a huff, then grumbled, “Give me a second.”
I stopped and tried to keep my features even. “You want to come after all?”
He was already moving toward the house after slamming the car door closed. “Wait for me.”
I couldn’t help but grin as I glanced up toward the apartment to find Amos at the window. I gave him a thumbs-up. I was pretty sure he smiled.
True to his word, Rhodes was back out with his backpack and what looked like two jackets in his hand, maybe a minute or two later.
He still looked pretty pissy, but I didn’t take it to heart. Maybe he’d tell me what happened that had his dad leaving early and possibly ruining his mood, but maybe he wouldn’t. Hopefully though, maybe, just maybe, I could help turn his day around a little. That was my goal at least. Even if he didn’t talk, that was okay.
His mouth was a flat line as he headed straight toward my passenger door, pausing right as he got there before bellowing, “I’m going with Aurora, Am. Don’t leave the house. We’ll be back later.”
Which got him a hollered “K!”
That boy sounded way too excited to be left home alone. I bit back a smile as I got into the car and watched as Rhodes did the same. It wasn’t until we were way down the road, turning onto the main highway, that Rhodes asked, “You were going to do this by yourself?”
I kept my attention forward. “Yeah, I’ve been wanting to do it for a few weeks.”
He muttered something under his breath as he shifted his weight around in my front seat.
Someone was really in a mood. “I would’ve invited Clara and Jackie, but I know they had plans with her brothers, and I asked Amos, but he said no, and I don’t really have any customers from the store that I know well enough yet to invite,” I explained. “I think we’re getting there, but not yet.”
Rhodes’s “Hmph” had me biting back another smile. Maybe he was coming because he didn’t have anything else to do now—which I doubted—but I had a feeling he’d come to make sure I didn’t do anything stupid.
I waited until I knew we were getting close to the campground before offering, “You know, if you want to talk about whatever is bothering you, I’m a pretty good listener. I don’t always run my mouth off.”
His arms were crossed over his chest, and his knees were spread as wide as they could get in my passenger seat. I could still feel the tension coming off his body, so I wasn’t totally surprised when he grunted, “I think coming might have been a bad idea.”
“Maybe, but I’m not taking you back home now, so try your best if you want. Or don’t,” I told him.
I didn’t miss the look he sent me, part surprised at the message and maybe even a little annoyed.
It wasn’t even a little surprising when he kept quiet the rest of the way, me humming a Yuki song under my breath until I’d parked the car, and we both got out. There was a big truck with an even bigger trailer parked at the start of the UTV trail, and I waved at the customer I’d met who had told me all about his UTV business.
“Hi, Ora,” the man called out, already holding a clipboard with the papers he’d warned me would need to be signed.
“Hi, Andy,” I greeted him, shaking his hand when he extended it. Rhodes stopped right beside me, the side of his arm brushing mine. “This is Rhodes. Rhodes, this is Andy.”
It was Andy who extended his hand out first. “You’re the game warden in the area, aren’t you?”