Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 61542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Still, I can’t help but grin as I take the plate out into the dining room and place it on the table. Vaguely, I hear the murmur of male voices from the kitchen.
“What’s wrong with you tonight?” Sawyer asks. “You’re not your usual charming self.”
Adam doesn’t respond to what I assume is a sarcastic jab. Instead, he says, “That’s her.”
Are they talking about me?
They’re silent for a few seconds until Sawyer asks, “What?”
“That’s her,” Adam says.
Sawyer hesitates before he asks again, “Are you sure?”
“I told you. I’d know her when I saw her,” Adam says in a low, hushed voice that only stokes my curiosity.
Again, Sawyer falls silent. “Look, man, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but it’s a huge coincidence, isn’t it? I tell you to give up on your search and a few days later, you claim to have found the girl.”
The conversation’s getting intense enough that their voices are growing louder, making it easier for me to listen in on their conversation. But at the same time, their words don’t make any sense.
Who’s “the girl?” Who is “she?” Why is Adam looking for her? Does he think I’m her? But what does that even mean?
From what I can piece together, Sawyer was helping Adam find a girl, until he recently gave up on it. Surprising—my brother doesn’t give up easily; that’s why he was always broke while trying to build one business after another. So, Adam must have been looking for quite a while.
“I don’t know what to say to you,” Adam says. “I’m sure it’s her.”
Sawyer sighs. “I’ll admit it. I was only joking when I told you it couldn’t be my sister. Of course, that’s possible. But it’s very, very, very—I can’t stress this enough—very unlikely.”
“But possible,” Adam says, obviously not paying attention to the rest of whatever Sawyer said.
Meanwhile, I’m practically pressing my ear against the wall, now that Sawyer’s specifically mentioned me.
“Yes,” Sawyer says. “And honestly . . . If you’re sure and it’s really her . . . Contrary to what I said in your office the other day, you have my blessing, man. I can tell how much you like her. And you’re a good guy, even if I think your obsession with her is a little creepy.”
Seriously. What are they talking about? Sawyer’s talking as if he’s about to sell me off at a slave market.
“Guys, I can hear you,” I yell out.
Suddenly, it’s so quiet I could hear a pin drop.
“Hey,” Sawyer says when he finally emerges from the kitchen. His grin reminds me of a cartoon cat that’s hiding a bird in his mouth. His arm wraps around William’s little body as he ruffles his nephew’s dark hair.
“Hey.” I give him a sweet smile.
“Hi,” Adam says, wearing the same grin.
“Hi, Adam.” I stop myself from adding something about how I’m glad he’s found his tongue and he can talk now.
I pull out a chair and take a seat. While I grab a fork, in the most casual tone I can muster, I ask, “So, what was that all about? Sounded like an interesting discussion.”
Adam and Sawyer glance at each other. They appear uneasy.
Suspicious.
“Nah,” Sawyer says, waving a hand dismissively as he rests his other hand on. “Just . . . uh, some . . . work stuff.”
Adam nods. “It’s just this investigation Sawyer’s working on for me.”
“Trying to find a girl, huh?” I ask.
“Who isn’t?” Sawyer asks before he fakes a laugh. “Right, William?”
“Right,” William says, nodding sagely. He really looks like he knows what’s going on, even though that’s impossible, seeing as he’s only two.
As curious as I am to learn more, I can’t help but stop my interrogation for a second. William’s just too freaking cute.
Sawyer grins, looking smug.
“He says ‘right’ to everything. You know that,” I say.
“What? Nah. You wouldn’t lie to me, would you, William?” Sawyer turns to look at William as he approaches the table. He shakes his head and mouths, “No.”
“No,” William says as his tiny fingers grab onto the waist of his pants and pulls on it.
“Oh, no. Give him to me,” I say, getting up while I let out a big exhale. “You guys sit down and start eating without me.”
“Anything wrong?” Adam asks. When he’s not being weird, he actually has quite a nice voice. Deep and velvety.
“No.” I give Adam a smile while I take William from Sawyer. “Someone just has a dirty diaper.”
As I excuse myself and bring William into his nursery to change, I hear Sawyer and Adam dropping their voices to speak conspiratorially.
Whatever they’re talking about, I can’t hear it. I wish I could put a glass against the wall and eavesdrop on them, but I can’t just ignore William.
After being a single mom for two years, it’s become a habit to drop everything whenever William needs me. At this point, I don’t even think twice anymore. After all, I’m all the little guy has.