Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“I like spending time with you.” Her confession is soft, almost as if she doesn’t want me to hear her.
“Good. You’re going to be seeing a lot more of me.” Looking down at Madeline whose eyes are drooping, I gently run my index finger over her cheek. “Both of you.” When my gaze meets Wren’s, I can see the worry there. “Talk to me. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’m scared.”
“I’ve got you.” There’s conviction in my voice. “We’ll go slow. I just want to spend more time with you and Maddie.”
She nods. “Okay.”
I don’t bother to hide my smile. “Thank you.” Leaning in, I kiss her cheek.
“I need to put her down.”
“Need some help?”
“No. I’ll be right back.”
I watch as she somehow manages to stand gracefully with Madeline sleeping soundly in her arms. She disappears behind a door, and I assume the other door is the bathroom. They must share a room right now. Damn, I should have gone with her so I could see where she sleeps. That sounds creeperish even to me, but I’m just curious about her—everything about her.
“She’s out,” she says over a yawn a few minutes later.
“I should let you get some sleep.”
“Thank you for dinner.”
I stand and pull her into my arms, hugging her to my chest. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“That’s not a good idea.”
“I thought we agreed to spend time together.”
“This is embarrassing,” she mumbles. “We did, but my phone it’s a prepaid, and I don’t get a lot of minutes. Just enough to call for help if I need it with Madeline.”
I nod, processing this new information. “Fine. What time do you get off work?”
“Five.”
“The nursing home on 8th, right?” She nods. “I’ll be there to pick you up. We’ll get Maddie from day care and have dinner at my place.”
“I don’t—” she starts, but I place my finger over her lips.
“Let me take care of you, please.” She nods. “Good night, Wren. Lock up after me.”
“A-Always,” she croaks.
Hand in hand, we walk to her door. I give her one final hug, and she fits perfectly in my arms. Reluctantly, I release my hold on her and slip out into the hallway. She waves and closes the door. I wait until I hear the lock engage before I start my trek down the three flights of stairs to my car. I don’t know what I expected, but the night turned out better than I ever could have imagined.
Chapter 14
Wren
There’s nothing worse than watching the clock as it slowly ticks by. I barely slept last night, and when I did, it was Marshall who appeared in my dreams. Last night was… unexpected. Marshall’s not alone. Whatever this is between us, I feel it too. It scares the hell out of me, but it also excites me.
Fifteen more minutes and my shift is over. I know without calling or texting him that he’s going to be outside waiting for me. Marshall isn’t the kind of man who says one thing and does another. Travis was the same way. He’d grown up being jostled and told one thing only to have another happen.
Guilt washes over me. I miss Travis every single day. But he’s gone, and Carrie’s right. I’m young, and I don’t want to live the rest of my life alone. I don’t know if that’s what this is, this thing between Marshall and me. I’m in the dark where we’re concerned. However, since meeting him that first day, the weight that was always holding me down seems to be lifted. The burdens of the world don’t seem so heavy with my new acquaintances. Sure, he’s more than just an acquaintance at this point, and so is his family, but you know that I mean.
At five, I make my way to the break room and gather my belongings. When I reach the front door, the florist is there delivering flowers. “Wren, wait up,” the receptionist, Beth, calls.
I stop and wait for her to finish signing for the delivery. To be honest, the interruption is nice. It gives me a minute to wrap my head around the fact that Marshall is here to pick me up, and we’re having dinner tonight at his place with Madeline. I know it’s rude to keep him waiting, but an extra minute or two won’t hurt to allow my heart time to settle into a steady beat.
“Hey,” I say, walking up to her desk. She’s smiling like she’s got a secret.
“These have your name on them.” Her grin grows wider.
“What?” I breathe.
“They’re yours.” She spins the flowers to face me, and I pluck the small card with my name written on it from the folder.
Wren,
Have a good day. I can’t wait for tonight.
Marshall
“So, who’re they from?”
“A friend.” That’s not a complete lie. Marshall is my friend. At least, I think he is. I don’t know what else to call him. We’re not really dating. He’s not my boyfriend or my lover. Though the thought of him being my lover has a shiver racing down my spine. I’ve thought of that with him more than I should.