Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Without my little sister doing my dirty work, I’m sure Ava would have found an excuse to avoid my beat-up Ford Bronco. The old girl might be rusty and a little worse for wear, but I’d never replace her. Not even with the NHL salary I’m hoping to land next year. I’ve put too much blood, sweat, and tears into this truck, working summers in high school to afford it, then spending weekends fixing her up with my uncle. She’s seen me through a lot, and there’s something grounding about that.
Ava sits stiffly beside me, her fingers twisted together in her lap, eyes glued to the windshield like she’s trying to will herself to be anywhere but here. Alternative rock hums through the speakers while my siblings chatter in the back seat about their morning on the ice.
After we pull into the parking lot of Harvey’s, Ava pops the handle and steps out of the truck before assisting the kids. All three of them scramble from the backseat and race toward the entrance. I chuckle, watching them disappear inside as the bell above the door chimes in their wake.
“You’ve certainly got your hands full,” Ava mutters.
I grin, locking up before we follow them inside. “You have no idea, Tink.”
Harvey’s is one of our favorite spots. It’s got this old-school diner vibe with pinball machines, a jukebox, and a menu filled with classic burgers, fries, and the best milkshakes in town. It’s not something we splurge on often, but every now and then, I like to treat my siblings to dinner out just to remind them that things won’t always be this tough. That better days are ahead of us.
As we walk in, Shelley—the waitress who practically watched me grow up—spots the kids and greets them with a wide smile. “Hey! It’s been a while since I’ve seen the Van Doren bunch! Want your usual table?”
She doesn’t bother to wait for a response, already knowing the drill. The kids love the booth near the pinball machines. Her gaze catches mine, and a curious brow arches as she takes in the girl beside me. I can practically see the gears turning in her head. It’s only a matter of time before she calls my mom with the latest gossip.
Once we’re seated, Kia scoots close to Ava until she’s practically sitting in her lap. Shelley hands out menus even though we don’t need them.
“The usual?” she asks.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” I say, glancing at Ava. “Do you need more time to make a decision?”
She shakes her head, a small smile playing around her lips. “I’m good. My dad and I came here last month. He loves the Salisbury steak. It reminded him of the place my mom used to work at in college.”
I lean back, taking in the way her face softens as she talks about her family. This version of Ava—more relaxed, less guarded—is rare, and I find myself wanting to keep the conversation going, to tease out more from her.
“Do you have any siblings?”
With a shake of her head, she tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “No, but I’ve always wondered what it’d be like.”
I glance toward my brothers and sister, who are busy bickering over which of them is the better hockey player. “They can be loud and rambunctious, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. It’s kind of like having chaos and calm all at once.”
She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I bet. I’m sure your parents appreciated the help, especially with such a big age gap between you and them.”
I pause for a moment, considering how to answer. This is the most we’ve talked about anything personal, and I don’t want to say something that will send her guard shooting back up.
“Guess I got the best of both worlds. I had my parents to myself for a while, then got to be a big brother.”
Before Ava can respond, Ollie breaks away from the pinball machine and rushes over. “Can we get some quarters for the games?”
“Pleeeeease,” Kia adds, stretching out the word for a solid ten seconds.
Ava chuckles from beside me before covering it with a cough.
I pull a ten and two singles from my wallet before handing them over to Ollie for safekeeping. “Have Miss Shelley break it at the cash register.” My gaze settles on Theo. “If I give the three of you twelve dollars, how much do each of you get?”
With a furrowed brow, he looks upward, as if the answer might be magically written on the ceiling. “Ollie and Kia get three each and I get the rest.”
“Nice try. Everyone gets four bucks.” I point at the three of them. “And no fighting.”
Theo and Kia cheer before running off, leaving me with Ava.
If I’m lucky, I’ll get a solid ten minutes alone with her before they’re back, begging for more money. So I need to make the most of it.