Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“Where are we going to park it?” she asks, scrunching up her nose again. “We only get two spots here at the apartment complex.”
“I’d keep it at my parents' place until we move.” That’s the end goal. Get out of this apartment and get into a house where we can raise our kids. A yard for them to run and play in. It’s her dream, mine too, and I’m going to work my ass off for it to come true.
“And where do you plan to find clients for this… logistics service you want to offer?” Lena stands and begins to gather our plates and carries them to the kitchen. I trail along behind her. We rinse them off together and load the dishwasher as we clean up from dinner. This has become our nightly routine, and it’s my favorite because it’s my time with her. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing. We’re together. That’s what matters.
“Advertising, word of mouth, and we have people call the plant all the time asking for numbers of people who can haul things. I know they would give them our information.”
“Your information. I can’t drive that big old box truck.” She laughs.
“Our information. This is our business, Lena. It might have been my idea, and I might be the one doing the driving and heavy lifting, but this is ours, baby. I won’t do it any other way.”
I watch as she dries her hands before she turns to face me. “You want this? You really want to try?” She tilts her head to the side to study me. I don’t know what she’s looking for in my expression, but I hope she can see how determined I am for this to work for us.
“I do. I know we can do this, Lena. It’s the extra income that will get us into our dream home.”
She smiles. “You’re my home, Stanley.”
I can’t take it a minute longer. I pull her into my arms and twirl her in circles in our small galley kitchen. Her laughter fills the air surrounding us, and I soak up every second of it. Our kitchen is barely big enough for this, but we make it work.
When we finally stop spinning, I wait for her to look up at me. “You’re my home, too, baby, but I want more for us and for our kids.”
Her eyes soften, just as they do every time I mention us starting a family. “We’re not even married yet,” she teases.
“We will be, and we will have a family, and I want to be able to give you all everything.” I hold her gaze so she can see how much this means to me. Not just this side hustle I want to embark on, but providing for my family.
“We just need you.”
I smile when she says we. I don’t even know if she realizes that’s what she said. It’s crazy of me to get so excited about her referring to us having kids, but this is what I want. A life with her. One we build together.
Her words have my heart flopping around in my chest. We need to set a wedding date soon. “I know.” I do know. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to give them more. I know I can make this business go. It might not make me a millionaire, but it will be a good side hustle to bring in some extra cash. We both do well. We’re not hurting for money, but we’re not swimming in it either. Houses and kids are expensive.
I know we can do this.
She peers up at me under long lashes. She doesn’t speak for several long heartbeats and worry gnaws at me that she’s going to say it’s not the right time. Her hands that were holding on around my neck, move to rest against my cheeks.
“I’m with you, Stanley Riggins. Always. If you want this, we’ll do it. We’ll take the money out of savings and buy the truck.”
“If it fails, it sets us back for a house.”
Dad always says open and honest communication is everything in a relationship. While I know I can make this work, and I’ll give it everything I’ve got, it’s only right to mention that I could be wrong, and this idea will be a bust. I really don’t think that will happen, but it’s responsible to look at both sides of the coin when making huge life decisions.
My fiancée shrugs. “You’re my home. I told you that. If this sets us back, then it does. We’ll handle it together.”
“I promise you I’ll work my ass off to make our money back and so much more. My gut tells me this is a good move for us, baby.”
“I don’t know much about what you want to do, but I can run numbers and keep track of costs and invoicing that kind of thing. I’ll do whatever I can to help you succeed.”