Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 173392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 867(@200wpm)___ 694(@250wpm)___ 578(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 867(@200wpm)___ 694(@250wpm)___ 578(@300wpm)
What? I turn and watch her run to me, wrapping her arms around my neck as I scoop her up. Jasmine Cabrera walks in with her five-year-old, and Dex in a stroller. She babysits a few of the neighborhood kids, while her husband is away half the year fighting fires all over the country. I think he’s in Arizona now.
I eye Jasmine. “You took her on an airboat?”
“I babysat for free.”
I’m about to say something, but then I close my mouth, no matter how inappropriate it is for Paisleigh, Dex, or her—being four months pregnant—to ride on one of those things. My sister looks like she had a blast, and no one died, so okay.
I plant Paisleigh in a chair and pull the plate of macaroni and cheese I ordered in front of her as the rest of them take a seat and start eating. Jasmine holds Army’s kid in her lap, feeding him, and I look down at the boy, noticing his eyes are blue, unlike his father’s. He must get them from his mother. Wherever she is.
He chews, looking up at me, and I stick out my tongue and cross my eyes. He still just stares.
I check the clock again. It’s almost five thirty.
“Eat up, kiddo,” I tell Paisleigh.
I shoot my brother a text. Be home soon.
Then, I bring up my camera and squat down next to my sister, in selfie mode. She immediately giggles and follows my example, making a funny face for the camera before I snap a shot.
I send it to Mars and my mom. As if she’s bothered to check with me at all today to make sure Paisleigh is safe. Tomorrow the kids will be in school, so if I decide to make this a job, it’ll be easier. I don’t have to worry about Paisleigh being at home and ignored by her.
“Krisjen!” someone shouts behind me.
I jump, recognizing Trace’s voice. On a whim, I open TikTok and start filming my facial expressions, because I figure I can make something funny out of this later.
“Krisjen!” Trace bellows again. I roll my eyes, hearing several sets of boots trail behind me. I move the camera up to see him and his brothers.
“Where’s dinner?” he asks.
I look over my shoulder. “It’s in the kitchen. Get it yourself. I’m not serving you in front of everyone.”
“Just in private, then?” He flashes a smile as they all sit, and I catch sight of Iron watching me. “I’m really dirty,” Trace shouts. “Want to shower?”
Still holding the phone, I walk over to his table and snatch the tip left in the middle. Trace rises and grabs for me, but I hook my leg behind his, sweeping his leg out from under him, and push him back down in his seat.
His brothers laugh, and I walk away. “If he only wants to hang out with you when it’s dark outside, he’s a”—and I lower my voice to whisper as I talk into the camera—“fuckboy.”
“Ohhhhh,” Trace laughs like a good sport.
Army sits down with his son in his arms. Iron—I see through the camera—is staring at my ass.
I think it was him last night. It has to be. Has he ever noticed me before? Picking up signals is one thing I am good at.
But he is going to prison for three years. Pretty sure anyone looks good to him right now.
I stop filming, trim the footage, and add a background tune. I post it and stick my phone in my back pocket, seeing some people come in out of the corner of my eye.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” a familiar voice says.
I whip around and catch Clay and Liv just stepping through the door. I smile big, a flutter hitting my stomach as I wrap my arms around Liv, hugging her. And despite the fact that it’s only been eight weeks since she left for school, my eyes burn a little. I don’t mind the town being empty of all the people I used to know in school, but I miss her.
I clear my throat, stepping back. “Long story,” I tell her. “But they needed help, and I was free. Staying long?”
“No …” She hooks her thumbs through the belt loops on her jeans. Her nipple pokes through one of Clay’s tank tops, which she probably borrowed because she forgot how hot it is here. Dart-mouth will be getting snow soon. “I head back tonight,” she tells me.
Just flew in for the weekend to see her girlfriend. How sweet. I’m jealous.
“I’m glad you’re around, though.” She rubs my arm. “Is Trace behaving himself?”
“God, no.” I peel off my apron. “But everyone loves him anyway.”
“Liv!” Army shouts.
She looks over at her brothers and then whispers to Clay. “Gimme a minute.”
She walks over to the table, Clay calling after her: “Grab a pie!”