Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“My parents divorced over me quittin’,” I explained, dumping it all out as if Dash asked for my sordid details. “It’s why we moved so far away. I haven’t talked to my dad in months. My mom’s been through a lot.”
“How’s she gonna feel when she finds out the truth about you?”
“I don’t know. She’s intuitive and was a teacher for a long time. She’s not like my dad, but I think she’d worry for me.” The guilt had my shoulders tensing, and a deep exhale escaped. We stayed quiet and stared at one another.
“You wanna know my current pain?” he asked and only waited as long as it took me to nod. “There’s a website dedicated to me. My dad’s PR team found it. He said reservations at the resort are way up. Some weeks this summer have filled to capacity. He stressed the importance of me being on point all the time. It’s weird, and I don’t like it.”
“Like what’s on the website?”
“I’m not sure the purpose but it shows candid pictures of me around the resort and there’s an email address to send pictures to.”
I laughed at his obvious discomfort, but I also got it. The guy was so freaking handsome. I’ll be searching for the website myself. Pretty cool resource for the long, lonely nights. “You’re a really nice lookin’ guy. You could be a model or something.”
Dash’s good nature was back. “I think, under normal circumstances, my parents would generalize me as a failure because I don’t have greedy capitalism as my life’s goal, but now, they’re happy with me, like next level happy. It’s weird. Even more weird is that I actively don’t want their disappointment.” He flipped out a finger to point, pausing my next question. “I was an accident, a late in life baby. I have a brother that could be my dad.”
“I wondered about that. I got the impression your father’s an older man.”
“Yeah, he’s a good guy. Travels a lot, but he loves me. Did I tell you I’m already accepted to SMU’s Dedman School of Law? It’s not a choice. My dad took care of my enrollment when I first showed interest.” He rolled his eyes. “Academic achievement isn’t the lynchpin for my acceptance. I’d get in anywhere for my family name.”
“The mustangs,” I said and grinned. Of course I knew about the university and the scandal that destroyed their football team. The only death penalty given to a college in the history of the sport.
“Switching topics. Rate the date so far.” His fingertips caressed quickly over my knee. So fast, he removed them before I had a chance to process what was happening. My body was engaged from the first touch, sending a quake over me. “No one saw me. Remember, I’m hiding too. And I’d give it a ten out of ten.”
My cell phone rang. It was still so new that the sound of the ringtone had me looking around until I spotted my phone. My mom’s number came across the small screen.
“It’s my mom.” I lifted a finger to my lips as I answered.
“Hi, Mom.” I waited, hearing nothing for the first several seconds.
“Are you there?” my mom asked.
“Yeah. I’m here,” I said, raising my voice as if that might help.
“Where are you? Mom’s cooking dinner. Does she set you a plate?”
“No, I’m at the beach. Eat without me.” I stuck my fingertip into my ear to better hear her. I’d tuned out the constantly moving ocean and screaming kids, but the squawking seagulls were a bitch to hear past. Put all three together and they were a wrecking ball to clear audio.
The cool part about the cell phone, I could openly stare unabashedly at him as he stared right back at me. “I got a job today. It’s only eighteen hours a week, but that’s all I can legally work at my age,” I explained, repeating the information I learned today.
“That’s great. Where?”
“I’ll tell you when I get home. I’ll head that way soon. Don’t tell Nana. She won’t be happy.”
Dash suddenly bolted up to his feet in outrage, shaking his head no in a silly, exaggerated way.
“Beau. You can’t…”
Yeah, I knew she’d figure it out. She was a brain ninja like that. And here we went about the evils of the only company who’d give me a chance.
“Mom, I went all over the place. No one’s hirin’.”
“Beau, I’ve told you…hiring. There’s a g in the word. Say it properly.”
I ignored her and kept going. “This is the only place who’s will-ing to take me on,” I said and turned away from him. “We’ll talk about it when I get home. Don’t say anything.”
Her tone turned teasing. “You can bet I won’t say a word. So when did my boy become sociable? You’re at the beach. With people?”