Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“What’s got you so quiet?” she asked, pulling me from my downward spiraling thoughts.
“Nothing, really,” I said, keeping my eye on the road. We’d traveled farther than I’d realized so I moved into the exit lanes. “Dash’s burning it at both ends. I get that it’ll work out better once he graduates. It’s good that you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t miss this time with both of you. He’s done such great things,” she said, and turned back to stare out the front window. “And he’s so smart. Did you always know how smart he was?”
A grin took my worries away. She was funny. “Remember, he graduated early from high school and had his associates degree. College lasted about a year. He’s taken his time with law school to get some age under his belt.”
“That’s right. Have you thought about going back to school?”
Oh lord, here we went again. A conversation she wanted to have all the time. I rolled my eyes and followed the road as she started in on the value of a college education. She wasn’t wrong. I just had too much energy to sit and study for so long. I was happy with my job. It was good enough for me.
Dash
Christmas Party
A tipsy Beau was a beautiful guy. No matter the number of people at our party, or even the late hour, his attention was only on me. Right there in my face, I noticed the worry lines and semi-permanent frowns we had been living with for well over a month were now gone. Maybe due to us never leaving our spot, in the corner, with the window of the view of the lake against our side. Beau loved everything about the lake. He’d been fishing there several times over the last few months.
His mom had been working herself into the ground to put on the perfect holiday party. The entire home twinkled under the thousands—I might be exaggerating a little—of small lights in every piece of garland hung just about everywhere.
Helping with the decorating had become a way for me to put aside my stresses and help his mom work on the house. I’d always loved the season and taken it upon myself to decorate, if only just for me and Amelia.
“Did you try a tamale?” I asked Beau.
“I’ve tried everything at least twice. I’m just biding my time for a third round,” he said, sliding one of his hands underneath my shirt to skim to the back. The skin-on-skin contact was everything for me, him too.
“Incoming,” Amelia said behind my back. Beau started to look away to see what was coming, and I quickly cupped the back of his head, keeping him in my face.
“I want you to promise that you’ll be open-minded.”
Beau nodded, but I saw confusion in his gaze. My guy was nothing if not open-minded.
I nodded, then he nodded and turned to a fast-approaching Carter, walking side-by-side with Beau’s mom.
“You made it,” I started. Instead of shaking his hand, I leaned back against Beau, holding his arms that automatically circled around him.
“I did. We had some problems with the plane. I was afraid I wouldn’t get here in time,” Carter said, wrapping an arm around Linda to draw her closer to him. I felt the second Beau realized Carter was touching his mother in such an intimate way. His body tensed like steel and heat ran through him and into me.
“Beau, honey. Can we talk to you?” his mom asked. “Privately.” No matter how tightly I held on to him, he broke free. I suspected he sensed what was coming next.
“What’s going on?” Beau said, his tone harsh and strong. So much for my tipsy theory. “Just tell me.”
“Your mom and I have been dating, and we’ve fallen in love,” Carter explained. He also spoke confidently, but I saw the moment he swallowed his fear and stopped speaking. My guy must look like the thing from the black lagoon to have Carter halting his words.
“Beau, get that look off your face,” Linda said, confirming my theory. “I waited to tell you until I knew more about where we were headed, but we’ve decided to be a couple. We also decided to tell you together.”
“Well, I think that’s great news,” I said, maybe laying it on too thick, but I went with it, reaching out to hug Linda then shake Carter’s hand. “He’s always been protective of his mom. Watching out for her.”
“I’ve heard,” Carter said, extending a hand to Beau. Beau looked at him and then over to me.
“You knew about this already, I can tell,” he said, shifting that hard stare to me.
“Who me?” I asked in feigned confusion.
He didn’t buy it. “Yeah you. Don’t do it again.” he said. That mean stare shifted back to Carter. “Don’t fuck with my mother. Her life hasn’t been easy,” Beau said.