Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“It was the third-best night of my life,” I tell her honestly, standing in front of the door. She looks down blushing, hopefully thinking of the other two nights I was talking about. “She’s the best.”
“She is,” she agrees with me. I take a step to her, wanting to kiss her with everything I have, but instead, I lean down and kiss her cheek. “Thank you for taking her.”
“Lock up after me, yeah?” I say, walking out of the house with what feels like a boulder sitting on my chest.
I pull out my phone and text my father first.
Me: Tonight was hands down the proudest I’ve ever felt.
I send the text and attach it with a picture of the two of us that I took when we were at dinner.
I’m walking into the house when the phone rings. I look down and see it’s my dad, and he’s FaceTiming me.
“Hey,” I say once we connect, and I look and see it’s my mother and my father. My mother looks like she’s blinking away tears.
“Hey,” she replies softly, looking at me, “that picture is going in a frame in the house.”
“I think so also.” I kick off my shoes in the mudroom, and the smile on my face is plastered there. “Tonight was so much fun.”
“Tell me all about it,” my mother urges softly. “I want to know all about it.” I tell her the little things that made it so good. The having dinner with just her, her holding her hand in mine, and being proud I was by her side. Her just being fucking her and being the best kid I’ve ever met.
“Well, now you know,” my father says when I finally stop talking.
“Now I know what?”
“What it means to love someone so unconditionally that you would brave the storm just to keep them okay. You would do things you wouldn’t do for anyone else but them.” His smile mimics mine. “Now you know how I felt when I met Caroline.” He looks at my mom. “Best thing I ever did in my life.” She blinks her eyes and leans forward to kiss his lips.
“Dad,” I say, “I’ll never try to take Benji’s place.”
“Totally different scenarios,” he counters. “They are old enough to keep the memories of Benji with them, but at the same time create ones with you that are totally different.”
“I’ll do whatever they want me to do, whenever they want me to do it.”
My parents share a look and then turn to smile at me. “We can’t wait to see them again. Maybe we could come down soon and visit.”
“That would be great. Let me talk to Koda.”
“Okay, honey,” my mother says, “love you.”
“I love you too,” I say, smiling at her. “You too, big guy.”
My father laughs. “Proud of you,” he praises, and for the first time, I understand him. I give him a chin up and hang up the phone, and then quickly text Koda.
Me: I miss you.
She replies right away.
Koda: You just left.
Me: I know, but I thought you should know.
Koda: Consider me in the know. Also.
I look down at the screen, wondering if she hit send too early.
Koda: I miss you also. Thanks for taking her to the dance.
Me: It’s me who should be thanking her.
Koda: You can stop being perfect now.
Me: Trust me, the things I’d like to do to you now are not making me perfect.
Koda: Stop turning me on right before I go to bed.
I’m about to answer her when my phone rings, and when I put it to my ear, I can only laugh when I answer it.
I’m walking into the house three days later after practice when I get a text from Dakota.
Koda: Do you think you could meet me quickly?
Me: Where?
Koda: 375 Peterbourgh.
Me: When?
Koda: Now, if you’re free.
Me: Be right there.
I get into the car and put the address in the GPS, seeing it’s about fifteen minutes away.
Me: Be there in fifteen.
Koda: I’ll be waiting.
I start the drive there, wondering what is going on. I pull up to the house thirteen minutes later and see Koda’s car parked in the driveway of a two-story house.
I park on the street at the curb, looking up at the house that has four massive windows in the front, two on each side. On the right side, you see the living room, and on the left, you see the staircase going up to the second floor. I stride up the paved walkway to the brown front door, stepping up the two steps.
The door opens right away, and Koda stands there wearing a pair of black pants with a thick white knitted turtleneck sweater. “Hi.” She smiles big at me, and I step in beside her, bending to kiss her lips.
“Hi,” I return softly, looking over her head, seeing a living room with two white chairs and a gray armoire stacked with books.