Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
The man shakes Mom’s hand, too, and then she ushers him into the living room and announces his name, presumably in case my dad doesn’t know or has forgotten it.
“Dinner will be ready in less than ten minutes.” She excuses herself and returns to the kitchen, so I follow her.
Those next ten minutes pass by quickly, as Mom finishes a sauce while Jessica and I transfer food to serving dishes and I ferry them out to the dining room. Mom also asks me to take beverage orders, but the men only want water, which triggers another wave of guilt at my new whiskey sour habit—if you can call two drinks in one week a habit.
In no time at all, we’re all seated around the table, and my father says grace.
Mom has definitely taken extra effort with the meal today, which makes me wonder if John is somehow important in the church, or related to someone important. Though I’ve still been attending, I’ve been distancing myself from church gossip and news, and I’m probably guilty of tuning a lot of it out when my mom or the women at the store are talking about other members.
I may very well have developed a bad habit, because I keep having to remind myself to focus on the conversation that takes place around the table as we eat. My dad talks to my brother about his job, Mom talks to John about his parents and siblings, all four of them talk about the pastor, and my mind keeps drifting off to moments I’ve spent with Erik, Brax, and Gray.
Outwardly, I try to be on my best behavior, but inwardly, I’m wondering what we’ll do when I next get together with Brax and Erik, and what dinner with Gray at Mon Bijou will be like. I feel like two different people.
“Ava works at Mr. and Mrs. Todd’s fiber shop,” Mom is telling John. “She’s been teaching classes there for several years.”
John, who seems like a very serious type, nods politely.
The more Mom talks about my association with the Todds, the more convinced I become that she’s trying to impress John for some reason, so I play the dutiful daughter, talk about my work, and answer all of their questions.
Guilt is the word of the day, though, because inside, I’m counting down the minutes until this meal is over and I can go back to my apartment and be alone with my sinful thoughts.
BRAX
“A half day off. What a treat!” Ember says as she tidies her reception desk, sliding a small stack of papers into the top drawer.
“Yeah, great weather, too.” Kai and Gage, the Beasts Ink owners and primary artists, aren’t in today, so the shop is closing early.
Ember lowers her voice. “Let’s not rub it in, though.”
“I can still hear you,” Pierce calls from his nearby station. He’s in the middle of inking a large piece on his client’s leg, and is going to keep working even though the shop’s doors will be closed.
“Sorry, Pierce,” Ember calls back to him.
“I don’t mind, actually,” the artist says. “Some peace and quiet will be nice for a change.”
After asking if Pierce or his client need anything, Ember and I tell them goodbye and head out to walk to the parking lot together.
“Have any big plans for your afternoon?”
Her question instantly brings a smile to my face.
“Ahh, you’re seeing Ava,” Ember says, not missing a thing.
“Is it that obvious?”
“It is,” she says in a teasing voice, “but I also knew because I invited her to go shopping with Lexy and me, and found out she was busy.”
“Sorry, not sorry.”
Ember laughs and jabs a finger at my ribs. “It’s about time you asked her out.”
I shrug, even though she’s right. “You know I don’t date much, since school and work keep me busy.”
“I do know that, but Ava is one hundred percent worth your time.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, Ember.”
She gives me a long look as we approach her car. “Men can be dumb. I want to make sure you know how special she is.”
My smile must not be as big and silly as it feels, or Ember wouldn’t feel the need to give me a lecture. I usually come across like a tough guy, but lately I keep getting a goofy grin on my face everytime I think about Ava, which is frequently.
“I’m well aware.” I give her a nod and a wave when she’s in her driver’s seat. “And I’m glad she has a good friend like you.”
Once I’m in my truck, I check the time again and think about where I can stop on the way to my destination. Thirty-five minutes later, I navigate through the big parking lot and pull up to find Ava waiting at the spot I described.
She’s in white shorts and a pink shirt, and I feel my smile spreading across my face once again. To Ember, I may seem to move too slowly, but she didn’t need to sell me on Ava’s appeal. It comes through loud and clear, especially as she gives me a big grin and then ducks her head shyly when I approach.