Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
“That’s silly,” Char interrupts. “He grew up with Bear and the boys. They probably don’t even know the definition of the word posh.”
“Yeah, but his family came into money. And people who have sudden status changes like that are the ones most worried about it. He could think that unless the girl is a model or actress or something, she’s not good enough to actually marry and prove himself to his new financial class. To fool around and have fun with? Sure. But you keep them at arm's reach, and no closer. Well, uh, metaphorically. Tabitha has been clear she has been incredibly close to him in the most literal of fashions.”
I glare at her. “Fox isn’t like that. I know him. It’s not like that at all.”
Savvy shrugs. “It’s just a theory I thought up. I don’t know him as well as you do, Tabitha. And I agree he’s acting weird. But at the end of the day? You gotta figure this out on your own. You gotta confront him.”
That’s always what it was going to come down to, wasn’t it? As much as I held out for an easy answer, some universally clear understanding explained by my girlfriends, it’s gotta be something settled by Fox and I.
Damn me for ever wanting anything to be easy, I guess.
EIGHT
fox
“This is our weirdest hike yet,” she declares as we walk along. “Right along a dirt road.”
“What’s wrong with a dirt road?” I say as we stroll along.
“Nothing. It’s just weird to call it a hike to walk down one.”
“I like the aesthetic of the dirt road, really. Means it matters to someone, but it’s mainly for them. Not for the entire world.”
She laughs. “Waxing poetic about a road now, huh?”
“This road means a lot to me. I assure you.”
More giggles, but we kept going.
“I guess it's the quickest way to get us to this super special spot you’re talking about. No point in making the trip rough for no reason.”
I’d been planning on this trip for a while. Everything had to come together to make it happen, and I had to make a bunch of calls. Fortunately I guess my job had been preparing me for this, which is the first time I used it to do something I actually liked.
We kept heading up the hill. The spot was a bit far off from the paved road, but it had to be perfect.
As we approach the destination, Tabitha catches sight of it first. “Wow, that’s a nice looking cabin.”
“It is. I like it.”
“Looks like whoever lives there actually cares too. Check out all those solar panels. And those rainwater barrels.”
“It’s just economical in this day and age.”
We keep walking, getting closer to the cabin. “That’s one heck of a porch too. It overlooks the valley and creek. I can’t help but imagine drinking my morning tea and watching as the water runs by.”
I decide it’s time to stop playing games. “Good news. I think you’ll be able to do just that.”
Tabitha stops in her tracks and looks at me surprised. “You rented this cabin for us?”
“I’ve done one better than that. I built this cabin for us.”
Her eyes grow wider. “You did what?”
I gesture for her to keep following me. “I’ve wanted a place of my own for a while now.”
“While I don’t really hold it against people, I found it odd that someone as well off as you still lived with your parents.”
“Yeah, but perfect cabins don’t spring up overnight. You gotta work hard on them. Hunter and Bear have been going back and forth with me to get the place built. I’ve had to run a lot of contractors out here too, so I used all the connections I’d made over the years to make it happen.”
“Aw, didn't you want to do it all yourself?”
“Tabitha, I’m sorry to admit I have no idea how to install a toilet or how to do proper wiring and I don’t want a haphazard job for the place where I hope my future family will grow.”
She giggles. “It looks amazing.”
“It’s my passion project. It’s completely unlike all the massive luxury estates that are asked of me.” We reach the stone walkway that leads up to the front door. “I made sure this was as environmentally friendly as it could possibly be, complete with sustainable energy and water supplies. Not completely off the grid, but it needs as little of the grid as possible.”
“Sounds like you’re trying to kiss up to the hippie in me.”
“Hey, I’ve always had a hippie in me too. And that’s why I adore you so much, Tabitha.” We reach the front door. “You’re everything I want in a woman. The perfect woman to build a life and a family with.”
I wrap my arms around her hips, and bring her close. Her eyes meet mine, and we gaze deeply. A knowledge, an understanding. We know and desire one another on a deep, spiritual level, more intense than I ever thought possible.