Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
He lowered the bottle from his mouth. “All right,” he replied.
“Do you know if Uber has made its way to Madison?” I asked when he said nothing more but took another long drink.
He frowned then. “Yeah, but you don’t need it. I’m taking you.”
Oh … well, he could have said so.
“Thanks.”
I watched him drink the rest of the bottle down and found myself mesmerized by the way his neck flexed as he swallowed. When he finished, I grabbed my cup and drank the tea like I hadn’t been ogling him.
“What’s that kids movie with Johnny Depp that you said I needed to watch?” he asked.
“Pirates of the Caribbean isn’t a kids movie. Adults enjoy it too,” I told him.
It had been at least a year since he’d texted me and I was watching it. He said he’d never seen it, and I had told him he was missing out on life.
“It’s fucking Disney. It’s a kids movie,” he replied. “Let’s go watch it.”
I laughed and stood up. “You’ll see that it isn’t just for kids.”
He cut his eyes at me. “Are there naked tits or fucking?”
I sighed. “It’s a Disney movie. Of course not.”
“Like I said, it’s for kids.”
I had counted four times that Ransom laughed. Okay, fine, three were more of a grin, but still. He’d enjoyed the movie, sans tits and sex. And I’d enjoyed watching him. More so than Johnny Depp, and that was saying something.
Yawning, I stood up and then smiled down at him. “Not so bad for a kids movie, was it?” I asked, feeling smug.
“Eh, it wasn’t so bad,” he replied.
I knew that was the best I would get out of him, so I didn’t push.
“It’s late, and I need to get some sleep,” I told him, but left out how much I hadn’t gotten the night before.
He nodded, but didn’t move as he stared up at me.
We hadn’t sat close enough to touch during the movie. His doing since he sat down after me. There had been enough room for two men to sit between us. I pulled my feet up and covered up with a throw blanket he’d tossed at me. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed that he hadn’t sat closer, but this wasn’t a romance story, and I was not the heroine. Unfortunately.
This was reality. Mine.
“All right. Good night,” he said after a moment, but he didn’t get up.
He was probably staying up to watch something with naked women. I wanted to roll my eyes at myself for being jealous.
“Good night,” I replied. “And thanks for today. What you did for me with Mom’s things … it meant a lot.”
He nodded his head once. “You’re welcome, Shakespeare.”
Turning, I headed for the exit, and an ache crept in the farther I got. I didn’t know if we’d ever watch a movie together again. Or stay in the same house. We could just go back to texting and a few calls. Move on with our lives like these past two days hadn’t happened.
By the time I got to the door of the room I was staying in, my mood had plummeted. Stepping inside, I closed it behind me, then went to get my phone from the charger beside the bed. I had a missed call from Jellie and three texts.
Jellie: Uh, since when do you not answer my calls?
Jellie: And my texts?
Jellie: You’d better be asleep. There is no other excuse that will save you from my wrath.
A smile tugged at my lips, and I decided to text her. She would hear my voice and know something was wrong.
Me: I was letting my phone charge by the bed while I watched a movie.
That was the truth.
Jellie: Hmm. I am assuming your phone was silenced.
Me: Yes. I’m going to bed now, but I will call you tomorrow.
I needed to tell her about my mother, and she would rant that I hadn’t called her so she could come with me. I wasn’t in the mood for that right now.
Jellie: You’d better. Because otherwise, I might have to kick your ass when I see you next, and you know my kung fu is strong.
I laughed. She had never taken any martial arts class in her life.
Me: I will. Night. Love you.
Jellie: Love you!
Setting my phone back down, I turned to go get changed into my nightgown and brush my teeth. I’d showered earlier and not left the house to get dirty again, so I saw no need to take another one. All my things were still neatly packed in my suitcase, and all I had to do was take out something to wear for tomorrow.
Once it was all done, I turned off the bathroom light before making my way to the bed and pulling back the covers. The fresh scent from whatever the sheets had been washed in was welcoming. I wondered if I would finally meet the elusive Wilma tomorrow before I left. I wanted to know what laundry detergent she used.