Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Her suitcase was waiting for her, and she nodded. “Thank you.” She’d already paid the fare to the hospital, but in her rush to get to her mom, she’d forgotten about her luggage. At least he didn’t take off with it, not that there was anything of value there. Just some underwear and clothes, the usual stuff.
“Do you need a ride home?” Eagle asked.
She glanced around, knowing she should take the offered ride. “I can walk.”
“No, don’t be silly. I can drive you to your place. You have a key, don’t you?”
She did.
“If not, you’re welcome to stay at my place,” Alfie said.
“You have your own place?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve got a key.” She reached into her bag, pulling out the keys that included her apartment back in the city.
“I’ll drive you, and I won’t take no for an answer.”
She didn’t see any point in arguing with the man. Eagle knew how to get what he wanted.
Following Eagle and Alfie out to their car was surreal to her. Never could she imagine coming back home and taking a ride, and it was crazy. At one point they were all going to be a family.
Eagle took her suitcase from her and placed it in the back of the car. Alfie opened the passenger door in the back and she climbed in, telling him thank you.
Pulling on the seatbelt, she sat back and stared at the hospital. There was a risk her mother may not wake up from the coma, but the doctor said the risk was low. She didn’t know what to think or say. Everything seemed to be working against her when it came to her mother.
Eagle climbed behind the wheel. No music played, and the tension in the car seemed to go up a notch or ten. It wasn’t that far from her home, so she didn’t have to put up with it for long.
Taking a deep breath when Eagle actually pulled up outside of her home, she was relieved.
“Here we go.”
Alfie climbed out of the car before Eagle got a chance.
“That boy is eager,” Eagle said.
“He is?”
“It’s great to have you back, Chloe.”
“It’s great to see you, Eagle.” She did mean that. “I am sorry for the way everything went down. I didn’t want to come between you two. I hope you know that.”
“I do. It’s just how it happened.” Eagle looked out of the window to see Alfie waiting. “You know that boy has never been the same.”
“I better go inside.” She opened the door without another word and climbed out.
When she reached to take her bag, Alfie wouldn’t let her.
“Why?”
“Because I can carry it for you.”
She rolled her eyes but walked down the path and put the key in the lock, twisting it. She hadn’t done this in such a long time. It seemed so strange to be coming home, and her mother wasn’t even here.
Straightening her shoulders, she turned to Alfie, and he placed the bag inside her door but didn’t come in.
“Thank you for bringing my bag.”
“I want to have coffee with you, or breakfast,” he said.
“Alfie, I’m not here for us to get to know each other, or to have dinner, or breakfast, or anything. I’m only here for my mom.”
“And while you’re here, I’m not taking no for an answer. You’re going to have breakfast with me, and we’re going to sort out our problem.”
“You’re ordering me around? You really think that is the smart way to do this?”
“Let’s see, I tried to be the nice guy, and what did that get me? Nothing. You left, and I haven’t gotten a single chance since then. So now I’m trying something else. I’m not going to let you go this time, Chloe. I don’t care who you’re dating.”
“You heard that.”
“Kind of hard not to. Dad had you on speakerphone.”
She stared at him and glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t know.”
“Look, you can try to push me away and I’ll even let you try, but I’m not backing down.”
“It has been five years.”
“Is there someone else? Is that why you won’t give me a chance?”
She should lie, tell him there was someone else, but she couldn’t do it. “No, there’s no one else.”
“While you’re here, give me a chance, Chloe.”
“I’m not going to give you a chance at anything, but I’m not going to push you away or cause a scene. My mom’s legs, when she wakes up, she’s going to need help, and I’m going to be the one to help her. I’m going to get settled in.”
“Okay.” He didn’t move.
“I need you to leave, Alfie.”
“I know. It’s good seeing you, Chloe. Even if you can’t say the same.”
She closed the door after he left, and leaned against it. “It’s good seeing you as well, Alfie, really good.”
****
Chloe was back.
She was back.
Climbing back into his dad’s car, he smiled at the man.