Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“That place was here?”
“Yeah, I could have gone back where I grew up, but I wanted a change of scenery. I needed to be near the ocean, and this place came highly recommended it. So far, I can say I’m impressed.”
“I think I’m going to grow to love it here, too,” I nod. “It’s so ... peaceful.”
“That’s the good thing about small towns, people are different.”
He’s right about that, they are.
“So you work at the fisheries,” I ask. “What’s that like?”
“Messy,” he chuckles. “But, it’s hard work, and I don’t mind hard work. It makes the days go quickly and the days off more enjoyable.”
I laugh. “That sounds fun.”
“What about you, working at the café? How are you liking that so far?”
“I’ve only been for one shift, but it was great. They’re nice people.”
“Yeah, they certainly are.”
We talk and drink two more cups of coffee. Carson is incredibly easy to get along with. He’s the kind of person you can just talk to, without pause. There are no awkward silences or moments where you struggle to find things to say. No, talking to Carson is easy and effortless. I like him, and I have no doubt this will blossom into a great friendship.
God, I can only hope.
Maybe now, things are finally looking up.
14
THEN – BOHDI
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD
“Sunny is crying, can you grab him, please?” Isla growls, storming past me, pregnant stomach protruding as she waddles around.
She’s pregnant with our second son and she is making it known to the world that she is miserable, round, and has had enough.
Sunny is a good boy, but he’s strong and determined. I like that about him. He knows what he wants. Even though he’s not even two, he is something else. No doubt about it.
I wasn’t expecting Isla to get pregnant so soon after Sunny was born, but it happened and we went with it. Get it out of the way and all that. Things aren’t any better after the birth of Sunny like I thought they would be. She’s angry, and frustrated, and always out. She puts Sunny into care and disappears for an entire day, stating that she’s searching for jobs.
I highly doubt it.
“Let him cry, Isla,” I say, picking up my keys. “You can’t always give him what he wants.”
She glares at me in a way that makes my skin prickle. She’s angry, god is she angry. She’s always fucking angry.
“He is a child. Pick him up, Bohdi.”
I exhale and lean down, scooping Sunny into my arms. He immediately stops crying—he always does when I hold him—which is why Isla always wants me to pick him up. She can’t handle his crying. I get it, but I’m not about to create entitled children, either. Still, I like having my boy around, and I certainly like it when he’s happy.
“Come on, buddy. You can come into town with me.”
“Where are you going?” Isla asks, narrowing her eyes.
“To get some food for this family, because you didn’t go grocery shopping and Sunny is out of diapers.”
“Well excuse me for being too busy looking after your son.”
God.
I can’t deal with this. Not today.
“I’m going to the store.”
I take Sunny and leave, heading to the store. When I arrive, I find myself walking up and down the aisles in a daze. I should be doing more to make this family work, but day by day, my soul dies a little more.
I feel like I have nothing left, and it’s killing me.
“Bohdi?”
I hear a familiar voice and spin around, seeing Carson and Sean striding toward me, big grins on their faces. No fucking way. They haven’t been in town for years—fuck, I can’t remember the last time I saw them. A grin spreads across my face when they reach me and pull me in for a hug.
“Fucking hell,” I say when they release me. “What the fuck are you two doin’ here?”
“We’re in town for a comp. Fuck, man, it has been a long time!” Sean says, slapping my shoulder. “This your little fella?”
“It is, this is Sunny.”
“You still with Isla?” Carson asks.
“Yeah.”
“Fuck, it has been too long. You busy this afternoon? Keen for a surf?”
Fuck.
I’d do just about anything to get out on the water this afternoon, or anytime for that matter. “Fuck yeah. I’m still at the shack, come by and we’ll go out.”
“Deal,” Carson says, pulling me in for another hug. “It’s good to see you, brother.”
“You too.”
They disappear, laughing as they move through the shop. They don’t have a care in the world. Not a fucking care. They’re free and living the dream I always wanted. I push the envy down and stare at my son, who grins up at me. I have him. I have my boy. I have happiness, I just need to start focusing a little more on it.