Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
“See what I mean?” he asked. “How have you survived without me this long?”
“Gosh, I really don’t know. Thank god you have come into my life to ensure that I do not walk around on my own two feet that work perfectly fine. Right, Megan?”
Wow.
If looks could kill, Casey would be dead.
What the heck did Megan have against her? Casey hadn’t met her before so she couldn't have insulted her previously. Surprisingly, considering the way her stay here had begun, most of the people of Oddity had been really kind to her.
Unfortunately, not kind enough to give her a job.
“You two are just so cute together,” Megan said through what seemed to be clenched teeth as she started to deal with Casey’s burn. “How did you meet again?”
“Well, Jeb here tried to get me arrested because I was having fun with his son at the playground.”
Jeb shot her a look. Oh, it seemed as if she was getting all the best looks today. Go her!
“Have you arrested?” Megan asked, looking alarmed.
Actually, she was kind of looking at her like she thought she might be dangerous.
“I wasn’t actually arrested,” she told Megan.
“Right, of course.” Megan gave her a shaky smile.
“Not then, anyway. I was arrested later that night,” she added.
“What?” Megan froze again.
“You know, I have other things to do today,” Jeb said. “So maybe we should drop this conversation.”
“You really don’t have to stay, Jeb,” Megan told him sweetly. “I will take care of your new friend.”
“Oh, we’re not friends,” Casey told her.
“No? What are you then?” Megan asked tightly.
“Hmm, frenemies,” Casey replied.
“No,” Jeb said.
“No?”
“I am not ever going to be associated with the word frenemy,” he told her.
“Ahh, ruins your bad-boy image, huh?” she asked as Megan bandaged her foot.
Her grandmother would shake her head at all this fuss over a small burn. By now her grandfather would have told her to harden up.
She missed them both so much.
“No,” he said.
“No? What is it this time?” she asked.
“I’m not a bad boy.”
“Really? You don’t like the term ‘bad boy’? Lots of women like bad boys, you know,” she told him.
“They do? Why?” he asked.
“I dunno. I guess they’re sexy. Especially when they fall in love and they don’t care about anyone else but the woman they’re in love with. And they’d kill for her. So they’re only soft for her.”
“I’m not soft for anyone,” he said.
“No?” she asked with a grin. “Good to know.”
He shot her a look then shook his head. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Ahh, so you’re hard, huh?”
“Brat,” he scolded. But she could swear she saw his lips twitch.
“Ouch!” She jumped as Megan pulled the bandage too tight.
Jeb turned and frowned at Megan. “Be careful, you hurt her.”
Megan’s face grew red. “I’m . . . I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Casey said even though it wasn’t. Her foot was throbbing.
Megan quickly loosened the bandage and didn’t say anything else as she finished up. “So, it sounds like the two of you are complicated.”
“Well, I guess that’s a good way to explain it,” Casey said cheerfully. “That’s what you call a relationship that involves accusations of drugs, the police, a runaway child, lollipops, and hot coffee. Complicated.”
Jeb grunted so she guessed he agreed.
“There, all set,” Megan said with a tight smile. “How long are you staying, Casey? I’m guessing that a young thing like you would find Oddity a bit boring.”
Sheesh, she wasn’t that young!
“I’m just waiting for my car to get fixed and then I’ll be on my way. I’ve got a job waiting for me in Santa Barbara. My best friend lives there.”
Relief filled Megan’s face and her shoulders eased.
Curious. Man, her aura was all out of whack.
All right, so she didn’t really see auras. She just thought it sounded fun. Plus, she liked the way that people looked at her when she told them about their auras.
Either they looked aghast and horrified. Or interested and understanding.
Hmm. Maybe she needed a hobby.
“Oh, that’s good.” Megan actually managed a real smile.
“Uh, well, I would have preferred that my car didn’t break down and I didn’t have to stay,” Casey replied dryly. “Oh, and that this guy didn’t have me arrested then burn me with coffee. But yeah, on the whole, this has been a blast.”
Jeb sighed.
She was growing on him. She was certain of it.
Chapter Ten
“You don’t have to drive me to the motel,” she told Jeb as he carried her out of the medical center. “And I can walk.”
As he strode down the street, everyone nodded or called out to him.
“And does everyone in this town know you?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess so. I’ve lived here for a while. And you’re not walking.”
“Jeb, it’s a small burn on the top of my foot. Unless you’re going to carry me everywhere for the next few days, I’m going to have to walk. So might as well start now. Put me down.”