Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Eventually, a low chime on her phone sounded. She pushed the button to turn it off and smiled. “Sorry about that. I always set alarms because I have a tendency to lose track of time. There are only about five minutes left of family day visiting hours. I’ll leave you two alone, and you can walk your dad out.”
“Okay. Thank you for everything, Trinity.”
My father stood and extended a hand. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for us today. Please take care of my little girl.”
Trinity smiled. “She doesn’t need much taking care of. She’s doing great on her own.”
I walked my father outside. There were people milling around near the door, so we walked toward the parking lot.
“How much longer are you here?” he asked.
“Another week.”
“Can we see each other again when you get out?”
I nodded. “I think so. How about I call you?”
“I’d like that.” Dad looked me in the eyes. “Thank you, February. I know we have a long way to go, but I appreciate you allowing me back into your life. I promise I won’t let you down this time.”
We hugged, and I watched him get into his car and disappear down the long driveway. Today had been heavy, yet I felt lighter. I had a sense of hope I hadn’t felt in a very long time. Maybe I could get to a healthy place with my dad, and with relationships again. That last thought made me excited to tell Brock about today.
I stayed outside for a few minutes, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my face. When my stomach growled, I realized I hadn’t eaten anything since last night, so I headed back inside. The hidden cell phone Brock gave me buzzed from my pocket. I dug it out and opened it, finding a local number flashing. No one ever called except Brock, so I answered with a smile.
“Hello. How did you know I was thinking about you?”
“Oh,” a woman said. “I think I have the wrong number.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have answered like that. Are you trying to reach a bar called The Brook?”
“I am. Well, I’m trying to reach Brock Hawkins, actually.”
“He’s not here at the moment. Can I take a message?”
The woman sighed. “I’ve left him four messages already on his personal cell phone. I figured I’d try the bar since he isn’t returning my calls.”
An unsettled feeling came over me. “Umm… I can make sure he gets the message, if you want to leave one with me.”
“Thank you. Will you please ask him to call Nina? It’s important.”
Nina…as in his ex?
Maybe there were two Ninas. At least I hoped there were.
“Will he know where you’re calling from? A company or a supplier or something?”
“He should know, considering we dated for almost a year.”
CHAPTER 13
* * *
Brock
There was nothing more peaceful than being out in the woods. The towering trees. The earthy air. The rustle of the leaves.
Trevor and I were working on one of a few log cabins I’d been building. This wasn’t the one I planned to live in; that one was a lot bigger and a bit farther off the beaten path. But this smaller cabin was one I’d sell or rent someday as an investment property.
It was a wonder I hadn’t chopped a damn finger off because since last night, I’d been replaying that FaceTime session with February in my head nonstop.
At one point Trevor stopped what he was doing to bring me my phone.
I took it. “Why are you giving me this?”
“You left it on that rock over there. I saw it light up. You missed a call from Nina.” He snickered. “What the heck does she want?”
I stuck my shovel into the ground and looked down at the screen. Letting out a deep sigh, I groaned. “I don’t understand why she keeps calling.”
“Keeps calling? She’s called you more than once?”
“Yeah.” I placed the phone in my back pocket. “It’s not the first time she’s called this week.”
“You’re not answering?”
“I haven’t, and I don’t plan to.”
My brother narrowed his eyes. “Isn’t that kind of rude?”
“Yeah, well, so is using women to make you Mexican food and then ghosting them.” I rolled my eyes and sighed. “I don’t actually think it’s rude, no. Isn’t she the one who left town? Why should I answer her calls if I don’t want to talk to her? There’s nothing to talk about.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Just seems rude not to return someone’s call.”
I raised my voice. “I know what she wants, and I’m not interested.”
“All right. All right.” He resumed working. “But you think she wants you back?”
“Well, she tried to get me to commit to her. That didn’t work. So she left town. Pretty sure she believed her disappearance would change my mind. But that strategy doesn’t always work. Sometimes distance doesn’t make the heart grow fonder. Sometimes you grow even further apart. Since she’s been gone, I’ve realized even more how incompatible we were.”