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)
Oak continued to rest his chin on the floor.
“But a big pro would be that she could suggest it, which would mean a long-distance relationship wouldn’t be something she viewed as a negative. Knowing she’d be open to it and wouldn’t think I was crazy might make me more likely to consider it.” I threw my pen onto the counter. “That’s two cons and two pros, if you’ve been counting. We’re at a dead heat.”
He let out a loud bark.
“What’s that you say? A huge pro would be that if I go, I’d at least not have to spend the rest of the day wondering what would’ve happened if I had?” I scratched my chin. “You make a good point. And it would be one more moment I’d get to spend with her. One more moment would be worth it, wouldn’t it?” I grabbed my keys and headed toward the door before I could change my mind.
“Damn you, Oak, and your damn…romanticness. You need to get a life of your own and stop interfering in mine. You’re turning me into a goddamn sap.” I slammed the door behind me.
I drove my truck to a convenience store on the way and grabbed a bunch of snacks for Feb to take on the road, since I knew she was renting a car to get back to the City. I didn’t have time to waste, but the snacks would give me a reason to stop by other than just being unable to let her go.
When I pulled up to Sierra, I noticed the ladder was gone. That wasn’t a big deal; it just meant I couldn’t surprise her by showing up at her window.
I called her cell phone, but there was no answer.
Crap.
Having no choice but the main entrance, I went straight to the front desk.
“How can I help you?” a woman asked. Thankfully, she wasn’t the same employee who’d witnessed our stepsiblings’ kiss the last time I was here.
“Hi, I’m February Shaw’s brother. I was hoping to catch her before she leaves today…”
The woman’s smile faded. “Oh. She was discharged about a half hour ago. She already left.”
My stomach dropped. “What?”
“I’m sorry.”
I hung my head. “Thanks.”
Carrying my big bag of snacks, I’d turned toward the door when a voice called from behind me.
“Hey, Lumberjack!”
I turned to find February’s friend Morgan.
I waved. “Hey…”
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
I sighed. “Well, I thought I’d catch February before she left. But it seems I’m too late.”
“Oh my gosh. That’s so romantic. You wanted to get her not to leave?”
“Not exactly. But I wanted to see her one more time before she hit the road.”
She frowned. “That’s too bad. I think she would’ve loved to see you. She was down about leaving this morning. She decided to leave early because she felt it was better to rip the Band-Aid off and get a head start if she was leaving anyway.”
My chest felt tight. “She was down, huh?”
Morgan nodded and took out a phone. She looked around and lowered her voice. “Come look at this.”
She led me down a hallway and showed me some footage of an interview with February that she’d apparently done this morning.
I could hear Morgan ask, “Closing thoughts on your time here?”
February fiddled with my bracelet around her wrist. She seemed melancholy as she answered. “Closing thoughts are that I’m happy to be leaving Sierra but not happy to be leaving Meadowbrook.”
“Any specific reason you’re not wanting to go home? Most of us are dying to get back to our normal lives by now. I know I am.”
“I feel like I’m leaving a piece of myself here. That’s all I’d like to say on camera.”
“From what I suspect, it’s a big piece.” Morgan laughed.
I rolled my eyes.
“What’s the biggest lesson you learned while at Sierra?” Morgan asked her.
February paused. “Having the right person around can change how you see life. Material things become less important when you’re surrounded by the right relationship. Experiences are what matter. And each experience is more valuable than the last. Not exactly a lesson from Sierra but more from…the ladder extension school.” She winked.
After that, February walked away from the camera, and the video ended. But boy, she was still wearing my damn flannel. And her parting words told me she was still thinking of me this morning, too.
I said goodbye to Morgan, leaving her with the bag of snacks, minus one thing I kept for myself.
With a heavy heart, I drove back to my house.
When I arrived, there was a note taped to my door.
I guess I just missed you. On my way, but thought I’d try for one last kiss before I hit the road. Guess it wasn’t meant to be. Take care, Brock.
xo Your Red
We’d just missed each other? When I’d gotten up this morning, I’d been certain this wasn’t my day, but now I knew I was cursed.