Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Mom’s grin widens. “I am. I’m Quinn.”
She extends her hand, but Taylor ignores it, wrapping her arms around her. “It’s so nice to meet you. Kinsley told me you love reading. I can’t wait to see your library one day!”
“You’re welcome over anytime,” Mom tells her.
“Here are your books,” I say, handing Taylor the tote bag of books.
Taylor eyes the bag and frowns. “Did you not want to read them? I don’t mind how long you borrow them for.”
“Quite the opposite,” I admit with a laugh. “I devoured them all.”
Taylor’s eyes widen. “Dang, you are a hard-core reader. I like it.” Then, her eyes light up. “Oh! I have a BookTok account. You should go live with me so we can discuss the books. It would be so much fun, and I can totally name-drop your shop.” She winks dramatically, making my mom laugh. “Not to brag, but I have, like, fifty million followers.”
“What?” I gasp because I’m pretty sure I have, like, twenty—and not with the word million following it. Like, literally just twenty. And half of them are probably my family.
“My dad helped me make it a couple of years ago because I wanted to post about the books I’d read and loved, and it totally blew up. He used to monitor it, but now that I’m seventeen, he trusts me to handle it. He won’t let me touch any of the money it brings in, but it’s going into my savings account.”
She waggles her brows, and my mom and I laugh. The girl has such a big personality.
“So, what do you say? Want to go live with me to talk books?”
“I’d love to,” I tell her.
“Cool!” She beams. “So, books or coffee or both?”
“Both,” Mom and I say in unison.
After ordering our lattes and pastries, we sit on one of the comfy couches.
“She’s fun,” Mom says, nodding toward Taylor, who’s helping another customer. “I’m glad you’re getting out again … even if it’s just simply making friends.”
“They haven’t really given me much of a choice,” I grumble, taking a sip of my coffee. “Shane keeps showing up, and his daughter makes it hard to say no to her.”
Mom chuckles. “Oh, if you didn’t want them around, you’d make it clear.”
She quirks a brow, daring me to argue, and I roll my eyes.
“So, what are you reading?” I ask, hoping she’ll drop the subject of Shane.
“A curvy single mom romance,” she says with a grin. “She meets a sexy younger tattoo artist, and he won’t stop until she agrees to go on a date with him.”
“Sounds a lot like yours and dad’s love story.”
“Right?” she agrees and then proceeds to tell me all about the book, leaving the topic of Shane behind.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted,” Taylor says a little while later as she dramatically plops onto the couch next to us. “This whole working life isn’t for me.” She brings her hand to her forehead and sighs, making Mom and me laugh.
“You’ll get used to it,” I say, patting her knee. “Are you on break?”
“Nope.” Her green eyes pop open. “I’m off. Came in at six a.m. for the early shift.”
“We’re going to get pedicures,” I find myself saying. “Want to join us?”
Taylor’s eyes light up. “Yes! I’m totally in need of a good pedi. We’re going to be heading to Florida for cheer camp soon, which will mean plenty of pool and beach time. Gotta make sure my toes look cute.”
Mom snorts out a laugh while I shake my head.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Since the nail salon is in walking distance, we leave Taylor’s and Mom’s cars in the parking lot and head over.
The salon isn’t super busy, so they’re able to sit us next to each other, and the entire time, Taylor chats away about everything and anything. I learn she was in a relationship for a while, but the guy cheated on her with her now ex-friend. Casey is talking to a guy on the football team, and since Taylor is single, she feels left out, but she’s trying to be supportive since Casey was always supportive of her relationship with her ex.
She’s heavily involved in cheer, and she has a competition coming up. She gets good grades and plans to go to NYU for graphic design. A lot of this I already know from Shane, but I enjoy listening and getting to know her, so I don’t mention that, simply letting her talk.
“Kinsley went to NYU,” my mom says with a proud smile. “Maybe she can take you on a private tour. Show you behind the scenes.”
Taylor gasps. “Oh my God, that would be awesome!”
Taylor’s phone goes off, but when she checks it, her smile morphs into a frown.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, I was supposed to have dinner with Casey, but she bailed on me to hang out with the guy she’s talking to.” She rolls her eyes like it doesn’t bother her, but I can tell it does.