Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“I was terrified,” he said. “It was something I had never felt before, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t know what to do. The pain was ... it was pure agony.” He looked toward her.
“Adam told me it was like having your future taken from you. That was what it felt like to him. That the world seemed to stand still but also keep moving. Every second felt rushed, yet at the same time, it was like he couldn’t make it stop. It drove him crazy.”
“I was given all these warnings. If I continued, then it was going to get worse. I have medication now to help. I have to make lifestyle changes. The high-stress working environment I once thrived in was killing me. It’s a change I struggle with. Even now, I wake up at four-thirty, without an alarm, and my first thought is to check my emails. To see what job needs handling first. Instead, I don’t touch my phone. I lay in bed, look up at the ceiling and just wonder where I went wrong.”
“You didn’t go wrong.”
“I mustn’t have done something right. I was a dick in high school. I didn’t donate to enough charities. I wasn’t kind. I don’t fucking know.”
“Some things just happen.”
He looked at her and smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I noticed you didn’t correct me about the whole ‘dick in high school’ part.”
“I’m not going to lie to you, Hawk. You were a dick in high school.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. You know, Adam told me the best way to deal with everything was to take it one day at a time, and if that wasn’t enough, then a few hours, or a couple of minutes, and to just keep pushing forward.”
He looked into her brown eyes, and he just didn’t want to wait any longer.
“Will you go out with me Friday night?”
****
“What do you think?” Katie asked, looking toward her mother.
“Honey, you look gorgeous in whatever you wear.”
“Mom, I don’t know what to wear to a bar for a ... date.” Her other dates had been in restaurants or cafes. Some had been online dating, and they hadn’t exactly gone as well as she had hoped. Dating had been a bit of a nightmare. Most men were more interested in what was going to happen at the end of the night. Katie wasn’t interested in just having sex.
“And with Hawk Masters of all people,” her mother Ana said.
“Yeah, it is a shock, but he has been around the shop and I don’t know, he asked, and I said yes.” She blew out a breath. “But maybe I should call him and cancel?”
“No, absolutely not.”
“Mom, I’ve not exactly been big on the dating game.”
“And that doesn’t matter. So you were a little unlucky, and it has changed a lot since you and Adam were together, but it’s just a date in a bar on a Friday night.” Ana smiled at her. “Hawk is a good guy.”
“Mom, stop it.”
“No, you know I always said he was going to do well.”
She rolled her eyes. Her mother had always admired Hawk. Katie had never come home and complained to her mother about what a dick he had been, or the fact he’d pushed her or barged into her. There was just no point. It wasn’t bullying, but it kind of was, she wasn’t sure how exactly to describe it. Now, she was going on a date with him.
They were much older now. They had experienced life. Both had experienced different kinds of pain.
“The one thing I will say, honey, is you don’t think you want to go out with him because of ... well ... you know.”
“No, Mom, this has nothing to do with Adam.”
“You couldn’t help him in the end.”
“Mom, I’m not going on a date with Hawk because I think I can save him. I like him, and the past month, it is insane, but I’ve looked forward to him coming to the shop. He’s a great guy, and trust me, I didn’t think I would ever say that about him.” She picked up a black dress with white flowers. “What do you think? Boots?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Not too high, though, because if he wants to dance, I don’t want them pinching my feet at the end of the night, wishing for ice to soothe them.”
Her mother laughed. “I’m glad you’re getting out there,” Ana said.
“It’s a date, Mom. Nothing too serious.”
Her mother walked over to her. “But at least it is something.” Her mother kissed her on the head. “I will let myself out and I’ll see you for Sunday lunch, yes?”
“Yes, I’ll be there.”
Again, another kiss to the head, and she left.
Katie didn’t wait to listen to the door closing, she quickly got dressed, ran a brush through her hair, and gave it a spray to liven up the lengths. Next, she touched up her makeup. Nothing too much, just going from daytime to night, with a little sparkle on the eyelids, and a touch of gloss to the lips. She touched up her blush, just a nice flush to the cheeks.