Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Mark was laughing so hard he had to hold his side, but I was trying to picture the damage. Sure, it wasn’t a tree or concrete, but Ferraris weren’t built for impact.
“When we pulled up behind him,” Mark gasped between laughs, “he’s just sitting there, head on the airbag, while his meditation app is playing this soft, soothing voice: ‘Today is the day you gain control of your life. Stress, anger, heartache, and pain are all part of the past. The future is an open road—’”
I lost it, nearly choking on my beer.
Mark wiped at his eyes. “Dude starts punching his airbag while the voice is like, ‘Turn your anger into something productive…’”
I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. “What did Carter do?”
“He called for backup, totally serious, while I was about to pass out from holding in my laughter.”
I shook my head. “Was the guy injured?”
Mark smirked. “Couple of bruises, some scrapes—but the best part? Pieces of straw got embedded in his skin, he looked like a freaking scarecrow. Paramedics kept telling him to stop pulling them out as they were loading him up.”
I leaned back, still grinning. “See, those are the stories I like to remember.”
Mark nodded. “Same. Though I’m never trusting your cat again.”
I smirked, taking another sip. “Jesus.” I took a long swig of my now-warm beer, wincing slightly but pushing through it. “Those are the kind of incidents I prefer to remember. The ones that make you question how some people function as adults.” I set the bottle down and smirked. “I had a case like that once—kid launched his dad’s car straight into the back of a truck carrying a prize bull.”
Mark blinked. “He what now?”
I nodded. “You heard me. The kid was joyriding and thought he had everything under control—until he didn’t. Ended up wedging the car into the back of the trailer so tight the damn thing was practically part of the frame. Metal sides buckled outward like a soda can.
“And to make matters worse?” I leaned forward, grinning. “His windshield shattered, which meant he got a front-row seat to the bull standing on the hood, just shitting and pissing away, completely unbothered by the chaos.”
Mark let out a wheezing laugh, doubling over. “Oh, that’s beautiful. Please tell me there’s more.”
“Oh, there’s more.” I stretched my legs out, shaking my head. “By some miracle, the kid managed to avoid killing the bull, but he was stuck in that car for a solid forty-five minutes while they figured out how to cut him out. And when they finally did? They lifted him out on a gurney, covered head-to-toe in bull shit and piss, strapped into a neck collar because they weren’t sure if he’d jacked up his spine. He screamed for hand sanitizer and a baby wipe the entire time.”
Mark wheezed again, slapping his knee. “You’re messing with me.”
“Not even a little. Everett Hale’s story is a true one.”
He was still shaking with laughter when something seemed to dawn on him. A slow, knowing smirk pulled at his lips. “Oh, man. You’re gonna love this.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Love what?”
“That kid’s dad?” Mark said, still grinning. “Driving instructor. One of the best in Piersville.”
I snapped my head toward him so fast I nearly pulled something. “Bullshit.”
Mark threw his hands up. “I shit you not, he’s top tier. Just, you know, unfortunately, burdened with an absolute dumbass for a son.”
I let out a low whistle, shaking my head. “Well, that explains why the kid had confidence in his driving skills—too bad he had zero actual skill to back it up.”
Mark laughed again, but his phone rang before he could add anything. The moment he saw the name on the screen, his expression changed.
A slow, almost sheepish grin spread across his face as he answered. “Hey, baby, are y—” He barely got the words out before cutting himself off, quickly changing his approach. “Oh, sorry, yeah, there was an issue with the faucet in the kitchen. I fixed it, and I’m on my—” Another pause. This time, he winced, holding the phone slightly away from his ear. With a long, resigned sigh, he mumbled, “Yeah, see you soon.”
I wasn’t sure how long we’d been sitting out here talking, but judging by that reaction, there was no doubt who was on the other end.
I smirked. “Late for your very important date with the in-laws?”
Mark sighed dramatically, pushing himself to his feet and rubbing a hand down his face. “How’d you guess?”
I snorted, giving him a lazy, two-fingered salute as he stepped off the porch. “Catch you later, man. And welcome to the neighborhood.”
Mark turned back as he reached the bottom step, a devilish grin stretching across his face. “I hope she doesn’t stab you in your sleep when she realizes who her new neighbor is.”