Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
“Your life is what you make it. Besides, JJ loves Pinky. Now, where are we at for the day?”
“Just cleaning cages and feeding. Thanks to the adoption fair, we’re still not at capacity, so it shouldn’t take us long.” So many of our animals found their forever homes. “I thought we could tag-team it instead of splitting up today.”
“Yes! It’s been way too long since we’ve done that.” Just as I say the words, the chime sounds on the door. Looking up, my mouth drops open. “Mom? What are you doing here?” I rush around the counter to give her a hug.
“We wanted to surprise you.”
I turn to look at Autumn. “You little sneak.”
She holds her hands up in the air. “I’d love to take credit for this, but it wasn’t me. I didn’t know anything about it.”
“Landon,” Mom says.
“Really?” I ask, and my voice cracks.
“He called me the other day and said, and I quote, ‘we need to get you to Los Angeles more often.’ I agreed, and here I am.”
“I can’t believe he did this.” I hug her again.
“He said we’re staying at his place?” she asks, raising her brow and giving me a look that only a mother can pull off.
My face heats. “Yeah, he likes to know I’m there while he’s away.”
“That man is whipped,” Autumn chimes in with a laugh.
“Oh, I could tell with how adamant he was that I come and visit,” Mom agrees. “So,” she changes the subject, “what are the plans this weekend?”
“Well, I work all weekend here, and I was going to go over to Autumn’s and watch the game on Sunday.”
“Tomorrow, you’re only here until noon,” Autumn corrects.
“Perfect. I’d love to tag along and see what it is my little girl does every day. Most of the time when I visit, you’ve taken time off. Is that okay?” She turns to look at Autumn. “Do you mind?”
“Of course not.”
“Well, ladies. We’ve got work to do. I’ll put your bags in the office.” The rest of the day, Mom helps out, and with the third set of hands, the work is done even faster. By the time lunch rolls around, we’re finished.
“You two go on home. Spend some time together.”
“We’re fine to stay,” Mom tells her.
“No. I insist. You’ll be back here tomorrow. I would volunteer, but I’ll have JJ, and it’s hard to get anything done when I’m here by myself with him.”
“No worries, it’s fine,” I assure her.
“Go, catch up.”
“Call if you need me. I can come back.”
“It will be fine. Now go.” With a round of hugs, Mom and I grab her luggage and head out the door. I haven’t heard from Landon, and I thought I would have by now. I send him a text, thanking him for bringing Mom here. It will be there for him when he lands. As Mom and I drive to his place, my heart is full. Overflowing with love for my number eighteen.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Landon
The entire flight, I had my headphones on and pretended to sleep. I’m exhausted, yet sleep never came. I keep thinking about Bridgett and her threats, and I get even more pissed off. Case is right that I should talk to Coach Neil, and I’ve already texted him, telling him that as soon as he has a free minute, I need to speak to him. I just hope it’s as soon as we land. This shit is festering inside me, and I’m about to blow. No way can I focus on the game when all I have is anger inside of me for what she thinks she can do. That’s the worst part. I don’t really know if she has that kind of pull. If she does, and Tessa can’t go with me, I guess I’m retiring early. Just the thought has me clenching my fists. Why does she get to dictate when I’m done playing? Fuck me, then there’s Tessa and my conversation with Case. I won’t let her push me away. I need to tell her about this. I told her I would always be honest, but damn, she had such a bad day, and I didn’t want to pile this unnecessary drama on top of it all.
What a fucking mess.
I take a seat in the front of one of the shuttle buses that take us from the airport to the hotel. I don’t feel like being social. Case plops down in the seat beside me, making me groan. “You talk to him?” he says, keeping his voice low.
“No. But he knows I want to talk the first chance he gets.”
Just then, Coach Neil climbs on the bus and takes the seat across from us. “When we get to the hotel and get everyone their keys, we’ll talk,” he says softly. I nod and sit back in my seat.