Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Fuck, I don’t even know. It all seems so foolish now. Sometimes, things really are that simple. I was trying to prove something I didn’t need to prove. Trying to buy my way back into something I never needed to pay for in the first place. I did need to get myself on track, but that’s all my family ever asked. They didn’t need me to be rich beyond belief or wildly successful. They just needed me to make peace with my life and myself.
How many more weeks, months, or even years would it have taken for me to feel like I was complete enough or worthy enough?
Even after all that therapy, I still didn’t get it.
Well, it’s still early.
Unless Ephemeral got up at the crack of dawn, I might still be able to catch her.
Consumed with the idea, I race downstairs and fly out the front door. I do note that the burner phone is gone from the hall table. I programmed the driver’s number into it under Driver, so she couldn’t have mistaken it. Even without that, she could have used the phone to call for a taxi. She could be heading to the airport right now, but I doubt it. I flew her and Peach Lips in my private jet because the regular airlines were so difficult when it came to allowing a cat to fly. They weren’t willing to bend their rules.
She won’t want to take my private jet, but I promised it to her to get her home.
I stop on the doorstep and scan the front yard like I expect Ephemeral and Peach Lips to be standing there waiting for Harvey to pull up. It’s not his real name as well, but he thought it was a great fit for the gig, which is to take anyone in the company anywhere they want to go. There are massive gaps of time when no one and no job requires his services, but he’s on the company payroll full-time anyway.
My elderly next-door neighbor, Mrs. Sanderson, is out in a leopard print bathrobe with huge rollers in her hair, puttering around her immaculate front flower gardens. It’s so like something you’ll see out of a movie. She straightens when she notices me across the way. Our yards are so huge and so far apart that she basically has to shout.
“Good morning!” She waves her arms enthusiastically, which makes the robe jiggle dangerously. It doesn’t exactly look securely tied. Then, her eyes travel down the length of me before coming to a stop.
Oh. My. Fucking. God.
I’m dead. I’m dead right here.
In my hurry, I forgot I was totally naked.
I still have Ephemeral’s note in my hand, which I quickly shove in front of my junk.
Slowly, Mrs. Sanderson’s gaze climbs back up my chest and lands on mine. Her brows rise, and she gives me two thumbs up.
I might as well ask what I want to know now that I’ve scandalized my neighbor. Or not scandalized. I’m not sure which option is worse. “Have you seen a woman—”
“She went that way,” she responds, cutting me off and pointing to the end of my driveway. It’s very clearly empty now. “I was in the living room jazzercising this morning and saw a strange woman wearing the brightest dress you’ve ever seen and an astronaut backpack walk down your driveway. I do love me a good dress-up, so of course, I had to watch her. The black SUV that dropped her off came to pick her up. Is she going for astronaut training?”
My stomach crashes, and my hopes explode in a pile of hot flaming ash. My throat is suddenly burning like I’m coming down with something, but I know it’s not a virus. “Not exactly. But thank you!”
“No problem, sweetheart. If you ever need some sugar, you know where to find me. You know, a cup or two. I’m always good for it. Flour, baking powder, whatever it is you’re trying to cook…if you run out, chances are I have it. I’m always baking, so I have the pantry fully stocked.”
She cackles so loudly at the end that I’m not sure what kind of sugar she’s meaning. I wave at her politely anyway. “Thank you. Thank you so much. Have a good day, Mrs. Sanderson.”
She gives me a big thumbs-up again. “You know, you could always just stalk her. I know what houses cost in this zip code. I live here, after all. You can’t be hurting for money and resources. Buy a mask, dear. Creep her good if you’re not planning on letting her know outright how you feel. I’m sure that when she finally notices you, she’ll be flattered by the level of attention.”
A very reluctant smile curls my lips, especially when I see Mrs. Sanderson’s huge grin sans false teeth. “You do know I’m in security to prevent exactly that?”