Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
However, the moment the nurse handed Owen to me, everything changed. I could still feel sad and lonely, but I had a newfound purpose.
“Alright, you two. Don’t have too much fun without me. I’ll be home before bedtime to tuck you in, okay?” I pull Owen into my arms and kiss the top of his head. “Be good for Memaw.”
“Helloooooo…” I hear Everleigh sing-song from the living room. “I come bearing drinks and food.”
“In the kitchen,” I call out.
Tools and notebook paper cover the counter. Every time I watch a YouTube video, I take rigorous notes so I can go back through and read them if I need to.
She comes prancing in with a cheesy grin on her face. “Margaritas for two, guac, chips, and shrimp tacos.”
I eye the two to-go cups. “How’d you manage that?” They never allow alcoholic beverages to be taken out of the restaurant.
“Antonio was working, and I laid on the charm.” She winks. “Works every time.”
“You mean, you flirted to get what you wanted?”
“Perhaps, but look…” She waves one of the Styrofoam cups in the air before handing it to me. “It worked.”
I snort. “I guess so. Thanks.”
Once the food is laid out, I sip my drink and eat.
“So now that you’re all boozed up, you gonna start telling me about Noah? What happened? How’d he look? What did he say?”
“I already told you, there’s nothing to tell. I opened the door, saw him, slammed it in his face, and walked away.”
Everleigh gives me sad eyes as she takes a large bite of her taco. “Are you ever going to talk to him again?”
“Not if I can help it,” I retort.
“Katie…”
“He had every opportunity to reach out, send a letter, or call me…and he didn’t. So he doesn’t get a free pass just because he’s out and now wants to talk to me. It doesn’t work that way.”
“Ya know, before Gabe, I really thought you and Noah were gonna end up together,” she says, and I nearly choke on my food.
“Me and Noah?”
“Yeah. You two were so close.”
“We were friends, but it was never anything more than that,” I tell her.
“Well, it could’ve been if you would’ve had the guts to tell him how you felt.”
I glare in her direction. “I was fifteen. I didn’t know what I felt.”
“Yeah, okay.” She rolls her eyes, knowing I’m full of shit. “I swear, you two were the only ones who didn’t know you both liked each other. Gemma kept pushing him to confess, but he kept chickening out.”
“Wait. What?”
She narrows her eyes as she folds her arms. “Noah liked you.”
“As a friend,” I confirm, trying to end the conversation, but she continues.
“Not from where I stood.” She smirks.
Noah and I were always only friends. He never gave any indication he liked me more than that. Everleigh continues to stare at me, smacking her lips as she pops a chip in her mouth.
“Noah didn’t protest or say a damn thing when Gabe asked me out. If he liked me, then why would he remain silent?” I challenge.
“Guess that’s something you’re gonna have to ask him.” Everleigh smirks like the smart-ass she is. “But I wasn’t the only one surprised to see you and Gabe get hitched.”
“We were together for three years before we got married, so why would that be a shock to anyone?”
“Because most of us saw how close you and Noah were. Don’t get me wrong, Gabe wasn’t a bad guy when you were dating, but I didn’t see that…connection. At least not in the way you had with Noah.” She shrugs, and my heart races.
“Noah and I knew each other for most of our lives, so of course we were close, but if anything was going to happen between us, it would’ve happened before Gabe moved to town.”
“Perhaps if you’d give him a chance to talk, you could ask him yourself. He sure has a lot of explainin’ to do.”
“He doesn’t deserve my time, Everleigh. I waited years for him to get the stick outta his ass, and he just expects me to accept him with open arms the day he gets released? Fuck that.”
“Hey, I’m all about making him grovel. That man better beg on his knees, but eventually…” She shrugs with a smirk. “Give him a second chance. Or at least five minutes of your time. Either way, he’s back, so you won’t be able to avoid him for long.”
I know she’s right, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give in anytime soon. I don’t know how I really felt about him back when I was a teenager, but if he wanted to be more than just friends, why didn’t he say anything? I’m not sure how I would’ve responded, but it would’ve been nice knowing the truth.
“You’re overthinking right now, aren’t you?” Everleigh interrupts my spinning mind.