Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Lost my two when we were in the service together,” Chip said, eyes going sad for a moment. “I guess that explains it. Glad she’s got you now, though. Don’t like those girls being alone. The little one’s exes left a lot to be desired, but at least there was a man in the house.”
“They’ve got you.”
His chest puffed up a bit at that. “I ain’t what I used to be. But I’d give my life for ‘em if I had to. Problem is, my mind, it’s ready to go. These knees? They got their own sense of urgency. Usually, none at all.”
“I feel better knowing you’re watching out when Sofia is gone.”
“Where’s she going?”
“California. She got an acting gig on a soap opera.”
“Which one?” he asked in a familiar sort of way that suggested maybe he even watched them himself. “I mean, the older one isn’t going with her?”
“She’s got her business here. I suspect the dog might be going with Sofia too. They share her, but the dog sleeps with Sofia every night.”
“She can’t be living here without her sister and her dog. You should move in.”
“I got my work too.”
Though I was with Chip on the issue. The idea of Carmen alone in the duplex in their neighborhood made my stomach twist. Even if, objectively, she was a smart, capable woman who owned a gun and might be willing to use it in the right situation.
“Weekends…” Chip said, shrugging.
I had no right to make any kind of promises about that kind of thing. I wasn’t dating Carmen. Given how fucked up our connection was, I wasn’t even sure it would be healthy for us to give in to the spark between us again.
“Weekends would be doable.”
“And another dog.”
“That would be up to Carmen. But I tend to agree that dogs are the best deterrent.”
“Next to a gun,” Chip agreed.
“She’s already got one of those.”
“Yeah, I signed off as a character reference for her permit. Was glad to do it. Girls as pretty as they are need all the barriers they can get.”
“Yeah. I’m adding better locks to the doors too. And alarms for the windows, in case anyone tries to open them when the girls are asleep.”
“When is the little one leaving?”
“I don’t have an exact date. But it sounded relatively soon. Think shit moves fast on daytime television.”
I barely knew these women.
But I was somehow simultaneously thrilled for Sofia… and nearly debilitatingly worried about Carmen.
Not just for her physical safety. But for her mental health. Up until a year or so ago, she had both her sister and her best friend to lean on when she needed support. Now, Vicky was long gone, and Sofia was all but on a plane across the country.
What then?
When there was no one around to worry about and lavish her attention on? What happened if there was no one there to distract her from her own life and future? To soften the sharp edges of her past?
Would she fall deeper into depression?
Would she fall into a hole of revenge? This time, with no one around to tether her to the consequences of rash decisions?
“What are you doing over here?” Chip asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“I’m having your windows fixed too,” I told him.
“I can take care of my own affairs.” Chip attempted to straighten his bent spine.
“I’m sure you can. But these guys are here, they have the supplies, and gave me a deal to do both sets.”
That last part was mostly a lie.
But his pride didn’t need a blow.
“It’s the least I can do to thank you for keeping an eye on the girls for me when I’m not around.”
Chip accepted that, then spent the next hour lecturing the men on how to do their jobs. For which they got a big tip as they were heading out.
“Alright. I’m gonna head back. You holding down the fort?” I asked.
He patted the shotgun propped next to him.
“Don’t worry about me.”
The problem was, I would.
I’d somehow gone from not having any real, active concerns about the people closest to me to being almost debilitated by worries about Carmen, Sofia, Hammy, and now, Chip.
I said my goodbyes, got on my bike, and headed back to the hotel to find Carmen standing on the grass to the side of the building with Hamster.
Spotting me, she beelined for my bike.
“Where have you been?” she asked as soon as I cut the engine.
“Overseeing the glass installation at your place. Your old windows were all rotted to hell.”
“You… what? I didn’t set that up.”
“No, I did. Did Chip’s windows too.”
“Wait… but you didn’t have key—” She cut off at the smirk I sent her. “Oh, right. Okay. Well, thanks. Send me a copy of the receipts so I can pay you back.”
“No.”
“What do you mean, no? You can’t pay for my windows.”