Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Well, if you ever need someone to substitute teach a class here or there, let me know. I have some time on my hands.”
I laugh at the playful grin on his handsome face. “And what exactly would you be authorized to teach in a philosophy class?”
“I’d start with my boy Marcus Aurelius.”
“What about him?” I ask, curious where he’s going with this. “Anything in particular?”
He leans against the table with a casual coolness that’s interesting. Typically, men eager to discuss philosophers wear button-ups, wire-rimmed glasses, and often a toupee. It’s not exactly a topic I encounter regularly with men who look like Brooks. Is that judgy? Maybe. But it’s also statistics in my experience.
“I’d start with the part where he’s asking his daughter if she would’ve been a just Caesar had she been born a man,” he says. “I think we could do a lot with that. Lots of angles to work from.”
What is he talking about? I’ve studied philosophy for a decade, and none of this is ringing a bell. “That’s an interesting angle.”
“Yeah, it was a great scene. They were in the tent shortly before he gets killed by Commodus.”
I try my hardest not to laugh, but it’s futile. “Are you talking about a movie?”
“No.” His eyes widen, making it clear I’m right. My laughter grows louder. “I was just testing you to see if you really knew your shit.”
“Hey, Brooksy. You about done over there? We gotta go, my man,” Jasper calls from the other side of the restaurant.
“Yeah, gimme a second,” Brooks says. “I gotta pry my foot out of my mouth.”
I rest against my seat and smile up at him. I almost tease him, but decide to let it go. “Where are you headed?”
“We’re picking up a trailer for Hartley about a half hour from here.” He lifts a brow. “Want to ride with us? It’ll be fun, and we’ll behave. Promise.”
“That boy ain’t behaved a day in his life,” Charlie shouts from the round table.
“Charlie, you shut the hell up,” Brooks says, making everyone laugh. “Mind your damn business.”
The thought of being cooped up with Brooks makes it impossible to sit still. I shift in my seat, begging the throbbing between my legs to stop.
“Can’t,” I say, sighing. “I have a date with my needle and thread.”
“Sounds boring.”
Of course, it sounds boring. I’m boring. I’m so boring I bore myself. “Yeah, well, I’m not the most interesting girl in the world.”
He takes a step away from the table. “I beg to differ.” He flashes me a megawatt smile. “See ya around, Doc.”
I consider reminding him once again that I’m not a doctor, but decide against it. It won’t matter. Besides, I kind of like that he gave me a nickname.
“See ya,” I say.
He meets his friends at the door and walks out without looking back.
CHAPTER
SIX
Audrey
The warm sun shines high in a mostly blue sky, as if it’s promising an early spring. A cool wind ripples through the open field behind the cabin, rustling the ends of my hair and the tree branches in the distance. Birds glide lazily overhead, their dark bodies stark against the clouds. I could watch them all day.
Lunch at Piper’s turned out to be delicious. Once the round table of men left, Lisa finished her chores and sat with me for a while, regaling me with stories from Sugar Creek. I’m now dying to attend the Sugar Days festival, need to meet Blooper the three-legged cat, and shop at the farmers’ market as soon as spring arrives. Apparently, it’s the best place to overhear the town’s gossip—even better than the waitstaff at Piper’s Pizza.
I follow a tire-track path and mosey up a small, rolling hill to get a better view of the creek that runs just beyond the trees. I started to walk to it yesterday, but chickened out when I was halfway there. I’m not a fast runner, and there was nowhere to go if someone, or something, decided to chase me. A branch snapped in the forest, and I hightailed it back to the cabin.
So much for being adventurous. But Rome wasn’t built in a day.
The sound of a truck greets me well before I can spot the vehicle. I’m not great at identifying vehicles by sound, but this one seems familiar. When it finally comes into view, it pulls beside me on the small path and rolls to a stop.
“What are you doing out here?” Hartley asks, smiling at me.
Brooks leans forward and smiles, too. “Do you have your taser?”
I laugh, shrugging. “Nope. No taser. But there are rocks to throw while I call nine-one-one if needed.” I point at Brooks. “And before you comment on my survival skills, I heard you way before I saw you this time. That’s progress.”
“I would hope. We’re in a truck, for fuck’s sake,” he says.