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, I can speak for myself and say that I didn’t either.”
Slowly, a lopsided grin graces his kissable lips. “Let’s catch up on life and clear our brains, and then we talk about this tomorrow. Sound good?”
“Yeah. Sounds great.”
He steps onto the porch.
“Hey!” I say, catching his attention one last time.
He looks at me over his shoulder. “Yeah?”
“I’m going to be in a black lace mood tomorrow. Just so we’re on the same page.”
Brooks turns away from me before I can see the smirk that I’ll guarantee is written on his face. But the breeze is too chilly to watch him walk to his truck. So, I close the door and miss proving myself right.
The cabin is so quiet. I can’t help but wonder if it’s always been this quiet or if it just seems that way because I’ve been with Brooks for the last few days. He certainly makes the world more colorful, so it makes sense that he could make it noisier, too. But this silence—the very thing I came to the cabin to enjoy—feels empty. Hollow. Terribly lonely.
I find my computer and carry it to the kitchen table. Then I grab my phone and bring it over, too. Quickly, I scan my inbox, delete spam, and tag each remaining message into groups. Students first. I open the top email while I call Astrid.
“You’re alive!” she says, laughing instead of a traditional greeting. “So, how was it? Give it to me in five adjectives.”
I laugh, too. “Five adjectives, huh? Let’s see … I’d go with huge, spicy, hard, frequent, and bliss.”
“Damn.”
“Listen, I don’t know what sex is like for most people, because I only know what it was like for me with the other guys I’ve slept with. But Astrid—this is a whole new level. It’s a whole new world.”
“I was going to ask if you enjoyed yourself, but that’s been answered. So, tell me things. Where did you go? What happened?”
Sitting back, I sigh happily. “We went about an hour or so south to a house on a lake. It was small, but the view was immaculate. And there was a little town I’ve never heard of just a few minutes away. That’s where we ate a few times, had groceries delivered from there, and did some shopping. It was just an amazing time.”
“You sound happy, Auddie.”
“Consider this verbal cartwheel emojis,” I say, laughing.
“Have you talked to Gianna?”
“No.” I sigh. “I love her, but she’s a bloodhound. I probably had sex in ten different positions over the last few days. She’ll somehow sense it and make me relive every tiny detail—which I’m not averse to doing—but I just need to decompress for a minute first.”
“Understandable.”
I type out a response to the first student’s email and hit send.
It’s only now that I’m alone and in a place I’m familiar with that I can truly process my time with Brooks. Surprisingly, it’s not the words he used with me, or the ways he fucked me all over that house that sit atop the things that come to mind from our trip.
What stands out most is how alive I feel.
Things feel softer, smoother, sharper. The air smells crisper and stronger than it did before I left. Sounds, even the silence, are louder than they were before, and the cabin is even more welcoming.
Best of all? I did it. I didn’t stay complacent and accept the drudgery of my days as they were. I became the main character of my life again, and I’m proud of that.
“When are you coming home?” Astrid asks. “Do you know? If not, it’s fine. I’m just curious when we’ll see each other again.”
“I have to fly to Boston on Saturday.”
“Why?”
“Dad’s birthday.” I start to tell her about Drew and Brooks but stop before I can spill the beans—beans she might already know. “It’s a whole … thing.”
“Is everything okay?”
Astrid asks the question with the gentleness of someone who understands how complicated my relationship with my parents can be. She’s served as my sounding board more times than I can count. If I ever need to rob a bank or get out of a speeding ticket, I’ll call Gianna. For anything logical, I’m calling Astrid.
“Can I rain check this conversation?” I ask. “I just don’t want to get into the weeds about it right now.”
“Of course.”
A call beeps in, and I see Drew’s name on the screen. My stomach sours.
“Astrid, Drew’s calling, and we’re sort of in the middle of something,” I say, leaving it at that. “Can I call you later?”
“Sure thing. Love you. And I am so proud of you, my little badass friend.”
I smile. “Thanks. I love you, too.” I wait for her call to end before I accept Drew’s. “Hey.”
“Hey, Aud.”
There’s no tell in his tone, no hint as to how this conversation will go. I’m still shocked that our last chat went so horribly wrong. Maybe he was just stressed, and he’s calling to apologize.