Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“He’s not my man,” I retort, but she just hangs up on me, making me laugh.
Grabbing my purse and placing it across me, I tuck my keys in there and then my phone. The soft breeze makes the skirt I’m wearing flutter around my thighs. I look around to see if there is anyone I know as I walk down the street toward the school.
The second I step foot into the parking lot of the school, I see the first person I know. “Hey, Ms. Maddie.” I give her a hug. “How are you doing?”
“As good as ever,” she says even though she’s still recovering from the heart attack she had not too long ago.
“You look like you’re glowing.” I smile at her, and she looks over at her new husband, Oliver. “Marriage agrees with you.”
“Who knew?” She laughs as he pulls her to him and kisses her head.
“I knew,” he declares, looking down at her with the most loving smile and look I’ve ever seen. A look every single little girl secretly wishes she is going to get once she finds her prince.
“This looks like so much fun.” I look around to see tables of local crafts being sold. Off to the side, I see the food truck her daughter, Everleigh, started when the bakery burned down. “Oh, is Everleigh making her donuts?”
“Yes,” Ms. Maddie says, “but from the look of the line, she might be selling out faster than she thought.”
“Best donuts in town,” I remind her and touch her arm. “I’ll see you guys later.”
“We’ll be around with Saige. We are on babysitting duty while Everleigh tends to the truck, and Brock makes sure she’s okay.”
“Isn’t he a gentleman,” I say of Brock, who was more of a recluse than a gentleman until Everleigh returned to town, and they sparked up their romance again. Something everyone was watching but pretending they weren’t.
I zigzag through people who are gathered around the craft tables, heading to the fenced schoolyard that has kids running all around. My eyes scan all the faces to find the two I’ve secretly been looking for. A few more people stop me to say hello, a couple from the barn, and a couple I know from around town.
I make my way over to the side of the school when I feel eyes on me, and when I look over my shoulder, I see Emmett and Lucy walking toward me. Both sets of eyes are plastered on me, and the smile fills my face even before I can stop it. But as soon as they both see my smile, their own smiles fill their faces, and I would do anything to get them both to smile.
“Hey, you two.” I walk toward them, meeting them halfway. I try not to gawk at Emmett, who is wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt, and all I want to do is slide my hands under to feel him. The thought alone makes my stomach flutter, and other parts of me go to mush. “Are you excited?” I ask Lucy, who nods.
“We should eat,” Emmett suggests, looking down at Lucy. “You need to eat, and then we can do the activities.” He looks up at me. “Did you eat?” I shake my head, never thinking that we would be eating together. I thought I would come and hang with them for a bit but then go on my way. “So we need to eat first.”
“Okay.” Lucy nods and turns, and the three of us walk into the schoolyard and toward the smell of food.
“There is a line for the food.” I point at the line forming at the tables right in front of the two barbecues that are going with four people cooking on them.
“How about I get the food,” Emmett says, “and you two see if you can grab a spot to sit?” He looks around.
“Okay.” I hold out my hand for Lucy, and she slides hers into mine. “Let’s do this.”
We turn and look at the picnic tables, which are all taken, but then I see a basket of blankets on the side and spot a couple of families doing picnics on the grass. “How about we grab a blanket and set up our own picnic?” I ask, and she nods, walking over to the basket of blankets and grabbing one. “Now pick a spot,” I say, watching her go far right where not a lot of people are.
I reach for the blanket and open it on the grass. “Should you text your dad where we are?”
“I can go and tell him,” she answers and walks away from me.
“I’m going to watch you,” I say as my eyes never leave her back as she zigzags to him. Stopping at his side in line, she looks up at him, and then I see his eyes coming up to mine as she points at me. I lift my hand, and he nods at her. She turns and walks back toward me, his eyes never leaving her until she’s with me.