Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Sorry.” Strong hands keep me on my feet, and I look up into my father’s face. “I thought that was you. Good morning.”
“Hi, Daddy. What are you doing?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing. I came down to grab some of those croissants your mother likes.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. She’ll enjoy that.”
“And you?”
“Hm?” I raise my eyebrows and press my lips together as if I’m spreading lipstick over my lips.
“What are you doing here, in downtown Seattle, on Saturday morning when you live clear across town?”
“Oh, that.” I nod and look around, trying to bide my time. I’m in my mid-twenties for the love of Christmas. Why is it so hard to admit to my father that I spent last night enjoying the company of a hot man? “Well, I visited a friend in the building next to yours, and I thought I’d make breakfast. But I had to gather some supplies.”
It’s not a lie.
I stare down into the basket and will my father, who never misses anything, to not ask any more questions.
But I’m just not that lucky.
“Who’s the friend?”
“Oh, you don’t know them.”
“Look at me, Stella.”
Dad’s voice is firm but not angry. I look up into his eyes and try for a smile.
“Are you hurt in any way?”
“What? No. Of course, not.”
“Then that’s all I need to know. Have a good morning.” He kisses my forehead and then walks away toward the bakery department to get Mom’s pastries.
I don’t know why I feel tears pricking the backs of my eyes as I walk to the checkout. Maybe because this is the first time in my life that my dad has treated me like his daughter and an adult.
And he didn’t freak out.
Chapter 6
Gray
“So, she’s kind of hot.”
Willie doesn’t look up from his textbook as he speaks and then jots down notes in his notebook, but he’s not really paying attention to the work in front of him.
“How’d you meet her?”
“You’re as nosy as your grandmother.”
He smirks, then jerks a shoulder. “She seems nice.”
“Yeah, she is.” I clear my throat, not sure how much I want to tell the kid. Hell, I’m not even sure exactly how I feel about Stella. “She’s friends with one of my coworkers.”
“Oh, that’s cool.” He nods, not saying more, but I know something’s on his mind.
“What’s up, Willie?”
“I probably shouldn’t have come over this morning,” he says softly. “I’m sorry, I just always come over in the morning on the weekends, and you don’t really date much, you know?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I assure him and clap my hand on his shoulder. “You’re always welcome here.”
“Well, maybe I’ll text before I come over from now on. Just in case, you know?”
He always ends his sentences with you know.
“That’s fine, too. But, like I said, you didn’t do anything wrong. You startled Stella, that’s all. And you didn’t see anything that you shouldn’t have.”
“Did you, like, have sex with her?”
I press my lips together, shifting in my chair.
I don’t lie to Willie. Not ever. He needs an adult man in his life who gives it to him straight.
Someone he can trust.
And that’s me.
“Yeah. I did.”
He nods a couple of times, still staring at his book.
“Okay, let’s talk about it. I don’t think we’ll get much homework done right now. What do you want to know? I’ll tell you.”
Willie licks his lips, obviously giving my question a lot of thought.
“How long have you known her?”
“A couple of days.”
His eyes fly to mine, and he raises his eyebrows in surprise. “A couple of days?”
“That’s right.”
“So, it’s just a fling, then? Just, you know, screw her and move on?”
“I definitely did not say that.”
“But you don’t love her.”
I blow out a breath and rub my hand over my mouth.
“I mean, you can’t love her after a couple of days. So, you just, you know, screwed her.”
“First of all, it’s not that black and white, Willie. Did someone tell you that you only have sex if you’re in love? Or if you’re using someone like a dumpster?”
“Kind of,” he says. “Grams says you wait until you’re in love and married, and if you do the one-night-stand thing, you’re kind of a slut.”
I blow out a breath and resist the urge to go and give Betty a piece of my mind.
“I don’t believe that at all. Stella is someone I was immediately attracted to. I have a lot of respect for her, and I enjoy her company. There’s chemistry between us.”
Holy shit, is there chemistry.
“I plan to continue seeing her.”
“So, you don’t think she’s a slut because she slept with you right away?”
I lean back and watch the young man next to me. I don’t like that someone has skewed sex for him like this.
“No, I think she’s a woman who knows what she wants, is confident in herself, and is honestly really special. I’m looking forward to getting to know her better. Willie, not all girls who have sex are bad. It doesn’t make them less than.”