Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Officer Quinn!”
Everyone turned and looked.
I smiled and said a few hellos to folks around me before turning and glaring at Brystol.
“You wouldn’t stop, so you left me no choice.”
“I didn’t hear you.”
A single brow rose. “You didn’t hear me?”
I motioned around me. “Have you noticed all the people today?”
Brystol looked around, then focused back on me. “Have you eaten lunch yet?”
Frowning, I shook my head. “No.”
“Then may I join you for lunch?”
Folding my arms over my chest, I tilted my head and regarded her. “Why do you want to have lunch with me?”
Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. “I would like to apologize.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. Enjoy your day, Brystol.”
I turned, attempting to walk down the street again, before she grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop. “Gavin, please. I’m just asking for a few minutes of your time, that’s all.”
Glancing at my watch, I sighed. “I need to let Declan and James know I’m heading to lunch. Does the Moose Village Café sound okay?”
She smiled, and I tried to ignore how it made my heartbeat skip. “Yes, that sounds great. Should I meet you there, or do you want to walk together?”
I hit my radio and let everyone know I was heading to lunch. “Might as well walk together.”
“Great! Lead the way,” she said, motioning for me to walk.
We walked the two blocks to Plum Street and down to the café. When we entered, all heads turned and looked at us. Brystol paused momentarily, but I gently guided her farther into the café.
“There’s an empty table over there in the corner,” I said, pointing. Brystol quickly started for it and kept her head down as if that would keep the gossip from starting. It was Moose Village, after all, and I just happened to see Betty Lou Stark sitting at a table with Judith Turner, Brystol’s aunt. Two of the town’s biggest gossips.
Brystol slid onto a chair, and I did the same, as Wendy, one of the waitresses, walked over. “Hey, Brystol, Officer Quinn.”
“Hey, Wendy,” Brystol said, lifting the menu to hide herself.
Wendy gave me a quizzical look, and I shrugged. “I’ll have a water.”
“Same for me, please,” Brystol said, lowering the menu just enough to speak and smile at Wendy. Then it was right back up.
“Brystol, everyone already saw us walk in. Why are you hiding?”
She slightly lowered the menu. “Not everyone turned and looked.”
My brows shot up. “Really? Cause from my vantage point, everyone turned. And did you not see Betty Lou and Judith sitting at a table?”
The menu dropped. “Shut up? They’re here?” she whispered, as her eyes darted around the café. I knew the moment she saw them.
A whispered “fuck” came from those full pink lips of hers.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Busted, so you might as well just go with it. If you hide, they’re going to think you have something to hide.”
“I do,” she said quietly as she leaned closer. “I’m pregnant, remember?”
“I do, and you’re not even close to showing. All you’re doing is making it seem like you’re embarrassed to be with me.”
She dropped the menu. “I’m not.”
Smiling, I replied, “Then just act normal, will you?”
She visibly relaxed.
“Did Evelyn ever call you about when to announce the big P?”
Confused, she shook her head. “No, why?”
“Denny and Evelyn wanted to tell a group of friends about the pregnancy. I was kind of surprised because of how many losses they’d already had, but Denny said Evelyn was so excited she wanted to announce it. I told them they really needed to talk to you about it since this was your life as well.”
Her eyes went as wide as saucers.
“They didn’t tell you?”
When her face went white, I quickly said, “It’s okay. They haven’t said anything, but they wanted to have a few friends over last night to announce it. Denny called me earlier in the week, and I told him I thought it was a bad idea.”
“You did?”
I went back to looking at the menu, even though I knew what I was getting—the same thing I always got when I came to Moose Village Café: pastrami on rye with homemade chips.
“Yeah, I asked if they had spoken to you, and he said no. I told him they needed to, and personally, I think they should wait until after the first trimester. Even if Evelyn feels more confident with you carrying the baby.”
When she didn’t say anything, I glanced up. She was staring at me.
“What?”
“How do you know about the first trimester? Or any ’mesters for that matter?”
“I did some reading.”
She dropped back in her chair. “You did some reading? Pregnancy reading? Why?”
Shrugging, I replied, “I don’t know, I was curious.”
With a slow nod, Brystol studied her menu. Wendy came back with our waters.
“Do you know what you want?”
“I do. Gavin?”