Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 76592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
That gets another chuckle out of her. “I suppose you’re not wrong.”
I lean back in my desk chair. “Though it would be nice to be alone for a few days. No hovering.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “You should go. Can you handle the drive?”
“It’s about three hours. Probably more than the docs would like, but I’d be fine.”
“You should follow what your doctor says,” Angie says.
“Yeah, I should, I suppose. But now that you mention it, the cabin sounds great.” I check my watch. “If I leave now, I’ll make it before dinnertime. I’ll have to go home and grab some stuff.”
“Would you do me a favor?”
“Sure.”
“If you go, text me when you arrive safely. I can’t have Mom blaming me if something goes wrong. I probably shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“I’m actually glad you did, sis. It sounds great.”
“Okay. But don’t forget to text me.”
“I won’t. And don’t you forget to enjoy the last few days of your honeymoon.”
“I won’t. You take care of yourself, okay? Please?”
I smile into the phone. “I always do. One way or the other.”
Those words catch in my throat. Because I haven’t been taking care of myself. Sure, I’ve recovered well from the accident, and the headaches are nearly gone, but I still haven’t completely recovered from…
I sigh. Don’t want to go there.
“Love you, Ang.”
“Love you too. Bye.”
The cabin. Two nights. Maybe three. No meetings, no emails, no Mom hovering with a casserole. Just quiet. Trees. Zach.
Sounds fucking great, to be honest.
Our cabin in Dillon is hardly a cabin. It’s a custom house that Dad bought years ago as an investment, originally to add to our portfolio, but we ended up using it for respite only. It’s where one of us goes when we need to escape the family, the ranch, the Slope.
I haven’t been there since last year. I thought about going after I decided to renovate my place, maybe just stay there instead of at Mom and Dad’s, but I couldn’t leave the foundation to Bradley. He has enough to deal with with Uncle Joe and the cancer.
But for a weekend?
Hell, yes.
I stand and walk into Brad’s office. “Hey.”
He looks up from his work, his eyes sympathetic. “Hey, you doing okay?”
“I’m good. Just thought I’d drop by to tell you that I’m out of here.”
He nods curtly. “Good. You should be at home.”
“I’m heading to Dillon for the weekend. Just need to go home and pack and collect my dog.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Are you sure—”
I hold up a hand. “Please. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t tell me to relax and then tell me not to. The drive will be fine. I know it like the back of my hand.”
“Will you—”
I suppress an eye roll. “Yes, God, I’ll text you when I arrive safely.”
He nods. “Okay. And Henry?”
“Hmm?”
“Love you, man.”
“Love you too.”
After the short drive back to my parents’ place, I head to my room and pack a small bag.
My laptop glows on the desk where I left it this morning. The Francine folder is still open.
There’s the number.
There’s the photo of a showgirl in feathers with a smile that looks pasted on.
Maybe I’ll call her this weekend.
Maybe I won’t.
Like she said, she owes me nothing. And I owe her the same.
I pick up my phone.
Scroll through my contacts to another number.
Tabitha. I got the number from Sage during a weak moment while I was in the hospital.
I sit on the edge of the bed and let my head fall into my hands.
She didn’t come.
How can I blame her?
I haven’t called her. I chose to give her space. To respect her decision.
The door is open a crack. Zach nudges his way into my room and jumps up beside me.
“Feel like a weekend trip, buddy?” I ask.
He pants and licks my hand.
I rise, head to the kitchen, and pack a zippered bag full of kibble. “I know I promised you only Steel beef from now on, but this travels well.”
Anya walks in. “Do you need anything, Mr. Henry?”
“No, I’m good. Where’s my mom?”
“She went into town for a hair appointment.”
“Okay.” Good. I don’t have to tell her I’m leaving for the weekend. “Would you mind telling her that I’m going to our cabin in Dillon for the weekend? I’m taking Zach, and I’ll be back Sunday or Monday.”
Her forehead scrunches, but she doesn’t discourage me. “Uh…sure, I’ll tell her.”
I smile. “Don’t worry. She won’t kill the messenger. Tell her I’ll call when I’m safely there. And tell her I’m feeling good about this. That I need some time alone. To…work through some stuff.”
The drive winds through the mountains in long curves. The sky is a hard blue, and the air hums with cicadas. Pines rise in sharp green lines against reddish slopes, and the road dips through valleys that smell like sage and dust.