Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Teddy laughed, and Finn joined in.
I checked the mirrors again, but it was getting darker, and visibility was turning into a slew of headlights behind me. I couldn’t even tell what color the cars were. By that time, we’d already crossed the Oregon border, and with every mile, I felt my shoulders relaxing bit by bit. We were firmly in the Aces’ territory. It would’ve been idiotic for one of Granger’s men to pull anything at that point.
The kids got restless in the last couple of hours, which was familiar as hell. It reminded me of Dylan when he was younger, when familiar landmarks began to appear on the way to Eugene. We decided to drive right through instead of stopping for something to eat, and I watched the gas gauge, making a mental note to fill up Teddy’s tank in the next couple of days.
“We got good mileage,” I mentioned when I finally pulled off the freeway. “Especially with all that weight in the back.”
“I keep old Trusty in peak condition,” she replied. As we’d gotten closer to home, she’d gotten quieter. It was the first time she’d spoken in nearly an hour.
“Mom’s a mechanic,” Finn said proudly.
“Son, if you don’t sit back in your seat…” Teddy warned in exasperation.
“You’re a mechanic?” I asked in surprise. I probably should’ve asked what she did for a living before that. Had we talked about anything important on the drive?
“Yep. Still a diesel mechanic,” she confirmed, shooting me a look. Fuck, that was something I would’ve known if we’d actually been planning a life together. “I was working at a friend’s garage before we left.”
“Sara’s!” Finn added.
Teddy tilted her head at Finn like she was agreeing with him.
“Are we close?” Jesse asked. They’d been lounging in their seat with a little blanket, but had perked up once we got off the freeway.
“Yeah, just a few more minutes,” I answered.
“Coffee shop!” they announced loudly, pointing out the window. “Tomorrow morning?”
“Remember where it is,” Teddy replied.
“There’s another one!”
“Jesse’s goal in life is to try every local coffee shop,” Teddy informed me.
“Death to corporate coffee,” Jesse announced.
“You’re gonna like my cousin, Charlie,” I told Jesse as we pulled into our new neighborhood. “She’s got a couple of coffee carts.”
“Are they any good?” Jesse asked, leaning forward.
“I’m biased, but yeah.”
“Excellent,” they whispered.
“You coulda told me they were into coffee,” I muttered to Teddy. “I coulda got on their good side about six hours ago.”
Teddy let out a surprised laugh as I turned into the driveway of the new house and parked next to Dylan’s truck.
“We’re here,” Finn announced excitedly. “It’s huge!”
“Ready?” I asked Teddy. She was staring out the windshield, completely still even after I’d turned off the truck.
The kids took their cue from her, and neither of them moved to exit.
“Leave your stuff,” she ordered after a moment, turning to look at the kids as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “We’ll come back out and grab it after we’ve gotten a look around, okay?”
The calm and capable woman I’d met at the bus station had slowly become quieter and more contemplative over the drive, and now she was strung tight as a wire.
She threw open her door, and I looked at the kids. “Hold tight a minute, yeah?” I asked as I hopped out. “Gimme one second.”
I rounded the hood quickly and reached Teddy just as she closed her door.
“Hey,” I called, reaching for her.
She startled for the first time since we’d met.
“Hey,” I said again, softer. “You good?”
“Fine,” she replied, nodding.
“It’s gonna be all right,” I assured her. “It’s late. We’ll get the kids settled and figure shit out in the morning, yeah?”
“I’m fine, Curtis,” she repeated. “Seriously.”
“Curt,” I corrected. “Only the government and my mother call me Curtis.”
“Good to know.”
She was still stiff as hell and trying to hide it.
“Teddy,” I murmured, reaching out again. This time, she let out a sigh when my hand wrapped around the side of her neck.
Stepping closer, I bent my head.
“All good,” I assured her. “We’re here. We made it. You’re surrounded by Aces. Now, we’ll just get started on a life. Smooth sailin’.”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?” she asked dryly.
I let out a short laugh. “No. But tonight? Yeah.”
The front door opened behind me, and light flooded out. My body shadowed Teddy, and she leaned around me to look.
“F-350,” my brother called out. “Nice.”
“Brace,” I told Teddy, sliding my hands away. “Welcoming committee incoming.”
I looked up at Jesse and nodded for them to get out. Immediately, their door flew open, and first Jesse and then Finn came scrambling out of the truck.
“Come on,” I said, leading them up the walk with my hand on the small of Teddy’s back.
“Welcome home,” Draco greeted.
“He doesn’t look like you,” Finn announced, making my brother laugh.
“Yeah, he does,” Jesse hissed. “Shut up, Finn.”