Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 96292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
I nod slowly. “KISS. Got it.”
“I’d avoid criticizing anyone, even if you attach it to a respectfully.”
“Good tip.” I laugh.
He sets his beer on the bar and slides his hands into his pockets. “I didn’t hire you as a punishment. Callie didn’t make you sit with her on the balcony for hours as a punishment.”
“I know.”
“I hope one day, you’ll look back and think the best mistake you ever made was taking my car for a joyride.”
I drink the rest of my beer and stand. “I don’t have to wait for that day. I already know it was.”
His smile swells. It’s fatherly pride. And since I don’t remember my father, I’ll remember this summer with Rupert and Callie Rawlings. The summer I grew up. Fell in love. And wore leather loafers without socks.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Flynn
Ally gives me the key to the MINI Cooper without any resistance, and I sell it for five hundred dollars more than I paid for it. I’ll be back, so I don’t make a big deal over saying goodbye to Monroe. He gets a short text with which he replies with a thumbs-up emoji. Callie and Rupert insist I keep my trunk of belongings at their house until I return.
With my credit card, I fly to LAX and catch my first glimpse of the ocean on the way to my hotel.
It’s been two weeks since June stopped texting me back. This might be the dumbest thing I’ve done, but it feels like the bravest too. I don’t know where her parents live.
Where to find the best chicken fingers.
Or whether I should let housekeeping in my hotel when I’m not here.
With my feet officially in West Coast sand with endless miles of ocean in front of me, I text June.
Flynn: Hi
She doesn’t respond, so I keep walking down the beach. It smells fishy as I get closer to the water. The breeze feels bigger. The sun feels hotter. Everything is grand.
Flynn: If I were to send u something what address would I use?
No reply.
I don’t want to tell her I’m here. Not yet. I thought about asking Ally for her address, but I didn’t trust her not to tell June. I stare at my phone, racking my brain for something that will get her attention. Maybe I’m making this too difficult.
Flynn: Falling in love with you was easy. Falling out of love with you is impossible. I know. That’s a me problem
All of my messages say delivered. Is she reading them? I don’t know.
After I get my fill of the beach, I find insanely good chicken at The Red Chickz. Hot chicken tenders with French toast, homemade honey butter, and syrup. I might not return to Minneapolis. I bet there are drugs in these crispy tenders. They are that good.
I take a photo and send it to June. Let’s see if she reads the name of the restaurant on the wrapper and realizes there are no Red Chickz locations in Minnesota.
When she doesn’t respond, I finish my meal and go back to the hotel.
The next morning, I send off another text.
Flynn: Good morning. Are u spending the day with your grandma?
No reply.
Callie gave me a list of things to do here if I had time to waste while waiting for June to give me another chance. So I visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art first. I channel my inner Callie and find works of art that interest me, then I stare at them for fifteen … twenty minutes. Canting my head to the right then left like Callie does.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I quickly grab it. But my excitement dies when it’s Rupert texting me.
Rupert: Did you reunite with your lover?
I roll my eyes.
Flynn: No. She won’t answer my texts
Rupert: She performs tonight at Segerstrom Concert Hall with the Pacific Symphony
Flynn: Thanks
I look it up on my phone. It’s less than an hour by train or bus.
Rupert: Callie has a friend who can get you a ticket. Pick it up at the box office. It will be under your name
Flynn: Tell Callie thx
Rupert: Will do. Don’t forget to grovel
I send him the eye roll emoji. But yeah, I’m not beyond groveling at this point. Since she’s performing tonight, maybe that’s why she hasn’t responded.
Segerstrom Concert Hall is intimidating without June by my side. I feel like everyone is staring at me, even though they’re not.
“Hi, I think there’s a ticket here for me. Flynn Morley,” I say to the lady at the box office.
“Can I see your ID?” she asks.
I dig my wallet out of the pocket of my linen pants which Callie bought me.
“Enjoy the performance,” the lady says, handing me the ticket.
“Thanks.” I make my way to the concert hall.
“Can I help you find your seat?” an older gentleman dressed in all black asks.