Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
“Not too far out now. Do you want me to call the grands? They’re closer,” I offer.
“That’s okay. Daddy said if we’re ever scared to call you.” That doesn’t surprise me. Mom had a heart attack last year, stress and worry being the culprit, which she still has, so inserting herself into a situation that could create more as well wouldn’t help.
“How was your day at school?” Maybe this will help pass the time and keep her mind preoccupied. I half-heartedly listen to my niece while the tires eat up the pavement until I’m finally pulling into their subdivision. Even then, I don’t hang up with her. I won’t do that until I know my brother and his children are safe.
SEVENTEEN
Hendrix
“So, did you resolve everything with Madden last night?” Journey asks the next day at work. I don’t bother responding. I’m so annoyed with myself and the situation which I’ve created. Stupid men, stupid hormones, and stupid me. I know Journey is not going to let me stay quiet. It’s not in her nature. Especially since she and Nico are in happily-ever-after land. If I give in to her too quickly, she’ll be singing that song about kissing in a tree, and I do not want that to happen.
After sprinting out of the restaurant last night, I went home, where I could tell all of my woes to my girl, Jolene. The best part about having a best friend who doesn’t talk back in human form is that there’s zero judgement. You can tell your four-legged friend anything, and all they’ll do is listen. I mean, maybe they’ll cock their head to the side in a ‘what the hell are talking about’ way, but for the most part, it’s exactly what most people need. After I greeted Jolene, I was immediately unzipping my dress, bending down to unclasp my high heels that wrapped around my ankles. Then I was marching my ass to the shower, taking a cold one, refusing to touch myself even though I was still burning hot. Madden gave me one orgasm, I repeat one, and now I’m, well, I don’t know what the hell I am.
Ignorance is bliss as I hum to myself, make a cup of coffee before pulling the ingredients out to cook us breakfast. Eggs, bread, bacon, fruit, avocado, butter, along with a gamut of seasonings.
“Uh, Hendrix, honey. Is there a team coming over for a meeting I’m unaware of?” Journey asks. I’m so lost in my task, trying to ignore the giant elephant in the room. I know I’m going to have to come clean about the whole Madden incident last night, but that won’t be right now. It doesn’t help the matter that I’m exhausted after constantly tossing and turning all night, punching my pillow to fluff it, turning it over for it to be nice and cold. Nothing helped. Now this is where I am.
“Nope, just hungry, is all,” I reply casually, which I am. No dinner makes a girl act crazy, clearly.
“Well, help yourself. I’ve got a phone conference in ten minutes.” Journey side-eyes me, a smirk on her face.
“You’re early. The meeting was postponed by an hour. Something about time zones and they wouldn’t be ready at this hour. It makes no sense to me because they’re three hours ahead of us, but maybe it’s their lunch break?” I sent Journey the text first thing this morning when I was thrumming through emails while lazing around in bed. Jolene was curled at my feet, not budging in the least. It worked well because some days, her zoomies take hold, and we’re out the back door the second her eyes open.
“Huh, how did I miss that text? I bet it was while Nico and I were in the shower.”
“Nobody likes a bragger, you know,” I toss at her with a laugh. Journey is the absolute best.
“If you’d quit dragging your ass around acting like something big didn’t happen last night, I wouldn’t have to talk about myself. Come, tell Auntie Journey all of your deep, dark secrets.” Okay, now my friend and boss is acting like a loon.
“Auntie Journey? Is this another Nico-ism I should be concerned with? And last night was a complete disaster. I’m embarrassed at how I behaved. I should have done some digging around the deep dark web, found out his address, dropped the money in his mailbox, and carried on with life.” I aggressively crack two eggs into the frying pan, then go after the bread to place in the toaster. “I fucked up, okay? I mean, I know it happens to the best of us, but this was so out of place. The whole situation has been, really. Madden is a freaking enigma. I mean, nine times out of ten, I want nothing to do with the man, except my traitorous vagina and hormones have other plans. So, what do I do after I have an out-of-this-world orgasm? I run. What is wrong with me? Why am I like this? I mean, my ex was a piece of shit; I made peace with that. Have I become this hag of a woman who feels like every man is gum on the bottom of her shoe?” I take a deep breath. Journey doesn’t say anything, allowing me to be my flamboyantly dramatic self. “I don’t feel like I am. I love Wylder, Nico, and Mace like brothers, so seriously, what in the actual fuck is wrong with me?” After all this ranting and raving, my appetite has diminished. I put away half of the shit I was going to make, minus the eggs, fruit, and toast. There’s no need for bacon and avocado. Journey isn’t eating, so breakfast for one is coming right up.