Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“Usually takes about a week to get stuff in,” I tell him. “But I can bring them to you and install them for you when they get here.”
“That’s not necessary,” he says, waving off my offer. “Just give me a call, and I can swing in on the way to work and grab them.”
We say our goodbyes, and I wait to hear the chime above the door, indicating his exit, before I go in search of my father.
On the way to the back, I spot a cardboard box shoved behind the four-foot clamps, and I want to growl in frustration when I see it’s the ten-millimeter sockets I was looking for last week. It’s been shoved inside a box that says it has tape measures in it.
“Oh, hey.”
I startle, nearly dropping the damn box in my hands.
Walker frowns at me. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
I give him a tight-lipped smile. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to ask you about the ice cream social the town is having.”
“I can’t believe this town is still holding such events,” I mutter.
“I know you’re someone who was affected directly by the tragedy, but we can’t hide in our homes in fear of living our lives.”
I swallow before speaking. “I wasn’t talking about—you know what, it doesn’t matter. What about the ice cream social?”
“It’s next Sunday. I just wanted to see if you were going to bring the boys. I’ll have my food truck there. We’re making fried ice cream this year, and I think it’s something the boys would like.”
“We’ll be there,” I assure him.
“Make sure Madison knows about it. Last time I checked, I didn’t see her in the town group on social media.”
“I’ll let her know.” I wave to him before he turns to walk away.
I know I was doing something when he scared me but now for the life of me, I can’t remember what it was. I’m too distracted now, wondering how Madison will look with the wildflowers as her backdrop in the town square.
I do my best to stay busy so time doesn’t crawl by, but Walker was the last customer we had for the day, and that’s not a good sign, seeing as he stopped in before noon.
I rush out of the store at five, anxious to spend the evening with my boys and the night with Madison.
Chapter 24
Madison
It’s not a family outing and sure as hell isn’t a date. I’ve told myself this numerous times today.
The boys wanted me at the annual Lindell Ice Cream Social. That’s why I’m here.
No one in their right mind can say no to those adorable little boys, and as a life rule, I never say no to ice cream.
“Another one?” Adalynn asks.
I nod.
“Madison, that has like a hundred milligrams of caffeine in it.”
She frowns when I don’t change my request.
“Why in the world are you so tired?” she asks as she reaches into the container with mocha-flavored ice cream she made for this event.
“Haven’t been sleeping well,” I tell her.
It’s a half truth. I haven’t been sleeping much at all.
Every night since that first night Chase came to my room with the request to alter the deal we have with each other, he’s crept into my room after the boys have gone to bed.
He leaves most mornings, waking by that annoying alarm on his phone, so we aren’t caught in there together on the off chance that one of the boys wakes up early.
I may be tired, but I’m not a fool. I patiently wait every single night for him to arrive. As the saying goes, I can sleep when I die, and I’m not going to let a little loss of sleep keep him away. He seems to be of the same mind since he hadn’t missed a night until last night. I got even less sleep, wondering where he was, than I would’ve had he shown up like he’d been doing. It’s left me feeling a little on edge since I crawled out of bed this morning.
“Where are the boys?”
I wave my hand to indicate somewhere else in the town square.
“I didn’t ride with them. It’s my day off.”
“You said you came because they asked.”
“I did,” I tell her. “But we took different cars.”
“Purposely avoiding him in public?” She raises an eyebrow as she hands over the new dish of ice cream.
My brain is freezing, the sharp pain behind my eyes a reminder to eat my ice cream more slowly this time around. Her incessant interrogation makes me shovel it in to keep my mouth full. Speaking with food in your mouth is a huge no-no in the South, but it’s nearly impossible to get my best friend on a different subject once she’s set her mind to something.
“Is it because of the rumors swirling around town?”
I lift the spoon to my mouth once again, busying myself with a bite and trying to figure out how to respond.