Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“That’s good that he doesn’t have to do it on his own. I’m sure he appreciates a friendly face to help him navigate his new area.”
“I’m sure he would have been just fine without me. He’s already made a couple of friends on base.”
“Regardless, I’m sure he’s glad to see you.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “It’s nice to get to see him too. I hate that he’s so far away. Weekend road trips just aren’t possible with him in California.”
“Your dad says hello,” she tells me, but she didn’t have to. I can hear him in the background telling her to tell me hi and that he loves me. “And that he loves you,” she adds, and I can hear the smile in her voice.
“Tell him I said hello and that I love him too,” I say, covering a yawn.
“All right, I can tell you’re exhausted from a long day of traveling. Check in with us, please.”
“Will do, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you too.” She ends the call, and I immediately tap on the screen to call Shayne. It rings once on my end before she picks up.
“I miss you.”
I can’t help it. I laugh at my best friend and future sister-in-law. “I miss you too.”
“How is he?”
“He’s good. He’s getting used to his new position and a new area, but we’re going to go exploring this weekend.”
“Let me say hi.”
“He’s actually not here. It was a long drive from the airport, and he has to be up early tomorrow,” I explain to her as I did my mom. “He’ll be done by noon.”
“Damn,” Shayne mutters.
“Yeah, but I’m exhausted from the flight and the drive. Poor Chad, he’s going to be drained tomorrow.”
“He will be, but we both know he wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
“We’re just friends,” I remind her.
“Why is that again?” she asks.
“Honestly, I can’t even remember. I know we said we would be friends and leave the rest up to life or fate or whatever,” I ramble.
“And look at where life led you. You’re in California with your ‘just’ friend.”
“I’m visiting.”
“And so soon,” she jokes.
“I don’t know what we’re doing. I miss him like crazy, and he’s always the first person I want to call or talk to when I have a good day or even a bad one.”
“Gee, thanks.” She pretends to be upset, but we both know better. My brother, Ford, is that person for her.
“Talk to him, Faith.”
“Something is holding us back.” I just wish I knew exactly what that something was so I could squash it like a damn bug.
“Something? Or two stubborn humans?”
I sigh into the phone. “I think he just didn’t want to hurt my feelings.”
“I call bullshit. That man is into you.”
“We’re friends, Shayne. I know he cares about me, but not the way that Ford cares about you.” My heart clenches in my chest as I say the words aloud, but that doesn’t make them any less true. I know that Chad cares about me. Hell, I’d go as far as saying that he loves me. He’s just not in love with me. Not the way I’m in love with him. There’s a big difference between the two, and I’ve decided I’m okay with any part of himself he’s willing to give me.
“Stubborn,” Shayne mutters, and it pulls a grin from my lips.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. Ford’s already asleep, the old man that he is,” she teases. “I’ll be sure to tell him you called. Keep in touch while you’re there. Be safe, and maybe pull up those big girl panties of yours and tell Chad how you really feel about him.”
“Maybe,” I reply, not committing. We both know my “maybe” is a big fat hell no. It’s not worth the risk of losing him and making things awkward between us.
“Get some rest. Make sure your door is locked.”
My grin widens. “Chad already made sure of that before he left.”
“Good man that one,” she responds. “Call me and have fun.”
“I will. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Tossing my phone on the bed, I go for the suitcase and dig for my toiletry bag and clothes. I’ll unpack tomorrow. Right now, I just need a shower and sleep.
I tossed and turned all night. It’s always like that for me the first night in a new place. It doesn’t help that I’m here alone. Well, Chad’s close, but I was here in this place all on my own. It’s not that I was freaked out, but just the idea of being by myself in a strange place kept me awake.
Finally, at a little after seven, I was tired of the game of twister I was playing with the sheets, so I crawled out of bed. I unpacked and organized all of my things, including the basket from Chad, before taking another shower and getting ready for the day.