Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Astor and I have coddled her dad long enough. He needs a reckoning, and I can’t wait for Astor to run trial balloons past this asshole. He’s never going to cave because he has too much damned pride. Astor’s truck is gone when I arrive, but Marta’s is there.
I notice the front door is hanging half off its hinges. That’s another thing that is going to change starting now. I make a call before I head inside.
“Novak here,” the architect grunts over the phone. He sounds like he had a rough night.
“Bring your tape measure and come out to Astor’s place. We’re measuring today.”
“We use lasers now.”
“Great. Bring the laser out.” I hang up and stalk into the house, not bothering to knock.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Hollis bellows at me from his living room recliner.
The house feels chilly and not because of the lack of heat. Sounds of pots and pans banging together ring out from the kitchen. “Marta’s pissed off? You must have done something rotten because that woman is always sweet as can be.” She does have a backbone, though. It’s why I thought she would be a good fit to get Hollis motivated to walk again.
“None of your business,” the old man fumes. “Did Astor tell you to come over? Because you don’t have anything I want to hear about. Astor’s going to marry Scooter, and that’s that.”
His angry expression takes on a hint of smugness as if he’s put me in checkmate. I stalk over to his chair and put a hand on either arm, leaning in so that I’m about two inches from his red face. “Even if Scooter was interested in your asinine deal, which he isn’t, it wouldn’t happen. I wouldn’t let it happen.”
“As if you have that power,” he sneers. “Astor is not going to run off with the likes of you. She knows she’d lose me if she did.”
“Listen to you boast about how you’re mistreating your daughter. You want to burden Astor with that? You don’t want her to be happy? What kind of parent are you all because you can’t face up to the shit decision you made? You knew there was something wrong with the deal. No way a horse with that kind of lineage sells for that cheap, but your greed caught you by the balls.” His face pales. Astor hasn’t ever realized it, but a good portion of her dad’s anger is self-directed. He got taken for a ride in more than one way. “I’m sorry it happened to you, and I’ve tried to make amends, but you could live with yourself only if you nursed your anger at me, otherwise you’d have to face your own guilt. Here’s your choices. You can either climb on board the Astor and Cane ship or you can drown. I do not give a damn either way.” I straighten and walk out, tipping my hat to Marta as I leave.
Novak is pulling up as I step down from the porch. He gives the house a once-over before saying, “You sure you want to build on top and not just tear it down and start over?”
“It’s Astor’s childhood home. Her mama lived here. I want everything that can be saved to be saved.” I drag a hand down my face. “Do what you can today, and if Hollis puts up a fight, appeal to Marta. She seems to be able to handle him.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Find Astor.”
Astor and I never had a place like other couples do because we were never a couple, so I don’t know where to look to find her. After driving around and not seeing her truck, I decide to head over to the high school. If there was ever a moment in our lives, it probably was the one where she confessed and I turned her down like a dumbass. She caught me after football practice. Behind the practice facility, there was a grove of trees that separated the sidewalk between the sports complex and the parking lot. She’d stopped me there, all flushed and gorgeous, looking like an expensive piece of confectionary that would melt in your mouth. I was sweaty, horny, and tired. My mouth worked before my brain, and I drove her off before I could really think about it.
If I could go back in time, I’d fall to my knees and propose marriage to her, and this tortured course we’ve walked on this whole time would’ve been avoided.
But I can’t turn back time. I can only go forward. The twigs on the ground crunch under my boots, alerting Astor to my presence. Her head shoots up, and before she turns away, I spot the redness of her eyes. I rub my lips together and swallow all the curses I want to spew about her dad.