Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“Oh, I love trunk-or-treating,” Ava says, lifting her head. “My parents do a big one for the real estate company every year for all their clients.”
“Well, I don’t know what the hell to do,” I admit. “I’m told it involves costumes and decorating the trunk of my vehicle to hand out candy.”
“Yes, you can go with any number of themes, spooky or fun—it’s whatever you feel like doing—but there must be lots of candy.”
“I guess now would be a good time to ask a favor,” I say with what I hope is a charming tone. “If I gave you my credit card, would you be willing to buy the decorations and help me dress up my vehicle?”
Ava chuckles and places her head back down on my chest. “Of course. I’d offer to buy the decorations myself, but seeing as how I’m unemployed and all…”
“If you need money—”
Ava cuts me off. “I don’t. And I am more than happy to help you. Just give me a budget, and I’ll get it done.”
“There’s no budget, so go crazy.”
“Are you dressing up?”
Hmm. I know the players are, but I hadn’t really thought about it. Just too busy I guess, but if Ava would help me I could do it.
“I suppose I should. Any ideas? We can dress up as a matching couple. But I’d need you to handle getting those costumes as well.”
“Consider it done,” she says, and there’s no mistaking her enthusiasm.
“After, would you like to go out to dinner and a movie?” I ask.
Ava laughs teasingly. “You actually have time in your schedule for a real date. I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
My hand slides down, and I give her naked butt a slight tap. “Smartass.”
“We can do whatever you want,” Ava says with another yawn, and she snuggles in tighter to me, indicating she wants to sleep.
“Okay.” I twist to press my lips to the top of her head for a kiss. “We’ll figure it out on Friday.”
CHAPTER 13
Ava
It’s too late to be worried about it, but I hope the toast doesn’t get soggy. I’m building double-decker BLT sandwiches for lunch with Cannon today at the arena. My grocery budget didn’t take much of a hit with the lettuce and tomatoes, and I went with a cheaper brand of bacon, but honestly, any crispy bacon is good bacon. I also cut strawberries, and that is the extent of our lunch menu, but I know it’ll be perfect for him. He’s an easy man to please.
Cannon offered to have lunch delivered, but I wanted to do something nice for him. Not that my food would taste better than what he might have ordered, but I want to show the effort because he’s making time in his hectic schedule to see me.
Thirty precious minutes that I’m sure he could be doing something more important.
I stack the layers and lightly spread mayo on the toast slices. I stab the sandwiches with toothpicks to hold them together and cut my stacks into triangles. I’m just pulling out some plastic wrap when my phone rings. It’s sitting on my cracked Formica countertop the color of crusty mustard, and I’m pleased to see it’s my brother calling. I quickly wipe my hands on a paper towel and connect the call, immediately putting it on speaker so I can continue to work.
“What’s up, bro?” I say merrily.
“Just calling to check in,” he replies through the crackle of what sounds like a poor Bluetooth connection in his car. He always seems to call me from there. “Although by the tone of your voice, it seems you’re happy.”
“I’m doing excellent. Where are you headed?”
“I’ve got a house to show over in Wake Forest, then I’m going to meet Kristin for lunch.”
“Things getting serious?” I tease, because he’s been seeing Kristin for about five weeks now, and every time we talk, he mentions her.
“I don’t know,” he hedges, which he also does every time I ask how things are going.
“That’s a rousing endorsement.”
“It is what it is,” he laments without sorrow but mere resignation that his love life isn’t a priority. “You doing okay? How’s the job hunt going?”
“I have a bunch of résumés out. Hopefully, I’ll hear back about some of them this week.” I hesitate to say anything else. I don’t know how Rob would take knowing that I’m seeing someone. Not that I’m rebounding with Cannon, since I haven’t dated anyone in the over six months since I broke up with Derek.
There should be nothing about me seeing Cannon that would bring judgment from my brother. It’s not like he’s averse to me being happy. He just didn’t like me running off after Derek without really knowing him.
“Actually, I’m making lunch to go have with a guy I’ve been dating.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I met him at the coffee shop.”