Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 19169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
“I thought you said the house wasn’t ready.”
“The first floor should be good to go by then.” At least, I hope it will be... I’ll offer to paint and vacuum and whatever else is necessary to get the house ready for visitors. I’ll cook a big, delicious dinner and serve red wine, even if I can’t drink it myself.
I’m determined to show Eloise that I can land on my feet, no matter how hard she tries to throw me.
But first I have to tell Jonathan we’re expecting guests.
five
April
I log into the private webcam app and message Jay to let him know I’m ready for our date. Shortly after, an incoming call pops up above all my other apps. I accept. Since Jay hasn’t activated his webcam, it’s my bed that fills the screen. Some guys will go cam-to-cam with models during private chats, but Jay says he prefers to focus on me.
ElectricJay20: Good evening, baby girl
“Hi, Jay.” I sit up a little straighter so he can get a good look at the silky blue crop top and pajama shorts he bought for me. He’s not the first viewer to send gifts to my PO Box, but these feel special because they’re from him and they make me feel pretty. “How was your day?”
ElectricJay20: Decent. Did some work around the house.
ElectricJay20: My day’s much better now that I get to see you.
His words wrap around me like a fuzzy blanket. I wish I knew what he looked like so I could picture him with some semblance of accuracy, but I don’t want to pressure him into turning on his webcam if he’s not comfortable. He’s been so good about respecting my boundaries. I’m the one having a hard time remembering why I shouldn’t play with my nipples while we talk.
ElectricJay20: You look beautiful, btw. How are you?
“I think I may have gone insane,” I tell him. “I did something kind of crazy.”
ElectricJay20: What did you do?
“I invited my parents to have dinner at my new place next weekend.”
Jay knows all about Eloise kicking me out of my dad’s house. I wouldn’t normally bring up such a downer subject with a viewer, but Jay seems genuinely interested in my unfiltered life.
When I told him all the hurtful things Eloise had said to me, he went quiet. As time ticked by, I thought maybe he’d gotten bored with the conversation, which hurt because I’d just shared something really personal and traumatic. He returned soon after and apologized for going MIA. He said he needed to step away because my story had made him furious, and he didn’t want me to bear the brunt of his rage.
For the first time in a long time, I feel like I have someone in my corner, even if he’s thousands of miles away.
ElectricJay20: Are you sure you want to sit down to dinner with your stepmom?
ElectricJay20: I don’t like the way she talks to you.
“If I want to spend time with my dad, I have to see her, too.” I sigh. It helps to know that Jay feels protective of me. I bet I’d feel better about sitting down to dinner with Eloise if he could be there with me. “You know, I got so excited when I thought my dad was calling this morning. But it was just Eloise, using his phone.”
ElectricJay20: He still hasn’t called?
I shake my head. “Nope...”
A moment passes.
ElectricJay20: His loss.
ElectricJay20: Any father would be lucky to have you in his life.
ElectricJay20: I know I would.
I have no idea whether my dad feels lucky to have me. I think he wishes I was more laid back, like him, less prone to pushing back when slighted. The thing is, Eloise doesn’t just push. She picks and pokes and prods until you snap, and then she points and cries, “How dare you bite me.”
But I’m done talking about my parents. Eloise doesn’t deserve to eat into my time with Jay.
I finger the hem on my crop top, inching it higher on my belly.
“You want to be my dad, Jay?” I ask in a soft, girlish voice. “You want to brush my hair and cut the crusts off my sandwiches and read me to sleep?”
ElectricJay20: I want to do all that, baby girl.
ElectricJay20: And so much more...
My lower body tightens. I already feel like wriggling, and we haven’t even started reading yet. I pick up my eReader. “I bought a new short story collection today.”
ElectricJay20: What’s the theme of this one?
“More age-gap Daddy stuff. It’s by the same author of the other collection.” I tap to pull up the table of contents. “We could read this student-professor one. He propositions her to be his little girl for a better grade.”
ElectricJay20: Sure, if it interests you.
I squint. He’s been letting me pick pretty much all the stories we’ve read so far.