Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
It's beyond my control.
So, I head into the kitchen to hide. Over the years, I’ve escaped to this room in the house many times. It still looks mostly the same, though they’ve updated to modern stainless-steel appliances that blend with the rustic charm of farmhouse aesthetics.
From her position at the farmhouse sink, rinsing lettuce, Carol looks over her shoulder at me. “If you can’t handle the heat, come into the kitchen,” she says with a smile at her own little joke.
I stop at the island and rest my elbows on the marble. “I thought once high school was over, they wouldn’t tease each other as much.”
Carol laughs, the crow’s feet deepening around her green eyes. “Boys will forever be boys. It’s in their bones.” She removes a glass salad bowl from the cabinet and brings it over to the island. “One day, they’ll grow up more, but not until they each find that special someone who completes them.”
“Yeah,” is my quiet answer, because all I can think about now is Paxton finding someone special. “Need some help with the salad?”
“Sure,” she says. “There can never be too many cooks in my kitchen.”
I’m tasked with chopping vegetables while she whips up a homemade vinaigrette dressing. With each slice of my knife, my anxiety grows to epic proportions. What if he were to meet someone? He’d bring her for family dinners. Would she appreciate the rooster chandelier over the dining room table or the farmhouse pictures on the walls? What would happen to our friendship? Would he toss me away?
I can’t handle the thought of that.
“Hey,” Anya says as she smiles at me, walking into the kitchen. “Smells amazing, Mom.” She snatches a roll off the rack, and Carol swats at her hand.
“Why don’t you two go upstairs to your room until dinner? The boys are in full force today, it seems,” Carol says, and I glance over at Anya.
“You look like you need to talk,” Anya says to me, hiking a thumb over her shoulder, pointing to the other room. “I want to show you pictures from college too.”
“Okay, sure.” I give Carol a little wave as I follow Anya past the living room and up the stairs to her old bedroom.
She shuts the door behind me and flops onto her bed. “Staying here has been a mindfuck,” she says. “I thought I’d graduate from college and jobs would be lined up for me to choose from. I thought I’d instantly start making money and be able to buy a big house. Guess that shit isn’t real.”
“Yeah, the real hard truth of college. What did you study again?”
Anya sits upright, and I wander her bedroom, looking at all the old photos from high school she has on display. “Business. But do my brothers even want to listen to my business ideas? Nope.”
I take a seat next to her. “What are they?”
Anya perks up, a smile brightening her face. “Well, you know that back room at the brewery?”
I nod, remembering my meeting with Paxton in that room when we went over the rules. The rules we’ve since broken. “Yeah, I do.”
Anya’s smile grows. “I think we should turn it into a party room for special events. People could rent out the space, and we could hold birthday parties, or rehearsal dinners.”
“That’s a great idea, Anya. Why won’t your brothers go for it?”
“Because Callum likes to do things his way,” she says in a bossy low tone. “It’s his way or the highway.”
“Yeah, I’ve kind of gotten the impression Callum doesn’t know what fun is.”
Anya rolls her eyes. “He doesn’t.” She takes my hand. “Okay, enough about me. Tell me what’s going on between you and Paxton? He’s been extra touchy-feely with you today, and extra grouchy.”
I blush, biting my lower lip. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Her eyes widen. “Did you two have sex?” She covers her ears. “Yes, tell me, but don’t tell me any details.” She almost appears terrified of the answer, as I bite my lip.
“Yes, we had sex.”
She gasps. “Shut up, you did? How was it?” She immediately regrets her question and shakes her head, while twisting her face into one of disgust. “No, don’t want details, but now what?”
I press my hand to my heart. “It was amazing. Better than anything I’ve ever experienced, but now I don’t know.” I drop my hand and it lands with a thud on the bed. “You know Paxton, he’s never serious about that type of stuff. I think he’ll be single for the rest of his life. What if I made a huge mistake and lose him for good?”
Anya thinks about what I’ve said and then smiles. “What if it’s just right, and it turns into something beautiful? Like better than this friendship has ever been.”
I try to imagine that type of life with Paxton. A better than friendship kind of life. Is it possible? “I don’t know.”