Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Five rings and my call goes to voicemail.
I hang up and press her name again.
This time, it’s voicemail right away. She sent me there.
The sound of her voice brings tears to my eyes. I miss her. “Hey, Kels, it’s me. I got an email from Russ just now. I’m shocked, but I’m also hurt. I’m not interested in doing this project unless it’s with you, so I don’t know where to go from here. Hell, I don’t know where to go at all. I miss you, honey. I love you. Please call me so we can talk. Please.”
The system cuts me off before I can make a bigger fool of myself. I stay there in the parking lot, waiting for her to call back.
A call that never comes.
TWENTY-FIVE
KELSEY
Every morning, my mom and I sit down at the kitchen table and work. I print the current manuscript I’m working on twice, and while I read, I tell Mom what to mark. It’s cute seeing her focus on making sure the proofing marks are correct, and it’s comical when we come to a sex scene. The amount of “oh, Gods” I’ve heard (and read) has reached an all-new threshold. Still, with her impeccable handwriting, she makes meticulous notes for me, which I appreciate. I’m not sure what I’d accomplish if I were in Portland. Besides, Alex is there and he’s persistent. I’d worry too much about whether he’d try and see me at work or home.
Halfway through my day, I receive an email from my old employer. They heard I was in town—and while I may be in the state, I’m nowhere near the city—and wanted to see if I’m interested in interviewing with them for a supervisory role. The position would mean more money than I make now and standard hours. No more long hours at home or working on the weekends to edit.
“Sounds interesting,” my mom says when I read her the email. “What do you think?”
“I like the idea of more money for sure, but I do love my job as an editor. It’s what I went to school for.”
“Advancement is good for a career though,” she says. “They reached out to you for a reason. I would interview for it. You have nothing to lose. Besides, you could start a family with those hours.”
“Mom!” I roll my eyes at her. She’s desperate to be a grandparent and neither of my brothers are close to settling down. Well, except for Dalton, but mom doesn’t know he’s been seeing Sophie, and I’m not sure his every other week, or whenever he’s in town, and convenient hook-up is moving toward a full-fledged relationship.
What do I know though. I’m definitely not one to offer advice on anything love related. I’m in love with a man who may or may not be having a baby with a former girlfriend he’s clearly not over.
What a fool I am.
“You should interview.”
“Why?” I ask her.
She stands and goes to the kitchen, returning with the pot of coffee. After filling our mugs, she sits back down. “I’d love to have you in the same time zone. I know I’m selfish in saying this, but having you so far away, it hurts. A couple weeks back I randomly said to your dad, ‘Let’s go see Kelsey this weekend’ except it’s not that easy. I can’t just get in the car and be there by dinner. Seeing you takes planning, and I’m not used to it. And before you bring up Davy living in Florida, I say the same thing to him. I send him job postings all the time. I get that where your father and I decided to live isn’t necessarily for you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want my babies close to me.”
“Ah, Mom. You love us.”
“Only sometimes.” She smirks. “Anyway, I’m not trying to pressure you into making a decision one way or the other, it’s an interview, and those never hurt anyone.”
She’s right. If anything, it gives me experience and maybe a bargaining tool later on if I want a promotion with Willamette Publishing. Knowing my former employer wants me back though is a really gratifying feeling. It shows they miss me and makes me wonder if I made a mistake in moving across the country.
As if the universe knows this is going to be a struggle, two text messages pop up on my phone.
Alex Moore
Hey, Kels. I just wanted to let you know I miss you.
Tanner Pritchard
Lunch today?
“What’s wrong?”
How does she know?
I set my phone down and shake my head. “Alex misses me, and Tanner wants to have lunch.”
“Oh boy, it’s a good thing Alex isn’t here or one of them might want to pee on you.”
“Gross. You definitely needed more girls in your life,” I tell her. “You talk like Davy.”
Mom snorts out a laugh. “I can’t help it.” She eyes my phone. “What are you going to do?”