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)
“Oh.”
This poor woman looks thoroughly confused, and I feel sorry for her. “I don’t want to be presumptuous here, but would you like to have dinner tonight? If you have a partner, bring them along. I feel like I can describe football and our plays better if we’re sitting down, but I need to eat.” I pat my thick belly. I’m not fat, but I’m not skinny either. But I like food and need to eat.
“That would be lovely.”
“Great, I know a great little diner, not far from here. You can follow me.”
“Actually, I don’t have a car. I’ll call for a cab.”
“Or you can ride with me, if you’d like, and then I'll bring you home?”
Kelsey thinks about it for a moment, and then nods.
Outside, in the parking lot, Kelsey walks next to me. When we reach my truck, I help hoist her into it. For the first time since I had it tricked out, I hate and love it for the same reason. I hate that I had to touch her when she barely knows me but love that I had to touch her because I like the way she feels in my hands. Rushing around to the driver’s side, I hop in and bring the souped-up engine to life. The roar is deafening at first and then calms down once in gear.
“This is a big truck.”
“Yeah, sorry. I don’t normally drive it, but I took a bunch of stuff to the dump for my neighbor this morning."
"That was kind of you."
"Thanks. She's an elderly lady and lives alone. During the season it’s hard to do stuff for her, but in the off season, I mow her yard, clean her gutters, all the things her son should do for her.”
“But he doesn’t?”
“Nope,” I say as I pull out into traffic. “He’s a fifty something year old gamer and lives in the basement.”
“Oh, that’s shameful.”
“Agreed. Okay, we’re here.”
“Well, this is very close.”
“And convenient. I live about an hour away in the suburbs, so I usually stop here before I head back. Sometimes with traffic, it can be two hours before I’m home.”
After shutting the truck off, I get out and go to the passenger side, and open the door. Kelsey looks at the ground. It’s probably daunting for someone her size or for someone who isn’t used to getting in and out of a lifted rig.
“Not to be forward, but it might be easier if I lift you out.”
Kelsey nods and reaches for me. Except, it’s not a hands on the shoulders sort of thing. It’s a full arm wrap, almost as if she fears I’m going to drop her. I wouldn’t. Ever. Holding her, having her pressed to my chest like this, sends a jolt of electricity through me. I can’t help but look at her and wonder if she felt what I did. We look into each other’s eyes and her fingertips play with the hairs on the nape of my neck.
Swallowing hard, I say, “I should probably put you down,” in a low rumbly voice.
“Okay,” she whispers. I don’t do it. I don’t put her down and, instead, continue to hold her like she’s part of me now. The voice in my head tells me to kiss her, that she wants to be kissed by me. All I would have to do is pucker my lips and they’d press against hers.
“Alex! Oh my God, that’s Alex Moore.”
The moment is gone as a group of teenagers flock to us. I set Kelsey down and apologize for what’s about to happen. No one should have to experience this.
THREE
KELSEY
What do they call it when the sun shines and it’s raining?
The text message from Alex makes me smile. I know it shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. At the end of our dinner meeting—not date—he asked for my phone number, and I gave it to him with zero hesitation. A first for me. Normally, I’m standoffish about people—and men in general. Being burnt by a few bad apples has left a sour taste in my mouth, especially when it comes to dating. Not that Alex and I are dating or anything, but damn it if my heart doesn’t jump at the thought.
My eyes drift from my phone screen to my window where the sun is trying to peek through the curtains. I need to know the answer to Alex’s question, but I also want to know if there’s a reason why he’s texting me. I kick my down comforter away like a child, rush to the window and throw my curtains open as if it’s Christmas morning. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust but once they do, I marvel at the phenomenon.
Wow!
I text back.
Alex Moore
Crazy, right? It happens a lot here. It’s called a sun shower.
Consider me incredibly impressed. Thank you for letting me know.