Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
The only other good thing to come out of the dinner was a strange kind of peace that seemed to appear between Brooks and Ava. Afterward, when Paul and Brooks had finally, blessedly, left, I asked her about it.
“You and Brooks seemed to get along well.”
She lay back on the brown corduroy sofa in the family room and groaned, patting her stomach. “That was so good. I don’t remember the Pizza Palace ever tasting that great before.”
“You and Brooks,” I said, trying to bring us back around to the topic at hand. “How are you feeling about him these days?”
She sighed. “You know… I kind of feel sorry for him. I used to think he had the world in the palm of his hand, you know? He was smart, cute, successful at everything he tried… but now I realize he’s just some corporate schmo living in a big city where he’s nothing special at all.”
I stared at her. “That’s… really shitty.”
“No,” she said with a sigh, sitting up a little. “I don’t mean it like that. But he always seemed larger than life, like he was going to grab the world by the balls and really make something of himself. But he doesn’t seem happy, so what’s the point? It makes me realize I kind of did the same thing.”
“What do you mean?”
She shrugged and picked at her fingernail polish. “I liked being Miss Licking Thicket. I liked knowing everyone in town and waving hello everywhere I went and… feeling like I belonged. Being back here makes me feel at home in a way I just don’t get in LA. I miss it. I feel special here… loved and protected. Even though my parents might throw a hissy fit when they find out about the baby, I still feel like they’ll be there for me. Back in California, it’s just you and me. Doesn’t that bother you at all?”
Before I could answer, she continued. “I wonder if it bothers Brooks or if he has people in the city who care about him.”
“He has Paul,” I spat like a bratty teen.
She flapped her hand. “No. Not really. Paul’s temporary. Someone as sweet as Paul isn’t going to put up with Brooks’s crap for very long. He deserves better, and I told Brooks that tonight while you and Paul were paying the pizza guy.”
I cracked a smile. “You did what?”
She huffed. “It’s true. Brooks doesn’t realize what he has and—”
I cut her off. “You know Paul gave me the same lecture about you, right?”
Her face softened, and she got all dreamy. “He did? He’s so sweet.”
“Uh-huh. I thought he was your mortal enemy?”
She flapped her hand in the air. “Oh, I’m over it. Brooks’s fine. I was kind of expecting to come home and want to jump his bones, but I really don’t. And honestly, he’s going back to New York and I have no desire to…”
Her voice faded out as I went through the roller coaster of emotions of first feeling free to actually admit my crush on him to being crushed at the reminder he lived on the opposite coast. There was no point in having a fling with a guy who was leaving Sunday. Especially when the days between now and then were full of bovine activities.
“Well,” I said, squeezing her leg and standing up. “I’m glad you’re at peace with it anyway. The man’s gay after all, and at the very least you deserve someone who’s bi.” I winked at her and leaned in to kiss the top of her head. “I’m headed to bed. Can I get you anything before I go?”
She tapped her chin. “Another corn dog?”
The following morning I awoke refreshed and somewhat excited. Wednesday was the setup for the vendor fair in the town square, and I was grateful to be able to forget about Ava, Paul, and Brooks for a little while and concentrate on putting my art on display. My boxes had arrived and been stashed in the Iveys’ garage, and Ava’s mom was arranging for someone with a pickup truck to give me a ride to town for the setup.
I should have known it wouldn’t be a well-meaning stranger.
“You ready?” Brooks asked, peering at his feet.
I looked past his slumped form on Ava’s front porch and saw a big-ass pickup truck. “You’re my ride?”
“Apparently.”
He didn’t seem all that thrilled about it which pissed me off more than it should have. “Surprised you didn’t get the Thicket’s Early Riser medallion,” I snapped. “Or a position on the welcome wagon committee with how chipper and friendly you are in the morning.”
His head shot up, and his green eyes widened. After a second of studying me, his lips twisted into a smirk. “I did, in fact, earn the Thicket’s Early Bird award at school back in the day, but the prize was a cheap alarm clock from Walmart, not a medallion.”