Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I know, but it’s…”
“Awkward,” I finish for her, and she looks down into the glass she’s holding. “That seems to be your favorite word with me lately, and I think we should clear it up right now. It’s only awkward if we make it that way. You used to talk to me about everything and anything. We’ve always been good at that, and there’s no reason that we shouldn’t be now.”
“But that was…before.”
“Doesn’t matter to me.”
“You look mad.”
I take a deep breath. “And here I thought I was doing a good job of hiding the fact that I want to punch that son of a bitch into the next century.”
She doesn’t smile. She simply watches me with sober eyes.
“Any anger or frustration that I feel isn’t directed at you. It’s maddening to know that you were mistreated for so many years, and there’s absolutely nothing I can do now to change it. I can’t go back in time and make it right for you.”
“I don’t need you to change it,” she replies, surprising me. Her voice is firm, her eyes direct, as she continues. “I appreciate the gesture, but it’s done. Finished. I learned a lot, and most importantly, I survived it. And I’m doing a hell of a lot better than I was when I first got home. I don’t even feel like the same person anymore.”
“I can see that.” I can’t help myself, I reach out to cup her cheek in my hand, and she leans into my touch. “I know you’ve come a long way in the past few months. You’re a strong woman, Sarah.”
“I am now.” She offers me a soft smile just as there’s a knock on the back door. “And there are the tacos. Thank goodness, I’m starving.”
She hurries over to open the door, takes the bag of food, and thanks the delivery person before returning to the kitchen counter and sets the bag down. She pulls out six tacos, a bag of chips and queso, and paper plates from the pantry.
“You did buy a ton of food.” I pop a chip into my mouth. “Am I about to eat tomorrow’s lunch?”
“Nah, I’ll grab something at the diner. I’d rather have the company,” she says and leads me into the living room. She sits on the floor, her back against the couch, and I follow suit, sitting directly across from her. “So, who have you been dating since I saw you last?”
I choke on a chip, and Sarah laughs as I take a sip of my margarita.
“That’s a hell of a conversation starter.”
“Well, I just figure if we can talk about anything, including my former marriage, it’s only fair that it goes both ways. Go on, you can tell me.”
I chew my taco and wipe my mouth with the napkin she offers me. “I mean, there have been a few dates here and there.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“Jesus, talk about awkward.”
Sarah laughs. “Oh, come on, you weren’t a monk for a dozen years.”
“No, but you don’t need to hear all about it. There hasn’t ever been anything very serious. A few dates here and there. I dated one girl that doesn’t live here anymore for a few months, but she got a job in Chicago, and I didn’t want to do the long-distance thing.”
“No, you’re not very good at that.”
My eyes find hers. “No, I’m not.”
“Well, at least you recognize it.” She wads up the paper from her finished taco and sits back to drink her margarita, licking the salt off the rim.
I always had a weakness for that pink tongue.
“Is everything going well here in the house?” I ask her, changing the subject. “Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?”
“It’s the best,” she says with a grin as Petunia sidles up next to me and starts to purr. “We love it here.”
“I’m glad.” I pet the cat as she curls up in my lap, and sip my drink.
“Speaking of that, I have the money for the deposits and such. I just keep forgetting to give it to you.”
“I’m really not worried about it, Sarah.”
And just like that, her chin firms stubbornly. “It’s your money.”
“I don’t need it,” I insist. “Those fees are usually collected because I don’t know the tenant. They’re a stranger to me. You’re not a stranger, and I know you won’t stiff me on the rent or destroy the place.”
“But, it’s just normal to pay those things,” she says. “It’s how it works, Tanner.”
“Are you telling me that you have a couple thousand extra dollars just lying around that you can hand over without blinking an eye?”
She pauses and frowns.
“I thought so. It would just go into an account, waiting to be refunded to you later. That’s silly.”
“You make it sound like I’m the bad guy here,” she complains, and I chuckle at her.