Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“I can’t believe my baby is all grown up! It feels like yesterday you girls were coming home from kindergarten and begging to go on your first playdate.” My mom can’t stop crying while we enjoy our Crème brûlée at our favorite Parisian restaurant downtown.
“Oh, Mom, stop,” I mumble back. I swear she’s cried more this week than I’ve ever seen her cry my entire life.
“But it’s true! You’re going to be so far away in Nevada. Promise me you’ll come home and visit often. I’m so afraid you’ll get over there and never come back.”
I love my mom to death, but I think moving away will help me spread my wings. We’re extremely close, but because of that, I always live in fear of not wanting to do anything to disappoint her, not that she would judge me in any way if I screwed up. My mom isn’t like that—she has always been more of a friend than a mother. She had me at eighteen years old after my dad and her had been dating for four years. They met their freshman year in high school, and it was instant love. I’ve personally never been in love, but I find it hard to believe one can fall in love with somebody they just met; however, I would never tell her that.
As soon as she found out she was pregnant with me, she decided to stay home and be a full-time mom instead of going to college. My dad worked nights delivering pizzas and went to college so he could get his degree in business. Immediately after graduating, he started his own business and still to this day runs a successful window cleaning company here in South Florida. We aren’t rich by any means, but we have always had everything we could ever want or need.
After the business took off, my parents bought their first house in Jupiter, Florida right across from the beach, and that is where I met Kayla on our first day of kindergarten. Kayla, on the other hand, comes from an extremely wealthy family, but they’re also the least loving family you’ll ever meet. Kayla and her brother aren’t really close. He is always getting into trouble, and Kayla’s parents are rarely ever home.
Kayla and her brother have both practically grown up at my house and she’s always saying she wishes her mom was more like mine. It seems like while Kayla’s mom chose the career, my mom chose the family. I just don’t understand why people feel like they have to choose one or the other.
I know my mom loves being home with my brother and me, but I also know she wishes she would have attended college before having us. She was so focused on raising us and helping my dad run his business, she never went to school. She always tells me to make sure I follow my dreams and passions. I think it’s because she never got to follow her own.
Which leads me back to not wanting to disappoint my mom. I’ve been so focused on school these last four years to make sure I follow my dreams and passions, I haven’t even so much as dated. I am looking forward to finally going out on some dates once we’re up at ULV.
“I can’t wait to leave tonight to Miami,” Kayla whispers in my ear. “It’s going to be so lit down there. So many clubs and parties going on. You better be ready to get your groove on, girly.” I laugh as she shakes her ass in her seat. Kayla is forever looking forward to the next party.
“Yeah, yeah,” is all I can come up with as a response. I have no idea how I’m going to make it seven days with Kayla in Miami partying it up. At least here in Jupiter she has to keep it tame since the town is small and boring to say the least.
We decide to drive Kayla’s Volvo SUV down to Miami. It’s a graduation gift from her parents and is really comfy. We get to the Miami Beach Resort, valet park the car, and check-in to our room. Looking around, Kayla and I grin at each other, thinking the same thing. My parents did well. The resort is literally right on the beach. I inhale deeply and can smell the ocean breeze coming off the waves. I may not like the sand between my toes or between other places, but I still appreciate the beautiful scenery. We walk to the back of the resort and see a beautiful pool surrounded by lounge chairs. Right behind the pool is a cute tiki-bar that separates the resort from the beach.
Once we get to the room, I slide the key card in and open the door. Immediately, we start squealing while throwing ourselves on to the white plush mattresses of our queen beds. Looking around, I notice our room is overlooking the ocean. The balcony hangs directly over the sand, and since we’re ten floors up, I can see everything down below. The sun is starting to set and it’s a gorgeous pinkish-orange. There hasn’t been much rain the last few days and I hope it stays that way, but you just never know in Florida.