Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
As we approach her, Mom wraps her arms around me.
“Mark. Tim.”
Dad greets Tim with a handshake.
Mom releases me and hugs Tim.
They’ve both been great with him. Welcomed him right into our home. Mom’s even joked that if anyone in the press catches on to his former line of work, we’d just twist the story into a wild-child-turned-good-boy story.
The news of the video Keith exposed did get out. Fortunately, the FBI has managed to suppress the recording…at least for now. We’ve been warned that stuff like that is out there forever, though. But on the plus side, it didn’t damage Mom’s career. As expected, she twisted it to her advantage and spun the story around to what it really was: me and Tim being taken advantage of. Meanwhile, Keith is serving five years for invasion of privacy. My social life hasn’t seen any major repercussions from the video, either. Greg’s weird about it, but who gives a fuck about him?
And Morgan reached out to me as soon as he heard the news. Asked me if I was okay. I’ve met with him since and he did his best to make amends for how he betrayed me. I told him I forgave him, but I can’t. Not when we were such good friends. Not when he deliberately went behind my back like that…and all for some hot sex with my sleazy, dumbass boyfriend.
I take some press pictures with Mom and Dad before we leave and meet at the mansion for lunch.
The cook’s prepared shrimp gumbo as the main dish. We eat and catch up.
“Oh, Kitty,” Mom says after wiping her lips with her napkin. She sets it back in her lap. “I don’t know why I didn’t think about it earlier when we were talking about Dean Koontz, but you need to check out this book club I attend.”
“That sounds nice,” Kitty replies.
“I was so busy thinking about my mascara still being runny from that speech that it totally escaped my mind. My friend Kendra has this horror novel book club. We call it the Southern Ladies’ Book Club, but it’s just an excuse to get together and talk about Koontz, King, and Cussler.”
“Oh my God,” I say.
Tim chuckles, obviously amused by my fear of horror.
Mom rolls her eyes and then looks directly at Tim. “It’s your job to open his mind about things.”
“I’m doing the best I can,” he says as he throws his hands up in front of him.
“Kitty,” she continues, “I’ll give you the Facebook page before you go.”
“How’s the new job going, Tim?” Dad asks him. “Mark tells me you got a promotion.”
Tim beams. “Yeah. I started officially as manager of The Independent two weeks ago.”
“Congratulations,” Dad says.
“You knew that already,” Mom says. “I signed the card for you two weeks ago.”
Dad’s eyes widen. “Oops. Sorry. Then just pretend I didn’t say that.” He winks at Tim.
The new job has been good for Tim. It’s a lot more money. Not enough to get them out of debt, but it’s enough that it’ll make things a little easier for him and Kitty. At the very least, he can sleep peacefully knowing he can keep making payments on everything.
“And let me know if those collectors start bothering you again,” Mom says. “I can take care of that.”
“Yes,” Dad adds. “Let us know if you need anything from us. We’re happy to help.”
“Now don’t get your hopes up,” Mom says, “but I added Kitty’s name to a list of possible grantees who can receive money to pay off their medical debt. It’s through one of the organizations I work with. I found out about the grant money the other day.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Tim says.
“It was my pleasure. And as Dan said, if you need anything from us, don’t hesitate to reach out, especially if it involves knocking someone off.” She winks playfully at Tim. “Although I imagine you have a few contacts of your own in that department, Tim.”
“Yes, I do.”
It was clearly a joke, but I can tell by the way everyone quiets it made Mom and Dad uneasy as they considered if, as a former drug dealer, he really has those kind of connections. And now I’m kinda wondering it, too.
I burst into laughter, enjoying their discomfort. Then I turn to Tim, sitting beside me, a broad grin across his face. I think he’s enjoying it as much as I am.
There he is.
My Timmy.
The man who I was so sure I was above falling in love with—the man I underestimated so much when we first met. I thought he was a demon, but he’s an angel. My angel.
He reaches over and takes my hand.
It tingles at his touch, sending a warm sensation crawling across my body.
I feel at ease. So comfortable.
“Have you been looking at options for PA school?” Mom asks me.