Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 72669 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72669 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“Will you keep an eye on our house while we’re gone?” He asked.
I nodded. “Mom already asked, and I will,” I agreed.
“Good,” he said, pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket. “This is the boat we’ll be on, and where we’re leaving port from. Call us if anything interesting happens or if you need to talk.”
I nodded and took the piece of paper and offered him my hand.
“Have a good time,” I ordered.
My mother hugged me.
“I think you should talk to her,” she whispered into my ear.
I leaned back with a grimace.
“I’ll see what I can do, Ma. But I’m not making any promises,” I replied teasingly.
My mom rolled her eyes.
“When have you ever ‘made any promises?’”
I grinned.
“It’s easier to do it that way, then you’re not breaking promises,” I responded cheekily.
My mother smacked me on the arm.
“Go home and mow your lawn. It needs it,” she ordered.
After saluting her, I left.
Then I mowed my lawn.
Why? Because my mother told me to, that’s why.
Chapter 4
I’m emotionally constipated. I haven’t given a crap all week.
-Coffee Cup
Masen
“What?” I exclaimed, pulling the phone away from my ear and looking at it like I hadn’t heard Mia right.
“You heard me right,” Mia confirmed.
My mouth dropped open.
“They’re high…while on the job. How?” I cried, my mind racing.
From what I knew, Booth had never, ever tried drugs.
In fact, he’d been radically against them since one of his high school friends had been a huge pot head that turned into a lover of more hard core drugs once pot no longer hit the spot.
To hear that Booth was high really surprised the crap out of me.
“What are you calling me for?” I asked, trying hard not to sound as bitter as I really was. “Call his wife.”
Mia was silent for long moments. “He didn’t ask us to call his wife. He asked for Tai to call you. And since we don’t have any more information other than that, you’re up.”
I shook my head. “Call someone else. I’m not doing this.”
“They suffered a lot of smoke inhalation tonight, as well as inhalation of the weed, Masen. Booth has a concussion and most likely a couple of bruised ribs. He can’t be alone, and he needs to be woken up every hour to make sure he’s okay,” Mia said with a no bullshit attitude.
I sighed and gritted my teeth.
“Fine,” I growled. “Where are y’all?”
“The hospital. Memorial, not ours,” she answered quickly.
I was heading to my bedroom before she’d even finished. “Okay. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Once I hung up, I couldn’t help but be a little bit ecstatic that he’d asked for me.
He could’ve asked for anyone, including his wife, but yet he’d requested me.
I, of course, knew his parents and brother’s number. I just hadn’t used them in so long that I wasn’t sure of the welcome I’d get.
Nor did I know if they still were in working order.
Mr. and Mrs. Sims, Booth’s mother and stepfather, were great people. Adria Sims was a teacher at the college. Bill Sims was an engineer for the railroad.
They both lived in Kilgore with me, and I ran away every single time I saw them, still, to this day.
If I saw them come into the grocery store, I’d leave.
If they were at the same restaurant with me, I’d find a way to sneak out, much like I had a few days before to Mia.
I was a coward.
I didn’t want to see the ugliness there…that hatred aimed all at me.
I was a bad person, and I’d made it so Booth’s mom didn’t get to see her baby.
And I knew, at least subconsciously, she blamed me for that.
She loved her son like I loved him.
With all my heart and soul.
Slipping my feet into my shoes, I walked out of my bedroom and headed to the front entrance where I’d dropped my keys and bags, as well as my clothes, the moment I’d gotten in last night.
My purse was still in my Jeep, which made it easy to run out into the night towards my Jeep’s driver’s side door.
It was raining…again.
And the dreary weather matched my mood.
Dismal.
I hadn’t been the same, which I’d admit hadn’t been all that great to begin with, since I’d realized Booth was now home for good.
I’d prayed for this day.
Prayed that one day he’d come home, safe and sound, and he’d listen to my apology.
He’d hear my words and completely understand.
But I’d never factored in a wife.
Shit.
My drive to the hospital took longer than anticipated due to the flooding from the torrential rain we were receiving, and vaguely I wondered how a fire could happen in the middle of a thunderstorm.
Making a mental note to ask about the likelihood of that, I parked in the parking lot, finding a close parking spot only four from the door, and hurried inside.