Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Surprisingly, he chuckles. “Really, you talk yourself down too much. Didn’t you hear what I said last night? Hey, we’re here.”
He pulls into the church parking lot which, unlike last night, is overrun with so many vehicles, people parked off the lot across a wide patch of dirt, which isn’t in the best condition after the rain last night.
But he doesn’t park there. He pulls right up to the front of the church instead, parks, then gets out. “It’s okay,” I try to tell him as he comes around the vehicle, “you don’t have to drop me off here and park the—”
He opens the passenger door. “Come on out, Malcolm.”
Confused, I get out. “Cole …?” He shuts the door behind me, gives a coy, little smile, then leads the way to the church doors. “You’re just gonna leave your car here? In the front?”
Annoyingly, Cole doesn’t answer. He just pulls open the door to the church, then waits for me.
Well, alright. It’s his car. If he isn’t afraid of it being towed, I guess I won’t be either. It’s a small town. Maybe no one cares.
I enter the church, then come to a stop.
Samuel stands there. He’s about as dressed up as I think he’ll ever get, which isn’t very dressed up at all. Denim jacket over a simple plaid shirt and jeans. Hands in his pockets. Hair as messy as always, with the littlest bit of effort pushing it to the side. When I enter the church and he sees me, his face screws up in confusion.
It appears he’s as baffled by my presence as I am of his.
“Boys,” says Cole, coming to our sides. “I wanted to—”
“You said to meet you here to talk, Cole,” says Samuel, eyeing him harshly. “Not that you were bringin’ me to Malckie like some kinda sneak-attack thing.”
“I know, I know.” Cole puts on his smile again, though for the first time, it appears nervous. “I … I may have deceived you both. A tiny little bit.” He clears his throat, then faces me. “You said you were sorry about Nadine trying to set you up with me. Truth is, I think she did get it wrong. She should have set you up with him.”
Samuel looks at me, his eyes harsh and guarded.
I stare back at him, at a loss.
“I saw it at Biggie’s Bites,” Cole goes on. “Heck, I saw it the day before when I was first introduced to you, Malcolm. The way you looked at Samuel. Felt like I was being dropped right in the middle of a place I sure didn’t belong. Something was … already started.”
Samuel averts his eyes.
I frown and stare at the ground.
“I have no hard feelings. For either of you. About you kissing. About you having a thing. About whatever happened at the diner. Honestly, I’m not sure if I was ready for something myself. Nadine sort of pushed me into it.” Cole lets out a brief, curt laugh, then looks at each of us. “So it’s my turn to play matchmaker now.”
“You’re gonna what?” spits Samuel, quirking an eyebrow.
“Please don’t do that,” I beg Cole miserably.
Cole nods decisively. “I am officially setting you two up with each other—and officially stepping out of this situation. Samuel, you have a heart of gold that you wear on your plaid sleeve, you save lives both human and animal, and dang it, I think you’re just a great guy all around.” Cole faces me now. “Malcolm, your heart is guarded, but it’s strong, and I think if you want real happiness, you’re gonna need someone like Samuel by your side to yank you out of yourself and make you experience all the life you’re missing out on.”
I peer at Samuel, my heart racing with uncertainty.
Samuel’s eyes carry a glint of emotion, unreadable, frustrated.
Cole takes a step back from us. “Now I’m gonna go park my car, then come back and take my seat in that chapel and wish my new bosses luck in my own way. Whether you two stay here or go, that’s up to you guys … but whatever you do, I suggest you do it together.” He takes another step back, hesitates, then decides at last to leave us be, heading back out of the church.
I don’t know how to feel as I stare at Samuel, with him staring back at me, our eyes connected, everything else lost, confused, in a wintry storm of hopelessness neither of us can push past.
Then Samuel scowls. “You left me a frickin’ letter …?”
Chapter 17
Words We Write Down.
I blink. “Well, yes.”
Samuel scoffs. “That was gonna be it? Thanks, sorry, bye?” He shakes his head in disbelief and runs a hand agitatedly through his hair, messing it up worse. “After everything we’ve been through?”
I roll my eyes. “Really? It’s been, like, two and a half days.”