Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 114211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
After a second of silence, I look over at my dad, if for no other reason than to check if he’s still breathing. He is. And he’s looking at me with a curious, pensive expression I wasn’t expecting.
“Huh,” he says, looking me over.
I spread my hands. “Huh? Somethin’ wrong with what I said?”
“Can you do that?” he asks, nodding at the binder in my hand. “Put those into a computer? Make a website? All of that?”
I lower the binder to the desk, surprised by his change. Maybe I expected him to argue or just blow me off.
Instead, I’ve got his attention.
It feels nice, being looked up at instead of down. It’s subtle, but I notice the difference. I feel it like an energy coming from my dad. Tone of respect in his voice. Glint of inspiration in his eyes.
He used to look at me like this, way back when.
I think I missed how it feels to be taken seriously.
“Y-Yeah,” I finally answer him. “I could try. Get some help if I can’t figure it out. Cole’s boyfriend is good with computers.”
“That sounds smart, son. Real smart.”
“G-Great,” I mumble.
Then he clears his throat and adds, “And I agree. I think that handsome military fella did you some good while he was here.”
I shoot my eyes back up at him. “What?”
“You should invite him back out to Spruce sometime,” he goes on. “We’ll have him over for dinner. It’s only fair you let us meet your boyfriend before runnin’ off into the sunset with him.”
He takes the binder straight out of my frozen hands.
“Yep,” he confirms to my silent face as he files it, “I overheard a bit from the hallway before coming in. Eavesdroppin’ dad, that’s me, guilty as charged. What’s his name, by the way? Don’t know if I caught that part.”
I swallow hard. “B-Bridger,” I finally manage to say. “His … His name’s Bridger.”
“And when’s he coming back out to Spruce?”
That question brings my eyes back down to the desk. “I’m not really … sure if … if he’s comin’ back or not.”
My dad huffs at that. “Well, if he knows what’s good for him, he better come back, because whatever he’s been doin’ to you, I want him to keep doin’ it to you.”
Does he mean fuck me against ten different mattresses across town?
“I’ll go call Mrs. Pane,” my mom sweetly decides as we share this unexpected father-son bonding moment, her face beaming at us, overjoyed, happier than I’ve seen her in a long time. Until her phone chimes at her and she looks down at it. “F-O-E-H-N?? What the heck’s a ‘foehn’? That ain’t a real word!”
25
ANTHONY
“Happy one-month-i-versary!” I sing at the phone.
Bridger smiles handsomely back at me, his face almost filling the whole dang screen. “I think you’re off by a week or so.”
I frown. “A week or—? Huh? What’re you goin’ by? Our first date? Like, the one at Nadine’s right before you left? No.” I wag my finger at the phone. “We became a thing when you took my dang virginity at that motel.” I pause a second. “Just realized how gross that sounds. Wish I could take back sayin’ it that way.”
“Nope, too late,” he teases me.
“I lost my virginity … in a motel …?”
“Why’re you announcing it like it’s news?”
“Just never said it out loud. Why am I only now realizin’ …?”
“Hey.” He smacks his lips at me. It never quite looks like a kiss when he does that, but it’s cute as fuck and always brings me right back to him. “I just noticed you’re wearing it.”
I sit up suddenly, having forgotten, and hold my phone back, showing off how his denim jacket fits on me. “You like it? Keeps me nice and warm. Though, this time of year, it isn’t really needed for the warmth. Kinda sweating in it, to be honest.”
“You can take it off, y’know.”
“No way.” I hug myself with my free arm. “When I wear this, it’s like you’re huggin’ me or somethin’.”
Bridger smiles.
It makes me feel just as good as it hurts me to see that smile.
I must show something in my eyes, because his smile I like so much goes away. “Aww, you miss me, huh?” he asks, sounding all sad and mushy about it.
“Nah, not even a little,” I mumble back.
His smile returns. “That’s actually the reason I’m calling, since this isn’t our one month thing. I might have some good news. Very good news.” He comes in closer where I can only see his eyes. “We might be planning a trip back to Spruce in just one more month.”
I lift my eyebrows. “You serious? That soon?”
“Glad you think it’s soon, because a month sounds like forever away to me.”
I smirk. “Aww. Sounds like you’re the one missin’ me.”
“Of course I miss you.” His face turns serious, his eyes shining in the dim lighting of his bedroom in Kansas. “Miss you like crazy, Anthony. Wish you were right here.” He slaps his bed next to him.