Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“No way. I thought it was supposed to take a year or more.”
“We did, too. But they have an opening for him. He’s moving after the new year.”
“Wow.” My brother gazed out the window. “I have to say... I’m a little bummed. I was kind of hoping you’d stick around longer.”
Yeah. Me too. “Everything happens for a reason. I can’t take back what I did with Carly. And honestly, I wouldn’t want to. But sex and love are two different things. If we were to get any more involved…that wouldn’t be good. It’s bad enough that I had sex with her, but anything else doesn’t belong to me. That will always belong to Brad. I have no right trying to pick up with her where he left off.” I rubbed my temples. “God, this is so fucked up.”
“You’re only human, Josh. It’s perfectly natural to have the feelings you do for each other. Especially since you’ve both been through the same loss. I know that’s the ironic part, but it’s probably what bonds you the most.”
My insides twisted at the thought of Brad being the tie that bound Carly and me. I changed the subject. “Anyway, we’re going to Pete’s Christmas Tree Farm today. Gonna try to bring Scottie. See how that goes.”
Michael smiled. “I’m sure he’ll like the hot cocoa stand.”
“Not sure if he’ll even drink that stuff. He’s weird about food choices. But I remember he used to like the lights on Wayne’s Christmas tree. Seeing as though this will be his last Christmas in that house, I couldn’t not get a tree for him.” I felt my eyes start to water. “What the fuck? That almost made me cry just now when I thought of him never going back.”
My brother shook his head. “Okay, now you’re gonna make me cry. Two grown men crying into their damn pancakes in the middle of a diner. Not a good look.”
***
Carly was all set to go when I returned to the house that afternoon. I’d texted her to tell her to be ready. She looked like a freaking snow princess, wearing a white coat with a matching white hat and a candy-cane-striped scarf.
“You look adorable,” I told her. I couldn’t stop myself.
She spun around. “I figured I’d get into the whole Christmas-spirit thing.”
Not even a minute home, and I wished I could wrap her legs around me and have my way with her against the wall. Getting through these last days without touching her was going to be excruciating.
Instead of acting on the impulse to kiss the Christmas right out of her, I picked up Scottie’s coat. “You ready to go, buddy? We’re gonna get a Christmas tree!”
He seemed to understand because he didn’t give us any trouble getting his coat on. More often than not, he resisted when you tried to take him out of the house, but thankfully not today.
On the way to Pete’s Christmas Tree Farm, I turned on the radio station that played holiday music. It mixed with the sounds of Scottie’s iPad coming from the backseat.
When we arrived, the place was packed—no surprise since it was getting pretty close to Christmas. But they had plenty of merchandise left. There were rows of trees in every size and width imaginable lining the open field, putting the smell of the season in the air. Light snowflakes started to fly, which added to the perfect holiday ambience. Nostalgia washed over me. I’d come here since I was a little kid, often with the Longos—and Brad. Then a wave of guilt hit me.
Since I suspected Scottie wouldn’t want to be here all that long, I led him and Carly over to an area where there were several smaller trees.
I pointed to one of them. “What about this? It looks pretty even all around.”
“I think it’s perfect.” Carly turned to Scottie. “Do you like this tree?”
He uttered something unintelligible and hopped up and down.
“Scottie seems to like it, so I guess this is the one.” I smiled, clipping the ticket off the tree, which we were supposed to take to a cashier. “Why don’t I stand in line to pay with him? Do you mind getting in line for the cocoa so we’re not wasting time? I can already see he’s getting fidgety.”
“Not at all. That sounds like a good plan.”
The line to pay moved at a snail’s pace. A burst of wind blew my cash away, so I rushed to grab the bills before they were gone forever. I took my eyes off Scottie for no more than three seconds. But that was all it took.
“Hey! Stop! Mine!” I heard a kid scream behind me. “That man just tried to take my iPad!”
The next thing I knew, the kid’s father had Scottie in a chokehold.
My heart nearly stopped.
“Please! Let him go!” I begged, prying Scottie away from the man. “He doesn’t know what he did!” I yelled.