Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
I put on my favorite classical music and start writing. I don’t even know how long I write, when I’m in the zone, the only time I stop is to pee and grab water. When I finally look up, I see that it’s now dark outside. “I should have written outside,” I mumble when I get off the bed, going to the bathroom. My stomach rumbles and I walk over to the kitchen, opening the fridge and feeling suddenly exhausted. I grab the loaf of bread, fishing out a couple of pieces, and butter them on both sides. Taking out a frying pan, I start the burner, putting a piece of bread down in the pan, and then adding two slices of cheese, covering it with the other slice of bread. Making my way over, I take out the kettle and plug it in on the counter, filling it with water and then starting it. I grab a couple of strawberries and some bananas and make a fruit salad of sorts, and place it on the table. I flip the grilled cheese over, pressing down while I prepare my tea bag in the big mug.
I put the grilled cheese on the plate and carry it over to the table, where I sit down, turning on the big television. I’m scanning the channels while I eat my grilled cheese and fruit. When I finish, I grab my mug and open the sliding door, the breeze hits right away, so I grab my sweater before going outside. I put it on and then make my way up the stairs. I walk down the front steps, going past the sun pads, stepping over the skylight before hopping on the seat in the front. I walk over to the side of the boat and look over to see if the boat is still attached. Seeing it is, I smile to myself. “Would you look at that,” I say proudly. Turning, I make my way over to the steps to go to the sun pads when I see Xavier sitting on the front of his boat. His sun pads are gorgeous as they take up the whole front of the boat, and Beatrice is next to him while he reads a book. “Hi,” I greet, and he just looks over at me, not saying a word. “Did you see my loop de loops are still in place?”
“I saw,” he mumbles, and I take a sip of my tea.
“How was your day?” I ask him, feeling awkward that we are the only ones outside.
“Good,” he replies, his eyes never leaving the book.
I look ahead at the stars in the sky as I finish my tea, my eyes getting heavy. “Well, good talk,” I say, getting up and walking back up the steps, not even bothering to look back. I also ignore the need to throw my mug at his head, instead I walk back inside and lock the door. I’m about to flip him the bird when my phone rings, and I rush to the bedroom where I forgot it.
Grabbing it, I see it’s my father on FaceTime, so I press connect. The little circle goes around and around before his face fills the screen. “Oh, thank God,” he says when he sees me. “I’ve been calling you for the past five minutes. I was about to send out someone for a welfare check.” I shake my head and laugh.
“After five minutes? I could have been in the shower.”
“Or sex trafficked,” he counters, pushing his face even closer to the screen. “How would we know?”
“Dad.” I look at him. “You have the location on my phone. You know where I am at all times.”
“It could have been a ruse.” He shakes his head. “There are crazy people out there.”
“Oh, I know,” I agree. “I might be looking at one.” I laugh at my joke as he glares.
“Anyway, I’m calling to tell you that we are coming in tomorrow. My boat is going to be there the day after.”
“I can’t believe you bought a boat.” I shake my head. When I told him I bought my boat, he freaked out, had a hissy fit, and one day later bought his own boat.
“Well, I can’t believe that my daughter is living on a boat, but it is what it is.” He shrugs. “This is how we live now.”
“I can’t wait. I even learned how to tie a loop de loop. I’ll show you,” I tell him and he laughs.
“Can’t wait. Love you.” He disconnects before I have a chance to ask him who else is coming.
I put the phone down and continue locking up before sliding into bed and falling fast asleep.
CHAPTER 8
XAVIER
“Good talk,” she says, getting up and walking away. I can’t help but laugh silently at her sarcasm.