Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“No,” she declares, not surprising me.
I roll my lips to stop myself from bursting out laughing. “Okay.”
“Goodbye.” She disconnects and my chest fills with this feeling of fullness.
I pull out of the parking garage and the next person I call is my father, who answers after the first ring. “Hey,” he greets.
“Hey,” I reply, pulling out and going toward my house. “What’s up?”
“Not much, just going to go and ask your mother what she wants to eat for dinner,” he says. “What about you? What are you up to?”
“Not much. Going to go home, grab dinner, and head to see Sofia,” I share, waiting for him to say something.
“So you spoke with her?” he asks softly.
“I did,” I confirm, taking a deep inhale and then letting it out. “I think it was the hardest conversation I’ve ever had.”
“Did you two clear the air?” I think about how to answer this question because it’s not so cut and dry.
“When she told me I broke her fucking heart.” I can hear her voice in my head. “I hated myself.” I swallow the lump. “I was the one who was supposed to protect her and I am the one who caused her pain.”
“Have you said that to her?” My father is never going to judge you. Not once. He’s going to sit down and talk things out. I don’t answer him before he says, “Communication is key, Matthew.” I pull into the driveway of my house, leaning my head back against the headrest. “If you don’t tell her how you feel, she’ll never know.”
“You’re right,” I tell him, rubbing my hands over my face. “I have to tell her everything and not hold back.”
“You also have to prepare yourself for the fact that she may have moved on,” he warns me, and just the thought shatters me. At just that thought, my heart which felt so full before now feels like someone has reached into my chest and ripped it out. “It’s not an easy thing to do, trust me, I know.” He breathes out heavily. “When I couldn’t go to your mom and I had to wait out the year, it was the longest time of my life. Knowing she could move on at any second motivates me to be the man she deserves. And now look at us,” he says, and I can picture the smile forming on his face.
“Didn’t she threaten to cut off your junk last week?” I chuckle.
“Which means she loves me something fierce.” He laughs also. “Don’t waste any more time, Matthew.”
“I won’t,” I assure him. “Can’t wait to see you this weekend.”
“Same,” he says, “now I’m going to go and wine and dine my woman.”
“Never say that to me again.” I close my eyes. “Now I’m going to imagine you two having sex in the kitchen.”
He laughs. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Too much, Dad,” I tell him. “I love you, goodbye.” I hang up to the sound of him laughing his head off.
Getting out of my car, I jog up the steps to my house, opening the door and kicking off my shoes before walking straight to the stairs. I take off the sweater and pants right beside the unmade bed and slip into it. I press the button to close the blackout curtains at the same time I put a one-hour timer on my phone. I put my head down on the pillow, closing my eyes, and the only thing I can think of is Sofia.
I don’t even know if I nap during the hour, all I know is the alarm rings and I reach over and grab it, turning it off. I turn on my back and open my Instagram, where I pull up Sofia’s name. It says this account is private and it’s giving me the blue button option to follow her, again. I press follow, and it lets me know that it’s been requested.
I shake my head, bringing up my call log again and pressing the phone logo right next to her name. It rings three times before she finally answers it, and truth be told, I thought she wouldn’t. “Hello,” she answers.
“Where are you?” I ask as I throw the covers off me, pressing the button for the shades so some light comes in.
“On my spaceship headed to the moon.” She shocks the fuck out of me, and all I can do is throw my head back and laugh.
“Fuck, you’re funny.” I get up, holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder as I get dressed.
“Do you want to come to my house for dinner?” I ask, even though it’s a wasted question.
“No.” She doesn’t even skip a beat with that answer.
“Shocker.” I laugh. “Okay, I’ll come to you.”
“Ugh, why?” she questions. “There is no reason for us to have another meal together.”