Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Until … the perfect storm.
Two weeks before graduation, on the heels of the prom fiasco, I was going to tell Josie’s parents about us. Despite my bad behavior, her dad liked me. He blamed my behavior on my father’s poor example. I had no fucking clue what I was going to do with my life, but it involved Josie.
I’d go wherever she decided to go to college. She had more than one scholarship offer. Josie was the smartest person I knew and the only person who brought any sort of peace to my life. If I had to get a job at a hardware store or bagging groceries, I was prepared to do it. Anything to be with Josie.
If I let her take off to college without me, some smart, put-together guy would steal her. Of that, I had no doubt.
Just as I sped down the stairs, on my way to talk to the chief, my dad came in the front door.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“What do you care?”
He grabbed my arm to stop me. By then I was so much bigger than him; it wouldn’t have taken much for me to have put him on his ass.
“Your mom told me you’ve been secretly pining for the chief’s daughter.”
My parents’ reconciliation pissed me off. I couldn’t believe my mom took him back. And apparently that meant she was sharing everything with him again.
I jerked out of his hold. “Well, it’s not going to be a secret much longer.”
“She’s the smartest decision you’ve ever made. I’m amazed you haven’t screwed that up too. Josie’s going to make something of herself. Maybe her work ethic will rub off on you.” His approval of her stifled my plans. It sucked all the oxygen from my lungs. I managed to shut the door behind me and trek over to her house, but I no longer knew what I was going to say to the chief.
Spite … so much spite.
“Colten.” He gave me his manly nod before spraying foam on his Chevelle’s tires. “What’s up?”
I had no words, just thoughts that never made it out of my mouth.
I love your daughter. I have since the moment we first shared cookies and milk. I didn’t know those feelings I had way back then were love … but they were. I’m going to follow her to college and take care of her. I have no clue what I’m going to do with my life other than do right by her. Do I have your blessing?
I cleared my throat, but I couldn’t clear my head. The echo of my dad’s words wouldn’t stop whispering in my ear, prodding my conscience, and igniting my natural instinct to spite him. “Um … I was going to talk to you about Josie and me, but it’s not uh …”
Chief Watts stood tall and drew in a breath so deep I think he took all of the oxygen from the garage. When he let it out, his mouth tipped into a disapproving frown. “I’m not blind or stupid. I know you have a little crush on my daughter. And I think she probably has some sort of feelings for you too. But it’s a little late to be having this conversation with me, don’t ya think?”
Think? I had no idea what to think. What conversation did he think I was going to have with him? A confession? A mission statement? An apology?
“Josie’s going to medical school. We’re all very proud of her, aren’t we?” he asked.
I nodded slowly.
“I think you’re lost, son. I think you need something that will give you direction again. Discipline. Life skills. A clean slate.”
I agreed. I needed Josie. Did that mean I was agreeing with my father?
“I was a lot like you. I had a shitty father. Chip on my shoulder. A mile-long list of bad decisions. Then I enlisted in the Marines. It changed my life. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Other than marrying Savannah, it was the best decision of my life. It made me the man she wanted to marry.”
The military?
My parents were anti-war. My dad scoffed at the idea that any young person would voluntarily sign up to risk their life for their country in what he called “endless wars.”
“You think I should enlist?”
He rested his hand on my shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. “I do. I think you should let Josie live her life, the life she’s been earning through hard work and dedication. Don’t be the person who pulls her heartstrings and derails her future over infatuation or a lack of a better choice. It’s not love. Let her go. Wish her well. Then pack a bag and get some real-life skills for yourself. If you decide on college, it will be free. Or you might choose law enforcement like I did. Whatever you choose, it will be the right decision for you. Okay?”