Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
My stomach throbbed. “He is. The best.”
“Awesome.” He looked me in the eye, a genuine smile on his lips. “Now what can I help with?”
I opened the fridge and lifted the plates of burgers and chicken breasts. “Carry these out to the grill?”
Things looked brighter when I stepped outside behind him and not just because of the weather. I started the grill, giving it time to heat up while I greeted Brett and Tad as well as Jesse and Dane. Seth was chattering away with Mia on the lawn, and when our eyes met, it felt like a physical jolt. We could do this. We were doing this.
Jesse leaned closer to me. “Someone looks happy.”
I resisted the urge to look around to see if anyone was listening. “Yeah…yeah, I am.”
“Awesome.” He barked out a laugh and bumped my hip playfully. “But I was talking about Seth.”
I chuckled and shook my head, then headed back to the grill. As I lined up the chicken and burgers over the flames, I listened to the conversations happening around me. Brett was talking to Mark about the trucking business, and Tad had made his way toward Mia, because of course he’d take any opportunity he could to get to know her better. And maybe it was working because she laughed at something he said and was giving him her full attention while Hailey was busy cooing at Poppy and offering her various toys.
I noticed Seth coming toward me in my side view, then felt his heat beside me.
“I’m gonna set out more salsa and guac,” he said as his hip brushed against mine, and I resisted the urge to reach for him. “In the fridge?”
“Yeah, thanks.” When he turned to head toward the kitchen, I reached for his wrist, then quickly dropped my hand. “Wait?”
He stood motionless as we both stared down at the grill, just…breathing.
“It’s okay,” he said in a low voice. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember, we have time.”
“Or we can rip the Band-Aid off,” I replied, but the thought still curdled my stomach. Fuck, why was I being such a chickenshit?
“I’ll go at your pace,” he said in a wary voice, probably feeling as off-kilter about it as me. “For now, let’s get everyone fed.”
“And keep the drinks rolling,” I replied, then downed the rest of my beer, hoping for some liquid courage.
I shut the lid on the grill, then went around the yard to take drink orders. Once I delivered more beer and wine to my guests, I sat down near Brett and Tucker, who were in a conversation with Mark, Bree, and Lauren. Seth was across the deck with Jesse and Dane, and I couldn’t keep my gaze from traveling to him again and again. I should’ve brought him into this conversation, got him more acquainted with my coworkers, whom I spent the majority of my time with. They should know Seth and understand how important he was becoming to me.
I stood suddenly, decision made, and as I was about to throw caution to the wind, to call him over, my gaze swept to the sliding glass doors that led to the kitchen. I released a small gasp as my mom stepped outside with a man around her age, who was graying at the temples. I stiffened as I noticed a few things all at once: How youthful she seemed as she whispered something to him and he smiled hesitantly at her. How pretty she looked in her summer dress with sandals, her toenails painted a bright pink.
Was he her neighbor or her date?
A date, definitely a date.
My stomach twisted. I had never seen her with a man other than my father, and I recognized that flirty look she’d sometimes throw him during happier moments between them. Moments when I wished with all my might that my dad had finally turned a corner and changed. Wishful thinking for sure.
She reached for me as she approached, then pulled me in a hug.
Snap the fuck out of it.
“Hey, Ma. How was your cookout?” I managed to ask.
“Fun,” she replied, then drew back and turned to her guest. “Jake, this is Bruce.”
Pinpricks bombarded my body as I forced my mouth to smile, to use the goddamned manners my mother had taught me.
“This is my son, Jake,” she said, and he reached out to shake my hand. I didn’t want to be rude, so I thrust my hand at him as Seth stepped up to greet my mom. “And oh, Seth, nice to see you, honey! Seth is the guy my son is dating.”
Suddenly all the air got sucked out of my lungs, and it seemed as if the whole table beside me fell silent. I watched numbly as Seth greeted Bruce, then threw me a rigid smile.
Time seemed to stand still, then came rushing back in.