Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 82(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 82(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
We keep talking as I serve breakfast. Mostly about bullshit, how the Seahawks are doing, the oncoming heatwave, that new prestige drama Cassie and Cash are watching together.
“Gotta go, Will. Cattle aren’t gonna drive themselves.”
“Alright. Call me if something breaks down since I won’t be on the farm today.”
“Will do. Take care, and tell Windy I said hi. Also tell her you love her and can’t imagine life without her.”
I glare at him. Cash just laughs as he goes through the door.
I almost don’t want to get together with Windy now just to prove my brother wrong, instead of just worrying about ruining our friendship.
Phone in hand, I type out a text message to her, scheduling our get-together time. She wants to start a bit later, which I’m fine with. More time to tinker and get things ready.
I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed that it’ll be a little longer without her, though.
Damn, I really need to get myself together.
Maybe I should let some steam off before I explode?
I contemplate going back into the shower and spending more time with myself, but I figure it didn’t really do much to cut off my desires the first time. If anything, it just made them stronger.
If only there were a middle ground between friends and lovers. Maybe there is, actually.
Can I be with Windy without declaring my love for her?
4
WINDY
Being back in Burly has meant catching up on all of my old favorites. Golden Dragon Chinese is one of those favorites, and I decide to head there for lunch, even though it means a short trip over to Home.
I don’t know what it is about that place. Something the owners do there is special. Sure, I could get more authentic cuisine in Seattle, but sometimes you don’t want authentic. You want comfort food, made in that uniquely inauthentic way. Working-class American Chinese food.
No place in Seattle makes Beef and Broccoli like Golden Dragon does. It has to be the sauce. After I enjoy my lunch, I step outside and look over to the neighboring store.
Fig’s Function and Fashion.
Given I don’t know a whole lot of people named Fig, I know exactly who runs the store. I head in, the entrance bell ringing. The store is mostly empty right now, except for the familiar face behind the counter.
“Windy? Windy Jones, is that you?” Fig says as she puts down the piece that she’s knitting. “I haven’t seen you in years!”
“Hey, Fig,” I say, approaching the counter. She’s clearly pregnant, which I’m not surprised by. One of the things Williams kept me up to date on while I was away was all the weddings he was going to. All his cousins have gotten married over the course of the last two years or so. That doesn’t bizarre until you realize that Williams has seven cousins he’s super close to. The Rough and Rowdy families are super tight, more like brothers than cousins a lot of the time.
“I thought you ran off to Seattle,” Fig says, grabbing a bottle of water from a mini fridge under the counter and offering it to me.
I accept it. “I did. Worked there for like, five years. A good job finally opened up here so I came back.”
The tightness of families around here like the Roughs and the Rowdys is what led me to running into Fig quite a few times over my teenage years. My family is only me and my dad, whereas there are a ton of Roughs and Rowdys. Cookouts, Christmas dinners, they’d all gather together, and Williams would always ask the two of us to come.
“Guess you got the same story as me, eh? Can only take so much of big city life?”
I shrug. “I just felt really lonely. Everyone at work was what you expect out of a mechanic. They were nice enough, but they just wanted beer and sports on the weekends, and didn’t really look at me as friendship material. Half of them asked me out on dates, though.”
Fig grins. “Take any of them up on it?”
“They weren’t my type, Fig. Nothing against them, but I want someone that has bigger dreams than a box full of hot wings for the big game.” Although I quite enjoy hot wings, they aren’t the be-all and end-all of my life’s goals.
“Of course. I know exactly the type of person you’re after, after all. I’m sure you’ve told Williams you’re back in town.”
I sigh, knowing what she’s suggesting. “We’ve been in touch all this time. Mostly over the internet. Lots of texts, occasional online video games.”
“Uh huh. Of course you’d stay in touch.” She slurps some water out of her own bottle. “So, what brings you into Home? You’re always welcome, but I don’t think you’re passing through just because you’re bored.”
“Just getting some lunch before I head back to do a project. Golden Dragon is the best Chinese place I’ve been to, and I missed it so much.”