Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 6
Katie
“Katie? Are you okay?”
I look up at Callie and frown. That’s the million-dollar question right there. Jake is at his mother’s with Lennon. Lennon only went because he thought Jeff would be there and he wanted to see Barb. I’m not sure how it went when he found out Jeff wasn’t there. He’s staying at a hotel in town. I know because he invited me out to dinner tonight to talk things over. Jake was pissed when I told him. He became irate because I thought it would be a good idea if I agreed to go. I even asked him to come along in hopes the three of us could sit down like the adults we’re supposed to be. In response, he left. Of course, he only did that after making it clear that tonight was supposed to be the night that we talked to our son. Jake felt I was just delaying everything yet again.
At this rate, I feel like nothing I do is going to be right. I called Callie and cried on her shoulder when she came over. Now that I’ve got it all out, I just feel dazed and exhausted.
“Sorry, I must have zoned out,” I finally respond, shaking off my thoughts.
“Katie, it’s going to be okay.” Callie reaches over and holds my hand, giving it a squeeze to show her support.
“I don’t see how. If I go to dinner with Jeff tonight, Jake will never forgive me. I need to talk to him, though. I need to talk to both of them. I don’t want any of this ripping Lennon apart. He loves both Jeff and Jake. Right now, Jake can’t see that because Lennon is lashing out at him, but I know my son. He’s hurting.”
“What did your grandmother tell you?”
“Mom? She muttered something about the past being the past and I needed to bury it. She said I needed to get my house in order, and I know she’s right. I’m just not sure how to do it.” I laugh, the sound full of stress even to my own ears.
“Well, I know what I do when I want Reed to calm down and listen…” she murmurs.
“Yeah, but Callie, have you seen me? I’m on a walker. It’s not like I’m able to do the horizontal mambo with Jake.”
She laughs. “You have hands and a mouth, girl. Don’t try to play me.”
“Yeah, but right now, he seems to hate me. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to get him in the mood when he’d rather growl and pout. Besides, we’re in a house with Mom and Lennon. It’s not so easy to have sexy time, you know?”
“Well, your mom went with Jake and Lennon so she could go to bingo with Barb later, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So, call Barb and tell her you want to seduce her son and would appreciate it if your mom could stay there tonight.”
“But Mom’s medicine and stuff…”
“I can drop it off, along with clothes and anything else.”
“God, Callie, this is so embarrassing. I mean my mother and Jake’s will know I’m having a bootie call! Shit, kill me now.”
“You know they’ll both be cheering you on. They want you and Jake both happy. They always have. C’mon, Katie, you know I love Jeff. I didn’t make a secret of it, however, I knew you didn’t love him like you needed to. You would have had a good marriage because Jeff is a good guy. You love him, but even you have to be honest and admit that your feelings for him never touched your heart in the way the ones you have for Jake did. Marriage can be hard. You need to love your man completely to ignore the irritating things they do.”
“Reed does something you find irritating?” I laugh.
“Girl, that man is killing me. He is obsessed with basketball. Like, why? We’re in Texas. Football is king. Everyone knows that. He makes me watch game after game. I swear one of these nights, my brain is just going to shut down I’m so bored.”
I giggle. “Okay, fine. I’m going to see if I can seduce a man who may not even find me attractive anymore.”
“Do not tell me you just said that.”
“I’m serious. I know he once found me attractive but that’s been a while. Plus, Jake could always have any girl he wanted. Rodeo queens pant after him constantly. Then there’s me.”
“The woman he told Reed he never stopped loving.”
My heart squeezes in my chest with Callie’s words. “I’m scared,” I admit quietly. “Walkers and scars aren’t exactly runway material. Not to mention, a hand job isn’t exactly a wild eight second ride my cowboy is used to.”
“First of all, you are beautiful. Jake is not superficial, and that man loves you, Katie. He’s barely left your side since the accident. So, don’t even hand me that bullshit.”