Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
I wipe at my face, and sure enough, there’s pink lipstick on my fingers. I grab a towel and wipe it off before looking at my three friends. “I’m in trouble, guys. Fuck that, I’m a dead man.”
“Abby?” Kanan asks.
I groan and nod my head. “Yeah, Zach’s little sister.”
Jason speaks up. “If I remember correctly, she’s not that little.”
Instantly, I come to Abby’s defense.
Colter puts a hand up to my chest. He stutters out the words a little but gets them out. “Davis, I don’t think he was talking about her like that.”
Jason sits up. “I was talking about how she’s of age. You keep talking about her like she’s a kid or something. She’s an adult. What did you think I meant?” He snaps his fingers. “Oh, you thought I meant… fuck, dude, I may be blind now, but I remember exactly what Abby looks like. She’s a curvy woman, and she’s hot as fuck. I mean, if I thought I had a—”
I move toward him. “Don’t finish that sentence, fucker.”
All three of the guys start to laugh, and I look around at them. Kanan is the first one to speak up. “Look, it’s obvious you have feelings for her. I’m sure if you talk to Zach and explain how you feel…. I mean, you’re his best friend. If anything, I would think he would want you of anyone to be with her.”
I sit down on the closest machine and let my head hang between my shoulders. “Maybe before… but not now.”
Jason is the first one to speak up. “You have to quit looking at yourself as a cripple, man. Look at how far you’ve come already.”
I nod. “I know, but I’m not talking about that. Zach wouldn’t want his sister with an addict. Hell, she deserves better than that.”
Colter sits on the bench next to me. “You’re not an addict.”
I look at him. “I’ll always be an addict.” I take a deep breath. “Let’s forget about me. What about you guys? How are you liking it here? What do you think about all this?”
Kanan shrugs his shoulders. “We’re getting paid to work out and talk about our feelings. I still don’t know exactly what we’re being hired to do, but I guess we’ll figure it out.”
I lean forward and rest my elbows on my arms. “I went and talked to Walker about it last week. I told him I can’t keep getting paid for doing nothing, and he told me that doing the work—meaning physical and mental therapy—is part of the job. He said when I’m ready, he wants to hire me to take lead on security here at the clinic.”
The guys all look at me with their mouths wide open. “Wait, so this is legit? He’s really offering us jobs?” Jason asks.
I nod my head and realize he can’t see me. “Yes, it’s for real. Trust me, I’m with you. I honestly thought he was just wanting to help us. I mean look at us, we were all injured on the same mission. It was not his fault by any means, and his retrieval was swift and efficient, but regardless, he couldn’t sit by while we all threw our lives away. He brought us here… each of us… because he thought we could make a difference. He has big plans for this place.”
Colter nods. “And you want to be part of it. I can hear in your voice how much you want it. Did you take the job?”
I shrug. “No. I told him I needed to think about it. What if I screw up… what if?”
Kanan throws his hands up. “What if a bomb is dropped on us right now? There’s so many what ifs, Davis. What if you don’t try? What if you give up this opportunity, or what if you give up and leave Whiskey Run and leave Abby too? You think that would make your life better? Fuck no, it won’t. Sometimes you have to take a chance.”
I crack my fingers together. “I know you’re right. I can see the possibilities with this place, and I know I can make a difference.” I rub my hand over my face. “And fuck, I would give anything to make this work with Abby.”
Kanan sits down next to me. “Then make it work, Davis. We were all given second chances that day. We have to make the most of it.”
I know what he’s saying without him saying it. We owe it to Craig, our friend who died on that mission. We have a second chance—he doesn’t. We have to grab on to it and not let it go.
CHAPTER 15
ABBY
As soon as I hear the doorbell ring, I know I fucked up.
I hold my hand to Alexis’ head. “The fever is gone. How’s your tummy?”
She nods her head. “Better. I’m hungry.”