Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
It’s a text from Tate. But when I open it, there is no message. There’s only a picture of him and Mimi in the golf cart flashing peace signs. Tate is shirtless.
Me: Don’t give her a heart attack! Put some clothes on.
Tate: She likes me this way.
I snort, shaking my head and closing the screen.
“Who was that?” Nickie asks, plopping a piece of a donut in her mouth.
“Tate. He’s cruising the neighborhood with Mimi right now, sans shirt.”
“That’s it. In my next life, if I can’t return as you, I want to be your grandma.”
I laugh. “You do realize that only a month ago, I was living in the Pliny Building and you felt sorry for me.”
“And you do realize that if I wouldn’t have felt a bit sorry for you if I saw how this story was going to end.”
“I didn’t even believe in happy endings back then.”
Her gaze tracks along the glass wall separating the office from the break room. I follow her line of sight to the hallway … and to Jason. My heart blossoms as our eyes meet.
I never get tired of looking at him. But I also don’t get tired of sleeping next to him, fixing dinner with him, or playing a card game while we wait for our frozen pizzas to cook either.
Jason’s features have changed over the past few weeks. Despite the pain of his injuries from the crash, his eyes are brighter. His smile is wider. Jason’s face isn’t as lined as before his father took the plea deal. He’s talked a little about their conversation, but I don’t push. I know it hurts him to go back to that day.
It isn’t comfortable for me either.
But whatever was said that afternoon before his phone died and I thought he died was enough to help Jason let go of so much anger. It refocused him. It’s allowed him to give and receive love easier, too.
If there’s one thing Jason Brewer does well, it’s love on me.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Brewer,” he says, grinning. “May I see you in my office for a moment?”
I drop my muffin in the trash can and follow him upstairs.