Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
“Heard you’re retiring soon?” Crew changes the subject.
“Heard you’re living with my baby girl?” My dad changes it again.
Crew doesn’t blanch. He doesn’t make excuses or find a way to explain our new housemate status. He smiles, and my stomach flip-flops. “Yes, sir, I am.”
“Hope you two are taking care of each other, I know neither of you likes to put much time into yourselves, but it’s important.”
Crew meets my gaze over the screen, a dirty promise in his grassy eyes. “I think we’re doing a real good job of taking care of each other, sir.”
“You tell her you love her yet?”
My eyes bulge.
Crew freezes.
My mother giggles, joining the conversation, and swiftly adds, “Kidding! Could you imagine what Memphis would have to say?”
At the mention of my brother, Crew sours, unable to hold his smile longer than a quick, “Good talking to you two, here’s Davis.”
I offer him a small smile, one he tries to reciprocate, facing the phone at the floor, so he can press his lips to my cheek and hand it over.
I watch him walk into his room and shut the door before bringing the screen up.
My parents sit together on the love seat in my childhood living room, both smiling at the screen, and my heart instantly warms at the sight.
“Hi guys.” A small laugh leaves me. “I feel like I haven’t talked to you in forever.”
My dad’s features grow soft as he takes me in. “Been a little over a week now. We been missin’ you.”
“I miss you guys, too.”
“Oh peanut, I just love your hair!” My mom scoots forward. “Every time I see it, I think how you were meant to be brunette. Don’t you think, honey?”
She nudges my dad, and my grin grows.
“Thanks, Mom. I think I’ll leave it this way a while.”
“How’s Crew like it, hmm?” She wiggles her brows.
My mouth drops open, and I chastise her with my tone. “Mom. What’s gotten into you?”
“Honey, knock it off,” my dad follows.
“What?” She shrugs. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed the fine man he’s turned into.”
“He’s been fine since the day he moved in next door,” I say coyly.
My dad frowns so fast, we both laugh.
“I feel like I stepped into girl time,” he grumbles. “And I’m the one who made the call.”
Laughing, I bring my knees up. “I’m teasing, Dad.”
Creases deepen the wrinkles along his forehead. “Uh-huh. Now, how’s your résumé coming along?”
Crew emerges right then, slipping into the kitchen with our cups from last night.
“It’s… slow.” As in, I haven’t touched it.
My dad continues, “I told you, honey, get it done and into Paul ASAP. We’d have you back home before the end of summer.”
The glasses Crew was holding clink hard against the sink.
“Oh, and you know Gavin graduated too.” My mom smiles wider. “Been home about a week now.”
“Your mama and I went to lunch with Susie and Paul last week,” my dad says. “Had to sit and listen to a story about you and that boy for thirty minutes.”
“Seriously?”
“Oh, yeah, she told us all about the two of you getting cozy at the graduation party before you left for school.”
Crew’s head snaps up, and I don’t have to look up to know he’s glaring.
I can feel the heat of his stare.
I roll my eyes. “I don’t know what story he told them, but he kissed me for a whole two seconds before I backed away.”
“Best two seconds of his life, way he tells it.” My mother practically fawns.
“That’s sad if so, Mother.”
“Or romantic,” she singsongs. “Hurry and send your paperwork in. I’m ready for my baby to come home!”
Guilt spreads like warm water, heating my skin. “Mom…”
She hears it in my tone, my father, too, and both their faces fold with an ache I imagine only parents with an empty nest could.
“Oh, baby,” she says, her voice a little softer. Sadder. “You decided to stick around there a while, then?”
My eyes slide over the screen on their own accord, connecting with Crew’s, who happen to be waiting.
His are tight, sloped, and guarded, leaving me to wonder what he’s thinking, yet leading me to share what I am.
I swallow, my smile small. “Leaving is the last thing I want.”
I should add “right now” or “so soon” or something that alludes to something else, for their sake, for my heart’s, but I don’t because the way Crew’s looking at me right now tells me I said exactly what he hoped I would.
Is that the last thing he wants, too?
“Davis?” my dad calls.
It takes a moment for me to bring my attention back to him, and when I do, there’s a question in his gaze, only I’m not sure what it’s asking and he doesn’t voice it.
He does, however, sit forward, washing my mom out of the shot completely. “You worked hard to get to where you are, Davis. Make sure you’re taking the right steps for the future.”