Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“I bet you’re missing California right about now, huh?” she chuckles.
A smile tugs at my lips. “Actually, I think all this snow is beautiful, but I could do without driving in it.”
That’s an understatement.
“Trust me, you’re not alone,” she says. “Even us locals hate driving in it.”
I’m surprised to hear that, considering how Officer Grump treated me, acting like what happened was solely because I’m an ignorant out-of-town driver.
Asshole.
“So, listen,” she begins, her voice tinged with nervous excitement. “I’m meeting up with a few friends for drinks tomorrow night at the Tap and Tavern, and I wondered if you might want to join us?”
My heart warms at the invitation. “I’d love that. Thanks, Ellie.”
“Of course.” She beams, seeming genuinely excited by my acceptance. “How about I pick you up on my way? Say, around seven?”
I nod. “Works for me.”
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow night then,” she says, turning to leave.
“See you then.”
As she walks out the door, disappearing into the swirling flurries of snow, I can’t help but feel hopeful that I’ve made at least one friend in this town. And after meeting sweet Poppy today, maybe even two.
Mike
Out of all the people who could have taken over the Christmas store in town, it had to be her. And out of all the businesses Poppy could have chosen to use the phone at, it had to be that one.
Someone is having a fucking laugh right now and it isn’t me. It’s not Poppy either since she’s too busy giving me the silent treatment.
My gaze shifts to the passenger seat where I see her pressed up against the door, as if she can’t get far enough away from me. She hasn’t said one damn word since we got in the car, and I fucking hate it.
“Are you going to ignore me all night?” I ask.
My question is met with more silence.
“Come on, Poppy. You can’t expect me to leave you with someone we don’t even know.”
That remark sparks a reaction. She finally looks over at me, her expression pinched with anger. “Speak for yourself. I know her just fine.”
I shake my head. “No, you don’t. You can’t. Not after spending only fifteen minutes with her.”
Her chin lifts stubbornly. “I know all I need to.”
“Yeah, like what?” I ask, challenging that statement.
“I know she’s from California and loves Christmas just like I do,” she says as if that’s more than enough. “And that she’s only here to run the store until her cousin sells it because that’s what his company does.”
And here I thought Sally the Snail might be around for good. I should be relieved to know she isn’t, but for some reason, I’m left with the same irrational disappointment I felt this morning when I found out she was from California. It makes zero fucking sense.
“I also know she’s a lot better than the No Show Nancy you hired,” she adds, hitting below the belt.
A heavy dose of guilt floods my chest, knowing she’s right. Usually, I would never hire a teenager for full-time after-school care, especially with my unpredictable schedule, but I was desperate, and Lisa Malenchuck came highly recommended.
I will not make that mistake again.
Knowing my little sister was abandoned over a fucking cheerleading tryout makes me see red. I promised her years ago that she would never go through something like that again, not while she was with me, and I failed her.
“You’re right, I shouldn’t have hired her,” I admit, taking full responsibility. “I’m sorry, Poppy. I’ll never let that happen to you again.”
The anger in her expression slowly dissipates. “It’s fine,” she mutters. “It’s not your fault.”
She’s wrong. It is my fault, but I don’t bother arguing about it. Instead, I offer another solution to our problem. “What about Ellie?” I suggest, mentioning my longtime friend. “You like hanging out with her. I could see about you going to the flower shop after school until I finish work.”
I held off asking my friends in the first place because I knew they wouldn’t accept money from me. They also already help a lot when I’m on call. However, I am left with few options at this point.
“I do love Ellie, and the flower shop,” she agrees, sending a surge of hope through my chest. “But I also like Hollis and the Christmas store.”
My frustration mounts as she continues to fixate on a complete fucking stranger. You would think they’ve known each other for years with how captivated she is by her.
Just like you.
The thought creeps in, unbidden and unwelcome.
“She was really nice to me today, Mike,” she continues, her voice softening. “She listened to everything I said and even seemed interested in it. She didn’t get annoyed with me like a lot of my other babysitters do.”
I tense, hating to hear anyone has treated her like that. It’s something she never mentioned before. If she had, I would have fired them on the spot.