Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
And I’d found myself caring. About his stress. About…him? If he wasn’t the Coyotes captain and I wasn’t a Chronicle columnist, I’d be interested in him. More than interested. He seemed to be everything I valued in a man. Strong, caring, generous, and smart. He was also very easy on the eyes.
Glancing down at the front page of the Sports section on my desk, I looked at the photo of Ford celebrating with his team after scoring a goal at the game last night. It wasn’t the first time I’d stared at it a little too long today.
Fortunately, no one had to know it also wouldn’t be the last.
That evening, I’d just changed into boxers and a T-shirt when my doorbell rang. My heart skipped a beat as I wondered if it was Ford.
I looked down at my outfit. My The book was better T-shirt was dark gray and baggy, but I didn’t have a bra on. I grabbed a zip-up hoodie from the coat tree next to my door, put it on, and zipped it up.
Did I have food in my teeth? I’d scarfed down a leftover taco in my fridge as soon as I walked into the apartment because I was so hungry. I picked up my phone and turned on my phone’s selfie mode, checking my teeth. I was good, but I probably had onion breath.
No time to brush my teeth, though. I’d just have to keep my distance.
I put away my phone, unlocked the door and opened it, surprised when it wasn’t Ford standing there, but my brother. His dark blond hair was longer, curling over his ears and hanging almost to his eyes. He wore a backpack and carried a duffel bag.
“Luke,” I said, confused. “What are you doing here?”
“You said I could stay with you.”
I stepped aside so he could come in. “Of course. But I didn’t know you were coming.”
He shrugged. “I got here this afternoon. Figured you were at work so I’ve been walking on the trail around the lake. This place is nice, Elle.”
Guilt stabbed my chest. Luke had to know our grandparents were paying for this place, but they’d refused to give him anything until he went to rehab and got a job.
“Well, my place is your place,” I said. “You can stay as long as you want.”
He smiled and I saw a sliver of the little boy he’d once been. “Thanks. I was crashing on my buddy’s couch but his girlfriend and her kid moved in and it got crowded.”
I wanted to believe him. But his shifty eyes and unshaven face told a different story. My brother was running from someone. I’d been through this with him too many times—I knew what it looked like.
“I was about to order some Chinese food for dinner. What can I get for you?” I asked.
“Oh man, that sounds great.” Luke’s expression brightened. “I’ll take some chicken fried rice and eggrolls.”
He reached for his wallet and I waved him off. “Stop, I’m DoorDashing it and my payment info is in the app.”
“Thanks.” He paused for a moment. “Hey, I don’t want to be a dead weight here. I’m planning to look for a job, and I’ll help with cooking and cleaning.”
Luke and I had always been close, but we’d grown apart in the past couple of years. I wanted to tell him I didn’t care about all that; I just wanted him to be okay.
“I have a weekly housekeeping service, so just take care of your own dishes and laundry and we’ll be good,” I said.
“How have you been, sis?” he asked.
I hesitated, then decided to be honest. “Since our conversation last week, I’ve been worried about you.”
He pursed his lips and shook his head. “I’m okay.”
“People who are okay don’t need to pay off people who are threatening to hurt them,” I said softly.
“I wasn’t okay then, but I am now. I’ve been clean for more than seven months now. I know it doesn’t sound like a lot, but for me it’s a big deal. I was just wrapping up some loose ends last week.”
My heart pounded hopefully. I wanted so badly to believe him.
“I swear to you, Elle,” he said, seeming to sense my doubt. “I haven’t done drugs, had a drink, or even a cigarette in more than seven months.”
“That’s amazing. I’m so proud of you.”
He shrugged. “I was out of control. It was either change or end up dead.”
His admission was sobering, because everyone around him knew that, but none of us knew he realized the stakes of his situation.
“I have to ask, though,” I said. “If the money wasn’t for drugs, then…what was it for?”
His expression fell with shame. “Gambling debt. I needed money to live and for a while, betting was paying my bills. But then a couple things went bad and…”