Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 136743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
I like this world a lot better.
“If you’re new to me,” I say, leaning against my worktable, “I’m renovating the storage shed in my backyard. It was my ex-husband’s man cave.” I roll my eyes and angle an exasperated look to the camera that every woman who has ever had a trifling man will understand. “Long story, but I’m taking it over and reclaiming it. He had all his Boston Celtics stuff here.”
I gesture behind me to the space missing chunks of plaster and drywall.
“As you can see, I got an early start on the demolition. I’m gonna do a little work for my accent wall. Maybe paint it like a seafoam green. Any thoughts for color?”
I point down.
“Leave them in the comments.” I glance up at the ceiling. “I know I’m putting in a skylight. I want it brighter in here.”
I stomp the floor a few times with one sneaker. “Definitely taking up this nasty dookie-colored carpet. Maybe some engineered hardwood. I could make this my office. I think I might get a desk in here.”
I walk over to a corner occupied by a leather recliner.
“I could make this my reading corner.” I squee and wiggle my fingers. “Almost forgot. We have our first book club pick. It’s All About Love by bell hooks. I’ll be meeting in person with a few friends to discuss, but I’ll come on here to do a live discussion with you guys who read along too.”
I walk over to my phone so I can read the comments in real time, a smile blooming on my face.
“I feel you, 492GirlGetAGrip. I haven’t read as much lately as I’ve wanted to either, so this is a perfect opportunity for us both.”
I squint at the comments, making sure I’m reading the next one right.
“ComeHithah2004 says, ‘we love a reading-ass bitch.’ Girl, you always crack me up.” I grin and shake my head, moving on to the next comment. “ViralVixin says, ‘I went to dinner by myself this week and had a great time.’”
I lift my arms like it’s a touchdown. “That’s incredible! Love that for you!”
Four more commenters say they went on solo dates this week.
“This is great. After my solo anniversary date, I decided I’ll take myself out once a week. You wanna join me?”
So many comment “Yes” and “For sure” and “I’m in” that I lose count. Someone comments “#datingmyselfchallenge.”
“Oh, I love that!” I say. “Hashtag datingmyselfchallenge. Let’s do it. And All About Love is the perfect book for us to start. It’s about loving yourself and healing yourself. At least that’s what I think it’s about. I’m gonna read some tonight. We’ll find out together, huh?”
I grab my safety goggles and turn up the music on my pill, the wireless speaker blasting Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.”
“Any BSB Army out there?” I ask, chuckling as I check my table saw. “I’mma ride this playlist till I’m done in here. I want to get some of this finished before I have to start dinner. It’s Taco Tuesday. The link to a supersimple recipe that my girls love is in my bio. I substitute meatless beef for the vegetarian in my bunch. I swear you won’t be able to tell the difference.”
I pull my goggles down.
“This she shed is on my Me List,” I tell them, “which is a list of things I’m doing solely for my enjoyment. Not about my job or my kids or my friends or my family. Just for me.”
I glance at the phone to check the comments again.
“ComeHithah2004, did you say, ‘add a pole’?” I laugh. “Like for pole dancing?”
I glance over to the space where Edward’s pool table sat before I butchered it with my machete.
“Pole dancing, huh? Now there’s a thought.” I turn to the camera and give them a little half-hearted, full-assed twerk. “I’ll think about it.”
Later that night, once the girls and I have eaten our tacos, finished homework, cleaned the kitchen, prepped lunches, and made sure uniforms are pressed and ready for tomorrow, I finally get to settle down in bed with my book in a moment of pure silence.
Until my phone dings with a text.
“I meant to mute you,” I mutter, but can’t resist checking to see who it is. I’m halfway to convincing myself I don’t want it to be Judah. My lady parts and heart parts can calm down. They don’t get a vote in the Judah situation. This is a dictatorship.
It’s not Judah.
Yasmen: Hey! Have you guys gotten to chapter four?
Hendrix: I haven’t even started. You know I’m out here in LA working. I thought you weren’t gonna pressure us???? What happened to reading at your own pace?
Yasmen: LOL! Girl, ain’t nobody pressuring you. There’s just something cool in that chapter and I wondered if you’d read it yet.
Me: Literally in bed now starting that chapter! Will I know it when I see it???