Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
I fill the pot with water then put it down on the burner and turn around. “I don’t want to hear your excuses, Andrew. I really couldn’t care less.”
“God.” He shakes his head. “You can be such a bitch.”
“Yup,” I say, turning around to ignore him, while he goes to the couch and grabs his jacket.
“All I wanted was to spend some time with Dylan, and you give me shit about it.” I look at how his beautiful blond hair is now dark and stringy, and his blue eyes are so sunken in you can barely look at him.
“Last time you did that, we left, and you stole the fucking television,” I say.
“Whatever. I don’t have to stay for this bullshit,” he says, storming to the door and slamming it closed behind him. I walk over and lock it. Although it obviously doesn’t matter if he broke in here before. I close my eyes, and the tears come no matter how much I try to fight them. I work my ass off to make sure Dylan has everything he needs, and just when I think I’m getting ahead, Andrew comes in and knocks all my cards down.
The phone rings in my back pocket, and I don’t even look at who is calling. “Hello,” I answer, my low voice almost a whisper.
“Um, Caroline.” His voice comes through, and I open my eyes. “It’s Justin.”
“Um, yeah.” I wipe away my tears as if he can see me. “Did I forget something in your vehicle?”
“No,” he says, and his voice goes soft. “Are you okay?” he asks, and I don’t know why I want to tell him that I’m not okay. That I haven’t been okay in a long, long time.
“I’m fine,” I say. It’s the answer I give everyone because this is my life. As my parents said, I made my bed, and now I have to lie in it. “What’s the matter?”
“So I was thinking that I really don’t use my vehicle during the day,” he starts, “and I know that you’re stuck.”
“I can’t do that,” I say. “I’m not your problem.”
“I never said you were. I’m saying that my vehicle will be parked in a parking lot doing nothing,” he says, and his voice goes softer. “Just take the favor, Caroline.”
“I can’t,” I say, closing my eyes. The door to the bathroom opens, and Dylan comes running out. “I have to go,” I say, disconnecting and looking at him.
“Where’s Dad?” he asks, and I look at my son, who I will protect with everything I have.
“He had to go to work,” I say. “He said he’ll see you soon.” I watch his lower lip tremble, and he blinks and rushes to wipe away the tears. I take a step toward him, but he shakes his head.
“I’m tired,” he says and then runs to the bedroom and gets into the bed. I walk to the bed and sit next to him.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” I say, my fingers playing with his hair, and I lean down and kiss his cheeks.
“Whatever,” he says, and I hear the hissing of the stove and run to see that the water I turned on is no more. I turn off the burner and put the pot in the sink. I catch my breath for just a second before I have to go back into the room, and I find that Dylan’s already asleep. I turn off the light and head to the shower, and only when I’m under the water do I let the tears escape.
Chapter Five
Justin
I don’t have a TV. His voice plays over and over in my head. I couldn’t help but call her. I actually wanted to go to her apartment and take her to Walmart and buy her a TV or even ten. I didn’t care. Instead, she answered me in tears. I know she did because I heard it, and more importantly, I felt it. It’s fucking insane that I have this pull to her. It’s because of Dylan, I keep telling myself. You are drawn to the kid.
I slam my car door, then walk into my condo, and the cold air hits me right away. Closing the door, I walk over to my couch and grab my laptop to bring with me to the island in my kitchen. I have a huge open floor plan, and my sister came down one weekend to make sure I had all my stuff.
Pulling up the documents I got with every kid coming to the program, I type in his name, and it comes up right away with a picture from his school. I read all his information, or I start to, and then I stop. My foot starts to bounce up and down, thinking about whether I should read it or not. I want to read it, but I also don’t want her to feel like I’m snooping. I look at one thing before I decide to shut it down. Single mom.