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)
“Go grab a shower,” I say, and he nods, stopping to get an apple on his way to the shower.
“Do you want to shower before or after me?” Caroline asks me.
“Truthfully,” I say, and she looks at me. “I want to shower with you.”
She looks down and then shyly looks back up. “But I can go after you.”
She walks to me and gets on her tippy toes. Her hands go on my waist. “I want to shower with you, too.” She kisses the side of my lips and then walks away from me to my bedroom and then the shower. I make sure everything is set, and when Dylan comes out, I see he’s wearing some of the new clothes I bought him.
“It’ll be ready by the time I get out of the shower,” I say, and he nods.
“Okay, I’m going to go watch television.” He smiles at me. “I had fun today.”
“Me, too, buddy,” I say, and he stops.
“Mom never has fun,” he says softly and then makes sure that his mom is not around. “She cries a lot at night.” I want to tell him to stop, but he doesn’t. “And I know that my dad took my stuff and sold it.”
“You don’t know that,” I say to him, trying to defend his father.
“He takes anything that we have, which is why we don’t have anything,” he says. “He says he’s going to get better.”
“One day,” I say. He just shrugs and walks away, and my heart breaks for the kid who wants his father, who knows his mother cries, and who just shared with me a secret that I won’t be able to tell his mother.
Chapter Thirty
Caroline
I look at the pile of clothes I now have, but I separate them into one pile of the clothes I’ll wear, and the other of the clothes he will eventually return. Today with him and Dylan by the pool playing games, talking and getting to know him was everything.
Having not to think or worry or even care was something I don’t think I’ve ever felt. I flip through the clothes, not even trying to imagine how much it cost him. Or that he actually called his sister and she did it, no questions asked. I try to ignore the fact that his family is going to be coming this weekend and I want to be out of his hair.
I slip on what has to be the soften cotton pants I’ve ever worn in my whole life with the matching shirt. I open the pink bag, and my hand pulls out one of the bras, and it’s so delicate I’m afraid to touch it. “Are you done in the shower?” I hear Justin say from behind me, and I nod at him. “Dylan is watching television before we eat.”
“Okay,” I say, and he walks by me but then turns around and comes back to give me a kiss.
“You smell like me again,” he says, and I am not going to tell him that I did it on purpose, taking his soap and lathering myself with it. He runs his nose along my neck. “You think he would notice if we took a shower together?”
“There is food involved,” I say, and he laughs. “I’ll get everything ready while you shower.”
“Okay, sweetheart,” he says and goes into the bathroom and closes the door. I don’t even realize I’m smiling, and that it feels good.
I walk to the kitchen and look at the pizza in the oven, seeing it’s almost done and seeing that there isn’t that much. Which suits me just fine. I get the toaster out and then get the loaf of fresh white bread he has. “Is Justin done yet?” Dylan asks, coming into the kitchen, and I open my arms for him to give me a hug.
“You grew,” I say, kissing his head and smelling the fresh scent he has now. “Soon you’re going to be taller than me.”
“Yeah, and then I can take care of you,” he says, putting his head back. “And you won’t have to worry anymore.”
I push his hair back and try not to cry. “The only thing I worry about is you being happy,” I say. “Nothing else matters.”
“I like Justin,” he says. “A lot.”
“Yeah, he’s pretty awesome,” I whisper.
“Is it okay if I love him?” he asks in a soft, scared voice.
“Just because I love him doesn’t mean I love my dad less.”
“Baby,” I say, and I blink away the tears, but one comes out. “The good thing about the heart is that it just grows with all the love you have.”
“So it’s okay if I love them both?” he asks, almost relieved.
“Yeah, it’s more than okay if you love them both,” I say, bending and kissing his nose.
“Okay, get the pizza ready.” We both laugh when we hear Justin yelling as he walks into the kitchen and spots us.