Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“I’ll go with you,” I tell him.
He gives a quick jerk of his head in acknowledgment, and we head over to his bike. He helps me with my helmet, strapping it under my chin before he straddles his ride. After his own helmet is in place on his head, he glances back at me, waiting for me to get on behind him. I don’t take his offered hand or let him think he can pick me up again. I get on with little help, wrapping both arms around his waist. He grunts once before he takes off, the bike’s engine roaring. I plaster myself to his back, closer than I was last time, as he rides.
It doesn’t take long before he pulls up to an unfamiliar house. He gets off and wastes no time before lifting me up and helping me off. I wince, and he looks at me, confused.
“Milo, you came.” He turns toward Jill as she approaches. I can’t help but stare at Milo. He’s tall, with tightly packed muscles. Nothing like Cody. Cody is taller than me, but he was lean and built like a runner at the beginning before he got hooked on drugs and whatever else he was into. “And you brought your friend. Come inside. Everyone is here already. As soon as they heard the news you were coming, they wanted to say hi. It’s not every day you come over to visit the family.”
Milo gives me a look over his shoulder before he follows Jill inside. I step up next to him as we walk through the white door leading into the house. It’s your average one-story home, but you can feel the love as soon as you enter. The cozy living room welcomes us with its soft lighting and comfortable furniture. Pictures line the walls, capturing memories and happy moments. The sound of giggles echoes from the other rooms, creating an inviting atmosphere that envelops me instantly.
“Cassy, come say hello to Milo and his friend.” A teenager with the same hair as Milo—dark with lighter strands throughout—comes around the corner. She stands tall and smiles when she sees him. The giggling stops, then starts again, and Jill puts an arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Milo, you remember my oldest, Cassy. The other two are in the kitchen, also giggling if you can’t hear them. And your uncle is out back, barbecuing.”
“We already ate,” Milo says, and Jill’s smile drops.
“Well, if you’re hungry, feel free to eat.” She waves us through as Cassy stares at me.
“She’s really pretty, Milo.” Her soft eyes are on me before she turns to Milo, and I see she admires him. “Is she your girlfriend?”
“No, she’s married,” he mumbles, causing her eyes to widen.
“Hi,” I reply. “Milo was nice enough to take me to the shops.”
Jill turns back then and looks at us.
“That’s nice of you,” Cassy says. “And you aren’t all that nice, Milo.”
Jill scolds her daughter and tells her to go away while I giggle.
Milo glares at me.
“What?” I ask innocently.
“I’m not nice?” he asks, knowing what I’m laughing at.
I shrug. “It’s the truth.” I smirk before I follow Jill. Milo falls in behind me until we reach the kitchen, where the forest-green backdoor opens, and a man steps inside. He has a kind smile.
“Uncle Lester.” Milo nods.
Lester wraps his arms around Milo and pats him on the back. “Been too long, kid. Way too long.”
“He’s too busy being scary to see us,” Cassy adds with the perfect eye roll.
I wonder if I was like that as a teenager.
“Scary? Is that what you are?” I ask Milo as his uncle releases him and stands proudly next to him.
“Some would assume so,” Milo grumbles as his eyes narrow at me.
My lips thin as I try to hide my smile.
“Seems you don’t think so,” Lester says.
“Milo is just a big teddy bear,” I tell them. “And he has issues with personal space,” I add, referring to that time I woke up in his bed.
“Just yours,” Milo mutters under his breath.
I ignore him and turn to Lester. “Are you Milo’s mother’s brother?”
“Yes, dear.” He pauses, then addresses Milo. “You’ve told her about your mother?”
Milo watches me as he speaks, “She knows she died. That’s it.” And he leaves it at that.
Jill hums loudly before she turns and goes back to cooking whatever she was making before we arrived.
“How did she die?” I ask, and everyone goes quiet at my question.
“On the back of my father’s bike,” Milo says. He’s being vague, but the pain I see in his expression tells me to drop it. On a good day, Milo doesn’t use a lot of his words. I doubt I’ll get him to tell me something that’s painful for him.
“It’s been almost a year since you’ve visited,” Cassy says, breaking the awkward silence.