Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 138588 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138588 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“Also, part of the meeting is to approve the funds Ms. Leal wants to build the new library. Right now it’s a couple of shelves, and I’ve heard she’s not happy with the selection,” River explained as they walked along Main, passing Stella’s. “Stefan Talbot picked the books himself. I think we might need to talk to him about not getting upset with Sabrina.”
Sawyer shrugged. “Nah. She’ll take him down and make him pay for the pleasure of doing it. She’s way meaner than she looks. And she’s the expert. Talbot needs to write his checks and keep his nose out of Teach’s business.” Watching her filet Talbot with words would be fun. “Do you have any cheese popcorn?”
Lucy had stopped as they came to the corner. Up ahead was the building that housed the mayor’s office and all the town’s governing boards. To the right was the Trading Post, which housed Marie and Teeny and five different businesses that supplied Bliss with pretty much everything from groceries to sporting goods to fudge.
He could eat some fudge. He should stock up on snacks. Sabrina was a snacker.
“You are in love with this woman,” Lucy said, her voice filled with wonder.
River drew her hand over her throat in a quick motion. The universal sign for shut up. “Ixnay on the ovlay, sister. You know he can’t handle that word.”
He could say he loved baseball. He loved nachos. He was only in like with Stella’s waffles. They could be crisper. “I love fucking Sabrina.”
Lucy’s eyes rolled. “Take one word out and you’re there, buddy. So close.”
“It’s all he can do,” River countered. “I’m proud of him. He’s coming to a meeting. He talked to people in the sheriff’s office and no one arrested him for being an asshole. He said her name and the word love in the same sentence, and he didn’t gag. This is progress. Also, when the hell did you get so eager to overshare about your sex life?”
He shrugged and looked both ways. A couple of cars were rolling down the lane. It was a busy day. “I don’t know. Everyone is chatty so I thought I should fit in. Come on. Aren’t you always on me for not talking? You kind of get on me about it.”
Come to this party, Sawyer. Don’t work so much. Come to dinner, Sawyer. I’ll make your favorite foods.
It had annoyed him but now he wondered. What if it wasn’t about annoying him and being in some weird rut where one had to invite their misanthropic childhood friend to things because it was expected? What if… What if Luce and River and Ty were…his family?
This was all Sabrina’s fault. She was trying to de-Grinch him, and he was happy not hanging with the Whos. God, he even had a dog now.
Was his heart going to grow three sizes?
How did he know this much about a children’s story?
“I think we broke him.” River waved a hand in front of his face.
Something had broken inside him. Some wall he’d placed between himself and everyone else. He wasn’t sure why it had built up so hard, but Sabrina was making it shake.
You do know, asshole. You don’t want to admit everyone is right about you. But maybe if you do, you might find yourself carving that roast beast with all the Who kids this Christmas.
Huh, he wondered if the library had Dr. Seuss or if Talbot had stocked the whole thing with pretentious books about art.
“Nah, I’m just thinking about things.” He wasn’t about to tell them he was thinking about how fun it could be to have Christmas with them. Wyatt probably could make some kind of dessert, and Sabrina would have to sit on his lap if they were at River and Jax’s because they wouldn’t have enough seats. And Bella and Buster would run around looking cute and making everyone laugh.
It could be the first nice Christmas he’d had since his mother died. His granddad had tried, but grief had tinged every single one.
He was not doing a therapy thing here in the middle of town. He wasn’t doing a therapy thing ever. But he did have tasks to get through. “Hey, would y’all mind coming to the Trading Post with me? Sabrina’s staying at our place for a few days, and I need girl stuff.”
Lucy’s lips tugged. “I think we can help you out there.”
River threaded an arm through his. “Definitely.”
Why had he ever stayed away from his friends?
“Sawyer,” a voice called out.
He glanced over and there was the man, the myth, the legend himself. Stef Talbot was looking casual in jeans and boots and a blue Western shirt. He wore the ensemble often, as if it could make anyone forget he was a billionaire and not a cowboy. Sawyer nodded his way. “Talbot.”