Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“More like two, and that’s only because Lucas missed like three shots in a row.”
“Whoa,” Lucas huffed. “First of all, I missed because I got fouled. There’s no tackling in basketball.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help myself.
Walker gave me a little nudge. “They get this sore losing from you?”
“Maybe. I wouldn’t know.” I gave him a smirk. “I never lose.”
“Ahh, she’s got jokes,” Walker laughed. “Now, get so me and these boys of yours can get to work.”
“Okay, okay.” I held my hands up in surrender. “But before I go, do you have plans for dinner?”
“I was thinking I could order us some pizza.” He glanced over at the boys. “If that’s alright with you guys?”
Lucas didn’t hesitate. “Can we get some wings, too?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay. Pizza it is.” Before I went inside, I asked, “You need anything else?”
“We’re good. Go in and take a break.”
Walker got in the Tahoe and popped the hood, and the boys watched his every move. He talked low and steady, making sure they understood every move he made. I don’t know where he got it, but Walker was amazing with kids. Just another thing to add to my mental list of things I liked about him.
I went inside, but I didn’t go far. I lingered by the window, watching the three of them move around the Tahoe, and the boys sticking to Walker like glue. Thomas handed him a tool while Lucas held onto the towels, hoping the moment would come when Walker would need them.
Eventually, I forced myself to step away from the window and went to fold some laundry. An hour later, we were all crowded around the table with pizza boxes spread out and wings disappearing as fast as Lucas could grab them. And the boys were talking nonstop. It was chaos in the best way possible.
But something felt off.
Walker seemed tense, and that tension seemed to amplify every time he checked his phone. I wondered if it had something to do work, so I asked, “Do you have a shift tonight?”
“No, but I’ve got some things to take care of.” He glanced up at the clock. “And I should probably get to it.”
“But you haven’t finished eating.”
“Sorry. Time got away from me.”
“Okay,” I answered, trying to hide my disappointment. “I’ll walk you out.”
The second he stood, both boys said, “Bye, Walker. Thanks for dinner.”
“See you boys soon.”
I followed him outside, and when we reached his bike, he turned to face me. That’s when I saw it. It was subtle, hidden, but there was something in his eyes, like his mind was somewhere else even while he was standing right in front of me.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, just got a lot going on.” He let out a breath. “Thought I’d have time to get it all in, but I can’t.”
“It’s okay. I’m still glad you came.”
“Me too.”
I studied him for a moment, trying to decide if this had something to do with the boys or me, and I just couldn’t tell. So, I asked, “We still on for Saturday night?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good.”
His hand came up, brushing lightly across my jaw, and then his mouth was on mine, slow and easy. When he pulled back, his eyes lingered on mine for several moments, and then he whispered, “I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay.”
With one last look, he put on his helmet, and he was gone. Even as I went inside, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever was weighing on him was bigger than he was letting on.
The boys finished eating, and after we cleaned up and put the leftovers away, they slipped off to their rooms. I was tired, so I decided to do the same. I read a bit and went to bed early, hoping the extra sleep might help me survive another day of inventory.
I have no idea what time it was when I was awoken by a strange noise. The boys had been asleep for hours, so I thought I’d just imagined it.
Then, I heard it again.
I sat up in bed with a jolt. I held my breath, and for a moment, there was nothing. Just silence.
Just when I was about to lie back down, there was a loud thud in the hall. Seconds later, I heard a man’s voice grumble, “Dammit, Milo! Move your fat ass.”
I was out of bed before I even realized I’d moved. I opened my bedroom door and charged down the hall. Whoever was here knew Milo. But that didn’t matter in the least, because whoever it was had broken into the house. And that had my adrenaline rushing through me so fast I was literally shaking.
I rounded the corner and stopped dead in my tracks when I found Dan sprawled out on the floor by the front door. Milo was perched a few feet away with his tail flicking proudly. “Are you kidding me right now?”