Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 104869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
She swiped her father’s message off-screen. Out of sight, out of mind. For now.
She hoped.
She refocused on her screen.
Tina had sent several texts last night, asking where Kenny was. Did she need help? Was she okay?
And then this morning, asking if Kenny had slept well. Did she feel better? Did she want to talk?
Her most recent message, sent just twenty minutes ago, flooded Kenny’s eyes with scalding tears:
Tina
I’m here if you need me. Please reach out anytime.
Kenny tapped out a quick reply, her vision so blurred she could barely make out the words on the screen.
I’m so sorry about last night. I hope I didn’t ruin your fun. I had a lovely time, I truly did. And I enjoyed meeting your friends. They made me feel so welcome. Please convey my sincerest apologies to them.
She sent that message before following up with another one a moment later:
Thank you for being there. It means a lot.
She didn’t want to go into too much detail. Not in text. But she was trying to communicate her feelings more openly. And if during the course of a physical conversation, Tina asked about last night, Kenny would try to explain.
There were a couple of messages from Smith as well.
Smith
I have your spare key. Used it to lock up. Wasn’t sure you were awake and aware enough to do it yourself.
Good call. Thanks. I was asleep before you were even out the door.
Smith
You spent the whole night on that awful sofa?
I was out like a light. I’m feeling it this morning though. Nothing that a hot shower and a couple of aspirin won’t cure.
Smith
Doctor, heal thyself.
Kenny smiled.
You’re always saying I shouldn’t.
Smith
Since there’s no blood or broken bones involved, I think it’s okay. Just this once.
Her smiled widened.
Glad you approve
She wasn’t sure what to make of this light-hearted exchange. It felt a little flirty and she didn’t know if that was his intention.
He started typing something… but the flickering ellipsis disappearing completely as he apparently changed his mind.
Kenny stared at her screen for a moment, uncertainly nipping at her lower lip with her teeth.
I’ll be at MJ’s for brunch at 10.
Long pause. Typing. Pause. More typing.
Smith
I’ll be there at 10:07. Do you think there’s a chance we’ll run into each other?
She grinned at that ludicrous question.
The odds are negligible at best
Smith
That’s what I thought. But on the off chance that you’re still there when I arrive, maybe we should share a table again? My sister has twins to feed…wouldn’t want to rob her of any business.
Agreed. We’d have to share. For the twins.
Smith
Kenny was smiling from ear to ear as she put her phone aside. It was the lightest and happiest she’d felt in months.
Smith arrived at MJ’s at exactly 10:07 and joined Kenny without hesitation.
This time they each devoured every crumb of their croque monsieurs with great gusto.
They didn’t speak much and instead sat in comfortable silence, while conversations from other tables ebbed and flowed around them.
They’d had many silent breakfasts, but this wasn’t like that. Those meals had been sterile, their behavior toward each other cold and indifferent. But there was no iciness here. No indifference.
Smith and Kenny remained completely aware of each other throughout the meal. Present in a way they hadn’t been with each other in over a year. Exchanging frequent, almost shy glances and small smiles.
“You still sore after your night on the sofa?” he eventually asked, after finishing off the last bite of his sandwich. He took a sip of coffee.
“Yep. I’m getting rid of that damned thing. I’m buying a new one today.”
“You’re buying a brand-new sofa?” Smith asked, eyes wide in bemused consternation, as he stared at Kenny over the top of his coffee cup.
“Yes. I refuse to spend another night like that.”
“Uh…plan to spend many more nights sleeping on the couch, do you?” His face didn’t reveal a trace of the laughter she could see lurking in his eyes. “Because you do have a bed. And I know for a fact that it’s relatively new. Harris bought it when he first came here. The landlord moved it into your house after Tina and Harris left.”
Oh.
He made a good point. Kenny had zero complaints about the bed and she now had an explanation for its surprising comfort.
“Well, aside from the couch being uncomfortable, it’s also filthy. I found some seriously gross things shoved down the back and sides. I refuse to sit on it again,” she maintained.
“So you’re basically buying it for an asshole landlord who can’t even be bothered to clean out his rental property between tenants?”
“No, I’m buying it for myself. What he does with it afterward is his business.”
“Normal people don’t do this kind of shit. You know that, right?” The words lacked judgment. In fact, they were laced with the laughter that she could see in his eyes, but was still conspicuously absent from his expression.