Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I pull the door open and step in, the smell of sugar hitting me right in the face. The queasiness comes on in full force. “You better behave yourself,” I mumble to my body, looking around to see that all of the tables are empty but one. I recognize several of the people here, and I know they know who I am, even though most of them wouldn’t speak to me or nod hello if we passed on the street. This will be fine, I tell myself, hoping to believe it, as Everleigh comes out of the back room.
“Hey, Collins.” She smiles at me, and then I look over her shoulder to see her husband, Brock, coming out behind her.
“Hi,” I reply softly. I give Brock a friendly smile hello.
He just nods at me. Anyone who didn’t know him would think he was rude, but that’s just his exterior. Inside, he’s a softy, at least to me.
“I’m waiting for someone.” I look around, checking to see if maybe I didn’t see him when I walked in. “Is it okay if I sit while I wait?”
“Of course,” she says as I walk to the table all the way in the back corner, away from prying eyes, away from the sly looks I get from some when they see Collins Henderson walking down the street. I put my hands on the table and notice they’re trembling a little as Everleigh walks over to me.
“I know you’re waiting on someone”—she smiles—“but we just made a fresh batch of peach iced tea, unsweetened.” She puts the glass down on the table. “On the house.”
I look down at the tea and wonder if she’s doing it to be nice or because she feels sorry for me. “That’s very kind of you, Everleigh.” The bell rings, and I look up and see him.
“I’ll be back,” she says, turning and walking to him. “Hey, Theo,” she greets. I wonder how she knows him. I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’m pretty sure I know everyone who lives here. Well, at least I thought I did.
“Hey, Everleigh.” He smiles at her, looking around. He finally spots me, giving me a chin lift. “How’s it going?” She looks at him, then turns her head to look at me, and her eyebrows pinch together.
“I’m doing great,” she replies. “Let me know if you need something.”
“Will do,” he confirms, and he comes to me.
If I thought I was going to be sick before, I was wrong. Now, with him walking to me with his eyes on mine, wearing a pair of black pants with his construction boots and another T-shirt that molds to him, I feel worse. The smirk on his face turns into a grin and then a full-blown smile as he stops right beside my table. “Hey, Collins.”
CHAPTER SIX
COLLINS
He pulls out the chair in front of me, his back to the door. “Have you been waiting for long?” he asks me. I don’t trust my voice not to crack, so I just shake my head side to side. “Are you hungry?”
I clear my throat, making sure whatever is there is gone. “No, I just ate before I got here.” I put my hands in my lap so he doesn’t see them shake. “But if you’re hungry, you should get something.”
“Do you want a donut, maybe?” His eyes meet mine. “Or a piece of cake? Harmony is in her lemon era.” Harmony is Ms. Maddie’s best-kept secret, with a gift for baking that could easily get her on one of those cooking-show competitions on TV.
“I’m good.” I don’t trust myself to eat, afraid I’ll have to run to the bathroom to throw up, or even worse, not make it there and throw up all over him. That’s one way to tell him I’m pregnant.
“Okay, I’ll get myself a coffee and be right back.” He pushes out of his chair, and I watch him walk away. Since when is a back sexy? I try to remember if I even saw his back. It was when he got out of bed to take care of the condom the first time and then the second time, but that was in a half-lit room.
He smiles at two people sitting at another table, and they smile back at him, then look over at me. I know them. They’re at best confused about why he’s here with me. I look toward the window. I’ve seen enough disgusted looks over the years not to need more; they’re already etched in my brain. Outside, a woman I went to high school with is walking down the street, both her hands holding on to her children’s. She’s smiling down at them as they make their way toward the park. A memory of when I was younger comes raging back.