Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
I turn on the side table lamp before heading to the bathroom. I smile when I look at the bathtub, and instead of taking a quick shower, I opt to soak in the big tub. Looking out the stained-glass window at the stars in the sky, I close my eyes, finally able to relax after this week. It was a week to end all weeks. Telling my parents I was leaving was one of the hardest things I think I’ve ever done. Seeing my father in pain the way he was cut me off at my knees. I had no idea what else was going to happen, but I’m happy nothing did. Last night, I was at my house, and my parents came over with pizza. We spent the night together. My father told me he would swing by several times a week to ensure everything was okay. My mother was quiet, no doubt wondering how long I would be gone and probably wondering how our relationship would change. I was determined not to let anything change.
Getting out and finally slipping under my covers, I turn off the lights as I listen to the house in the dark for the first night. The streetlights come into the windows, but I’m having the shades delivered next week. I toss and turn and the last time I look at my phone, it’s a little after 2:00 a.m. I’ve never slept so light in my life. Every single creak made my eyes fling open as I listened to hear if it was followed by more noise. I was being overly dramatic, to say the least. No one in their right mind would break into a house that was almost falling down. Even so, when I roll out of bed at eight o’clock this morning, I have the name and number of someone who I’m going to call about installing security and doorbell cams.
I rush down to the front door, open it, and see it’s Theo. “Sorry, hope we didn’t wake you.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I was up.” I walk away from the door. “I’m going to have a copy of the key made today for you,” I tell him as he heads to the kitchen area, and my eyes go straight to the cup of coffee in his hand.
I groan, jogging back up the stairs and head to my closet, when I hear the front door open and then hear the sound of a couple of the guys coming. Tiptoeing to my bedroom, I close the door before heading into the bathroom and my walk-in closet. Out of everything, it was the easiest part to unpack since everything was on hangers in the boxes and then just hung up. I walk over to my jeans hanger, grab a pair of dark blue jeans, then put on a white lace bra before choosing a long-sleeve, white knit sweater with side slits. Putting it on, I slip on a pair of suede booties before heading out of the room. I hear voices coming from the kitchen. Not wanting to be in the way of them organizing their work, I slip out the front door and head to town to grab coffee and breakfast.
I step into the bakery at the same time Everleigh comes out from the back with a tray in front of her. “Sierra,” she says with a huge smile as she fills the display case with fresh donuts.
“Hi,” I return, walking up to the counter. “I’ll take two dozen donuts,” I order right away and see the shock on her face.
“I have workers at my house, so I thought it would be nice to give them a little bit of a treat.”
“Oh yeah.” She walks over to the side, grabbing a box as she fills it in. “What else can I get for you?”
“I will have an everything bagel with cream cheese and an extra-large coffee.” I smile. “I don’t have a kitchen yet, so I need the extra to last all day.”
“Ugh, you could do yourself like a little coffee cart to keep upstairs if you want.” She suggests, “We just bought Saige one of those little fridge things so she can keep snacks in her room. She saw it on social media and just had to get it. It’s not half bad. You can store some milk in there.”
“That’s a fantastic idea,” I tell her, opening my phone and ordering everything I need for the coffee cart I’ll keep in my bedroom or even in my closet at this point.
I walk out of the bakery with my hands loaded with two boxes of donuts, along with my bagel, coffee, and a bunch of snacks that Everleigh told me to have for later.
I pull up to the house and walk in, hearing the sound of hammers and someone shouting as I make my way over to the kitchen. I sweep the room, checking for Caleb and not seeing him anywhere.