Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Hey,” Kola said softly, staring at his friend. “Where ya goin’?”
Tipping his head, Jake lifted the tool belt.
“You work on Sundays?”
He never had before. That was his day to come with everyone else to our house for food and sometimes a movie or games. “I do.”
“Why the hoodie? It’s crazy stupid hot outside.”
“Remember that nice cab driver we had in New Orleans that time?” Jake replied. “She said that the weather was disrespectful.”
Kola nodded. “That’s right.”
“I think that applies to what we have now. Disrespectful weather. But at night, inside this old house I’m working on, it gets really cold.”
Kola took a breath. “I miss you,” he stated, clearly tired of not saying what was in his heart.
Jake’s smile was wide, and he lifted his arm. I hadn’t seen Kola move that fast in a while, and the hug, Kola holding him tight in both arms and Jake clutching with his one, made my eyes fill. Jake was whispering in his ear, and Kola was nodding.
“I’m really sorry,” Kola barely got out.
“I know,” Jake soothed him. “It’s okay.”
Neither of them moved, just holding on.
Finally, Jake gave him a kiss on the cheek, a last pat, and eased free. By then, all the kids were in the kitchen, and Jake smiled at all of them before walking over to Hannah, who, from the deep in-and-out breaths she was taking, was really trying to move air through her lungs. When he reached for her hand, she grabbed it in both of hers.
“Guess what?” he asked her.
She shook her head quickly, telling him that her voice was not working, but I could see how tight she was holding on to him.
“I made the ziti.”
Her gasp was loud, and his grin was both wicked and warm.
“That’s right, me. I’ve got it wired now, and… I can put the furikake on the popcorn too.”
“No,” she whispered, clearly in awe.
“Yep. Haven’t mastered the lasagna yet, I think there’s actual magic involved, but I will attempt to get it figured out.”
“You’re sure you’ve got the furikake down?”
He scoffed like her question was ridiculous, and she looked over at me. I waggled my eyebrows in agreement.
“Plus the pot roast,” he told her.
Her eyes instantly filled, and he hefted the heavy tool belt up on his shoulder and gently put his hand on her cheek. She leaned into it, and he smiled.
“Gotta go, overnight job. I’ve got people waitin’ on me, and restoration of a historical house with pocket doors and cabinets is vital.”
“Yes,” she barely got out.
He turned then, came back to me, kissed my cheek, grabbed his lunch, and was almost to the door when Harper stopped him by calling his name.
Jake did what he’d done with Kola, and lifted his arm. The difference was, Harper didn’t move, and honestly, I wasn’t certain he could. He was breathing strangely, like Hannah had been, but more, almost like he was about to hyperventilate. Jake stepped back, put the tool belt down, did the same with his lunchbox I’d packed, and then grinning crazily, opened his arms wide. Harper stumbled forward before bolting across the room, reaching him and basically molding himself to his friend. I realized then that they weren’t meant to be apart.
How many times over the years had I stuck my head into Kola’s room to find him playing a video game with Jake wedged beside him, asleep, with Harper wrapped around Jake, also passed out. Always, they were like puppies in a warm pile. All three. They had been in one another’s pockets since they were children, and this separation was the longest that had ever occurred. Jake was doing the best, because he was staying crazy busy between work and home projects, and he basically fell into bed at night dead to the world. On the few nights where he was with us, he watched TV with Sam, went to yoga with me, worked out with Sam, and walked Dobby with some very nice elderly women in our neighborhood who felt much safer with Jake along, with his height and muscles.
Now Harper was shaking and Jake was talking to him. When they parted, Harper was nodding, and Jake was telling him some kind of story, and finally Harper started laughing. Jake took off his sunglasses then, and the blue eyes were gleaming with happiness. Deep breath in from Harper, and then out. It was good to see.
Hannah darted over then, and I saw her biting her lip as she looked at him.
Quick flashing smile for her before he replaced his sunglasses, picked up his stuff, and went out the front door. He closed it gently behind him as we heard someone honking.
“Who is that?” Finn asked.
“The guys on the crew with him,” Sam answered.
“So he’s not a server anymore?”
“Not for a while now,” Sam told him.