Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
My nipples pinch against the lace of my bra and I squeeze my thighs together.
“Those wings better come quickly, or I might decide they’re not worth the wait.”
“We have all evening,” I reassure him.
“It won’t be long enough,” he volleys.
His words hit me in the chest because I know it’s true. However long we have won’t be enough.
Eva comes back with two beers and two orders of wings and we dig in. I’m hungry. I’ve not eaten all day. I’m always so busy preparing food for Riley and making sure she has lunch, sometimes I run out of time to make sure I’m fed. And I’m going to need my strength tonight if the look in Fisher’s eye is anything to go by.
My phone buzzes and I flip it over on the table. “Sorry, I’m just going to check this,” I say, when Mom flashes up on the screen.
Mom: Riley has a temperature.
Me: What is it?
Mom: 102.
“Shit,” I mumble under my breath.
“Everything okay?” Fisher takes a swig of his beer.
“It’s Riley. She has a temperature.” I never leave Riley if she’s sick. Ever. I know how quickly things can change when it comes to medical conditions. One minute you’re fine and then you’re not.
One minute you’re pregnant. And then you’re not.
Riley was fine when I tucked her into bed. She was chattering on about school and how she’d done on her math test. There wasn’t any sign that she was sick. Things change quickly.
“Do you need to go?” he asks. “I’m happy to drive you back.” It’s so sweet of him to offer. I know he has different plans for where we go after Grizzly’s. And so do I. I don’t know what to do. What would I do if I were at home?
“Let me just text with my mom quickly.”
“No problem. We can leave right away if that’s better.”
Me: Is she awake?
Mom: Yes. She says she has a headache.
Me: Does she have a rash?
There’s a delay before she answers. I’m guessing Mom is checking for a rash.
Mom: No rash.
I’m torn. I want to be here with Fisher and Riley is probably fine, but I wish I were with my daughter, too.
Me: Please give her Tylenol in the cupboard and then let me know what her temperature is in thirty minutes.
“We’re going to give it thirty minutes,” I say. “See if the Tylenol kicks in.”
We go back to our wings, but Fisher has released my legs and there’s a shift between us. It’s not as fun and flirty. Because, this is real life. And in real life I have a daughter who gets sick.
“So how’s your mystery artist getting along?” I ask, trying to get us back on track. “You still don’t like the trombone?”
“Man, the trombone sucks.” Fisher chuckles. “She’s getting along great. She loves the Club. Finds everything really easy. She’s ahead of schedule and already has four tracks that could be… I mean, if we put the right marketing efforts behind them, they’re going to be big.”
“That’s exciting.”
“It is. Everything’s working out great.”
“You think you’ll end up bringing more artists out here to record?” As soon as the question is out of my mouth, I wish I could stuff the words back in. What was I thinking? It looks like I’m asking him to come back before he’s even left. I don’t want him to think I think that what we have is anything but temporary.
“I’ll definitely encourage artists to come out here. It’s only going to suit certain people. If they’re wanting to party, then this isn’t the best place for them.”
I pull back and glare at him like I’m offended. “What could you mean? Are you saying the people of Star Falls don’t know how to party? Have you ever seen Grizzly’s after a storm? The entire town goes wild. Everyone’s so happy to be alive. There’s no atmosphere in one of your fancy-schmancy New York nightclubs that could compete.”
Fisher chuckles. “Somehow I completely and utterly believe you. And on top of that, you have these wings.”
I laugh. “Yeah, you need to take some back to New York and lure your artists out here with the wings.”
“They’ll be goners,” he says. “There’ll be a waiting list for the recording studio.”
“True story.”
I grin, but I can’t help but glance at my phone to see if thirty minutes is up. I just want to know Riley is okay and then I can relax properly. I want to enjoy my evening with Fisher, but I can’t do that if my daughter isn’t well.
“Any news?” Fisher asks, as he sees me looking at the phone.
I shake my head. “Just checking the time. If her temperature is coming down with the Tylenol after thirty minutes, then I’m sure she’ll be fine. Problem is, my mom is fully committed to her current knitting project, and I just want to make sure she checks Riley again when she’s supposed to.”