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)
“Like me?” he asks.
I shrug, and Rosey runs over and pulls us both into a hug. “Hey, guys. You ready for pool?”
“I guess so,” Fisher says. I don’t know if there’s a tinge of disappointment in his voice, but I hope not. This isn’t the only place we’re going to stop by tonight.
“We’re going to beat you,” Rosey says, pulling me along by the hand. “Boys against girls,” she calls out.
I groan. I don’t want to be in any game where I’m not on the same team as Fisher. I glance behind me to see Byron slapping Fisher on the back in commiseration, and then they follow us into the back.
“So, Fisher,” Rosey says. “When are you next back in Colorado?”
“Rosey,” I say. “Please, can we not talk about Fisher coming back to Colorado or me going to New York? Not tonight. Fisher and I have always been clear about what we are to each other. I want to just enjoy the evening. I want to have fun.”
“What she said,” Fisher says, and holds out his hand.
Byron chuckles at the frustrated expression on Rosey’s face.
“It’s just that you’re so good together. And Byron said he’s never seen Fisher so happy with a woman.”
I pull in a breath and shake my head. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to spend the evening telling Rosey all the reasons Fisher and I can’t be together. It’s too depressing. It’s too much.
Rosey starts to say something else, and Byron steps between the two of us and walks her back to the other side of the room, whispering in her ear.
Fisher raises his eyebrows. I can’t tell whether he’s exasperated with Rosey or disappointed in me. Does he want to be convinced we can work?
“For the record,” I say to him, so no one else can hear. “It’s not because I’m looking forward to you leaving. We both just know the reality of the situation.”
He pulls in a breath and pulls me into a hug. “Unfortunately, we do.”
His body envelops me. He’s so big and reassuring. It makes me feel like it’s going to be okay. But I’m not sure if it is. Fisher’s only been in my life a few weeks, but I can’t even begin to think about the hole he’ll leave when he’s gone.
“Let’s just try and stay in the moment.” He releases me from his arms.
But I don’t let go of him. I can’t. I want to take each embrace, kiss, and touch and commit them to memory. I know when Fisher leaves, life’s never going to be the same, and I’m going to want to bring out my memories of this time together for the rest of my life.
Eventually I let him go.
“Pool,” I say.
“Don’t forget wings.”
I laugh. “How could I forget the wings.”
After we win the two games, Rosey comes up to me and slings an arm around my shoulder. “I’m sorry for being a pain in the ass.”
“That’s okay. I know you only have good intentions.”
“Honestly, I’m so happy I met Byron, and it’s so completely unbelievable that I did. It shouldn’t have worked and we had the odds stacked against us. It just makes me want the same thing for everyone in the world.”
“I get that.”
“Wanna meet me at Grizzly’s again on Friday?” she asks. “Donna, Beth, Marge, and I are having a girls’ night. Wanna join?”
I want to say yes. I like Rosey, and hell, I know I’ll need a distraction. Mom will babysit. I’m just not sure I’ll want to do much in the days following Fisher leaving. “That’s so kind of you to invite me. I’ll see if I can get a sitter.”
“It’s been great getting to know you while Fisher’s been here.”
“You too, Rosey.”
I look over at Fisher chatting to Byron, and he turns to meet my gaze as if he could tell I was looking at him.
“Okay, we need to go now,” I say. For a second, I expect him to suggest we stay for one more drink, but as soon as he starts in my direction, I wonder why I doubted he’d want to leave.
We head out and back into the truck. Fisher looks at me expectantly.
“Where else to go but the falls?” I ask.
“I was hoping you would say that,” he replies.
“You must have guessed, given the cooler I had you load into the truck.”
“I had a tiny inkling,” he says, grinning as he puts Byron’s truck into drive.
I roll down the window and the breeze that fills the cab is warm and full of summer.
“It’s a perfect night,” he says.
Is it, I think, but I don’t say anything.
“Tell me what you’re thinking?” he says.
I glance across at him and realize that me not saying how I’m feeling is what he fears most: people not showing him exactly who they are.