Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 31149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
What am I doing wrong? Maybe I’m still knocked out and this is all a dream.
“I wrote my newest character with his nose again, then I had to go back and change the whole backstory so he is the long-lost brother of Liam from the last book,” I mutter against the counter.
“Man, I loved Liam’s dirty mouth,” Willa says with a dreamy sigh.
“Right? The way he tossed her into the back of the truck and devoured her? Jesus, I had to ask Dad to reenac—”
“Mom!” Willa and I yell together, but she just giggles.
I sigh deeply. “I adore his nose. It’s so cute. Isn’t Dermot’s nose cute, Mom?”
“Yes, honey.”
“The whole dude is hot,” Willa says as if I don’t know this myself. “Maybe you should just ask him.”
I lift my head, meeting her gaze. “Ask him what?”
“Ask him why he hasn’t kissed you.”
I press my lips together, thinking that little suggestion over. I’ve been very direct about everything else, so why am I dancing around things now?
I reach for my phone in my back pocket and open our text thread.
Thursday, 4:32 p.m.
Me: What are you doing?
Dermot: I just drove to Lake Placid, and I’m at my sister’s coffee shop while she makes me help her close down. She had people call out, so she’s closing alone. Waiting to finish up so we can head to dinner.
Me: Boo, employees can suck. My mom is the worst.
Dermot: Highly doubtful. She gives me snacks.
Me: You come into the shop?
Dermot: Maybe.
Me: Nice. Are you busy?
Dermot: Not for you.
Ugh, he’s so sweet!
He is making me crazy.
Me: So, you know how I have lips?
Dermot: …I am aware of them, yes.
Me: Okay, I was wondering if you knew they were there.
Dermot: Yes, Maggie. I know you have lips. Very pretty lips.
Me: Okay, and you know how I use them to kiss Kip?
Dermot: I’m gonna say yes, but I’m just gonna be real honest, I have no damn clue where you’re going with this.
Me: Understandable, but stay with me.
Dermot: I am.
Me: My lips love kissing Kip. He’s such a great kisser. But they’re really interested in someone else.
Dermot: Oh?
Me: Yeah.
Me: You.
Dermot: Your lips are interested in me?
Me: Yes.
Me: Are you following what I’m saying?
I tap my finger against the counter as I wait for his response.
Dermot: Very much so.
Me: Okay. Are yours interested in mine?
Dermot: Very much so.
Me: Oh.
Dermot: I’m glad we cleared this up.
Me: Me too.
Me: I also want to go on a date.
Dermot: Noted.
Me: With you.
Dermot: Thank God.
Me: So yeah.
Dermot: Yeah.
When nothing else comes, I inhale deeply to keep myself from tossing my phone. I set my phone down slowly, just as Mom and Willa back up, acting as if they didn’t read all that.
And then I promptly drop my face to the counter.
“Maggie! You’re still concussed.”
“Not enough since I keep saying dumb shit.”
“That was painful,” Willa said, shaking her head. “You’re so weird.”
“Eat ass, Willa,” I mutter against the cool surface.
From the living room, Sadie yells, “She wishes she could!”
Willa sighs deeply. “It’d be nice.”
With that, Mom yells, “Girls!”
nine
. . .
Dermot
“I just want it known, I’m utterly obsessed with her,” Tessa announces.
Same.
I roll my eyes playfully as I shut her car door behind her in front of the clinic. I usually park in the back during business hours, but after we’re closed, I park out here. We elected to drive back to Holiday Ridge after the wait times in Lake Placid were outrageous. We got our meals to go from the local diner and decided to eat at my place since Kip is home alone. According to my sister, I’m emotionally dependent on him.
No comment.
Even though we drove separately, we talked the whole way back.
About Maggie.
“Why haven’t you asked her out?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug as we start up the walking path that leads to the clinic. The stone walkway has very dead bushes that are covered in snow at the moment instead of flowers. “I want to,” I say softly. “I just love what we have right now. It’s so fucking perfect, and I don’t want to ruin it if she doesn’t feel the same.”
She gives me a look of exasperation as I take the food from her. She glances over at the circle of Holiday Ridge. I have the best view of Promise Pond, in my opinion, and behind it in the distance is God’s masterpiece—the Adirondack Mountains. It’s a breathtaking view, and sometimes I wonder why Tessa won’t just move here. I may not get out to experience everything, but I know she would. She’d love it and could live with me to enjoy the views daily. Low black iron fences surround each business along the outer perimeter of the downtown area, and another set of iron fencing rings the pond. It makes a perfect circle around Promise Pond, which is great for the tourists. They can do the whole loop, and on Saturdays, the market is set up. No matter the temp or the weather, everyone is out.