Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 101466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“I’ve almost got it.”
“And it will be there when you’re finished eating.” He took a bite, chewing and swallowing. “I’m going out tonight with Mark. We’re shooting pool with a few guys. You’ll be okay?”
I looked at him, and he shrugged with a grin. “Just checking. And keep Wednesday night open this week and next week.”
“For?”
“Date nights.”
I felt a grin pull at my lips. “You planning something, Thorne?”
“Big-time.”
“Okay, then.”
We finished, and he left after kissing me goodbye. I worked until I couldn’t keep my eyes open, and I went upstairs and brushed my teeth. I pulled on a nightshirt and paused. Part of me—a big part—wanted to go to Jesse’s and crawl into his bed. Wait for him there.
Would he like that?
I wasn’t sure. And he hadn’t asked me to.
So I slid under my blanket, thinking it wasn’t as nice as Jesse’s. Or maybe because Jesse wasn’t under it with me. I tossed and turned for a while before I fell asleep. The bed felt cold and empty, which was strange because I usually slept in it alone since Jesse was too tall for it.
I startled awake at the feeling of being lifted by a pair of strong arms. Jesse was muttering, and I was too tired to open my eyes as he descended the stairs. I caught something about wrong bed and what was I doing, but I just snuggled closer, enjoying the feeling of being in his arms. A moment later, I was in his bed, pulled to his chest as he huffed out a hard breath.
“Better,” he grumped. “You could have saved me a lot of trouble if you’d just been here when I got home.”
“Didn’t know,” I muttered, patting his torso and laying my hand on his heart. I liked the steady beat of it under my touch. It soothed me.
“Now you do,” he grunted.
“Okay, Thorne, put the Hulk away,” I said with a yawn.
“Go to sleep,” he sniped, but I heard the smile in his voice. “Stop bothering me.” He pressed a kiss to my hair. “And stay here.”
I was certain I dreamed the next part.
“Forever,” he whispered.
The next morning was bright and clear. We drank coffee with the door open, the warmth already building for the day.
“You were out late,” I observed. “Did you have a good time?”
He grinned. “Won the tournament.”
“Good job. Was there a prize?”
“Bragging rights and my bill was covered.”
“What did you sink them for?”
He lifted his eyebrows, widening his eyes as if he was making a big announcement. “Big bucks. A beer, a water, and a plate of wings.”
“Wow.”
He sipped his coffee. “It was nice to hang with them outside the station.” He leaned forward. “And guess who was there?”
I shrugged.
“Chris walked in with his girl of the night.”
“Ugh. What happened?”
“I have never seen anyone move so quickly. He grabbed her arm and practically dragged her out of there.”
“Were you threatening him?”
“No.”
“Thorne…” I warned.
“We might have set down our cues and leaned on the table, glaring at him until he noticed.”
“How many?”
“Five.”
I laughed. “Poor Chris.”
“Whatever. The woman he was with needs to know what a loser he is.”
I finished my coffee. “Okay, Hulk.”
I glanced toward the backyard, rubbing my hands on my jeans. Jesse leaned forward, all traces of levity gone. “Are you sure you want to do this? We don’t have to if you’re not ready.”
“He’s been waiting, Jesse. So has she. I want to be the one to put them back together.”
“How will we know it’s the right place?”
“Her little map shows the spot. It’s marked with a heart. I’m sure we will.”
He studied me, his expression tender. “Okay, Pixie. Let’s go reunite the lovers.”
“Soul mates,” I corrected.
“Right.”
I stood, picking up the urn. I knew Jesse didn’t believe in that sort of love anymore. I never had either until I’d read Lou’s journal. Maybe not everyone had a soul mate, but I strongly believed she did.
I handed the journal to Jesse, and we headed out, walking into the woods by a break in the trees. There was a path that had been walked often, the grass trodden and the earth visible. We didn’t talk as we followed it a short distance, coming to a small clearing. The sunshine was bright there with no trees to hamper its glow. There was a fallen log that had a smooth patch of bark from being sat on often and two trees across the clearing from it that crisscrossed each other, their barks mingling. Jesse squinted as he looked at the page.
“I think this is it.” He pointed to the page, showing what we were looking at. It was rough and not exact, but drawing hadn’t been Lou’s strength.
I walked around, looking at the ground, once, twice, and a third time.
“What are you looking for, Pixie?”
“A sign.”
He came over, and I handed him the urn and went to the trees, lifting my leg to climb.