Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
"Phone," I snip, and he pulls it out of his pocket. "You stole it?"
"Safe keeping."
"Stole it."
"We're married, so I'm not sure that's the case." I slam the door again. It's childish, but it feels nice. I spot a buttoned shirt hanging on a hook and put it on as I call Katherine.
“Ghostbusters! What can we do for you?” she answers.
“Why are you so chipper?” I know she was matching drinks with me.
“I don’t know. I feel great.” Okay, we are both still drunk.
“We have a problem.”
“Why are we whispering?” she whispers back.
“Because I’m in a compromising situation.”
“You’re at Hollis’s place, right?” Is that what she was told? “Oh shit, I see your location. You hussy, this is taking the seduction thing to a whole other level. Damn, when you commit, you go all the way. I wish I had that kind of dedication. Do you think there is a class or something that teaches dedication?” She pauses her rambling. “I want extra cheese, please,” Katherine shouts. “Do you want to come over for breakfast?”
I have never met a person who talks more. When I was in the city, I'd call her at night, and she'd talk me to sleep.
"Katherine!" I hiss.
"It's fine if you want to have Betty's breakfast. I won’t tell Grams."
"I'm hiding in Pierce's bathroom in his shirt with a wedding ring on my finger!" So much for whispering.
"Wait, hold on here." Finally she gets serious. "You got married without me? You could have at least let me wear a horrible bridesmaid's dress." I hadn't thought about the wedding. I want one if I'm married. I shake those stupid thoughts from my head.
"I'm not really married."
"You are," Pierce says from the other side of the door.
"Stop eavesdropping!"
"Do you want to let me go? Friends should avoid interfering in each other's relationships. It can cause problems."
"I'm going to murder you and leave you in the Hollowsville corn maze."
"I'm going to put spiders in your bedroom."
"Don't say that." I get the chills thinking about it. For a girl that spooks easily, there isn't a bug or creature she won't pick up like they're old friends. I’m usually ready to stomp them and she’s setting them free outside so they can invade once again.
"I don't mean it,” she says sheepishly. "What are you really up to?"
"I told you!"
"Wait, all that is serious? I thought you were messing with me. That maybe you and Giant Man made up, and you went to Hollis's to settle it all for good."
"Yeah, and my bright idea was marriage."
The line goes quiet.
"Tins…"
"I'm dead serious."
"Oh my God!" Finally, she's catching up. "We've done it this time."
"It's fine, I was drunk. It can't be legal, and I'm still a virgin."
"You're a virgin?" Pierce sounds as though I’ve surprised the hell out of him.
"Do you have your ear to the door or something?!"
"I'm fucking with you. You told me last night when you asked me to 'pop that cherry'—your words, not mine."
Kill me now.
Katherine bursts into snorting laughter. I hang up on her and start texting.
Katherine: That was rude.
Me: He can hear everything.
Katherine: Oh right, game plan?
Me: Meet me in the back and bring pants and shoes.
She sends a thumbs-up and then another text.
Katherine: Hussy
I eye the window. It's small, but so am I.
Chapter Twelve
PIERCE
Idebate if I should stop her. I hear the shower come on. She's been in there for ten minutes now. I walk over to one of the windows to see for myself. Out of the bathroom window you can step onto the flat roof on that part of the house. I watch as Katherine tries to throw a bag up, but she misses, and it comes back down, hitting her on the top of the head.
She shakes it off. The knitted hat with cat ears she’s wearing must have cushioned the blow. I watch as they hiss hushed words at each other before Katherine throws the bag again. There better be pants and shoes in the bag, or I'm stopping this escape plan.
Thankfully, there are. I watch as Tinsley puts them on while Katherine waves a man over who I think is Brandon's husband. I introduced myself around last night, trying to remember as many people as I could. A few words with people in greeting and a name exchange can go a long way. Tinsley is so interwoven in this town, and I want to start weaving myself into the mix as well.
The rugged man brings over a short ladder. They pulled that plan together quickly. It’s not surprising. Those two have a special connection and a way of improvising on the fly. It’s pretty impressive how well they know each other.
Tinsley easily gets down the ladder. I can tell this is not her first rodeo when it comes to making an escape. This is a small town, so I'm not sure where she thinks she's sneaking off to. I smile, anticipating the ride she’s going to take me on today.