Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” I agree, putting the glass on the coaster, thinking about how the news of me taking over as head coach will be everywhere tomorrow.
“I mean, it should be, but it could also suck even more.” The minute she says it, I can’t help but bark out a laugh. “I mean, think about it. A flood today, termites tomorrow.” She holds out her two hands, palms up, as she moves them up and down like she’s weighing the options.
“Can we not put that thought out there?” I turn to look at her. She takes in the way my shirt is tight against my chest, and I see her giving me a very approving once up and down. “Let’s think good thoughts.”
The bartender comes back and puts her drink on her coaster. “There you are, beautiful,” he flirts and I side-eye him. “Have you decided on what you are going to have?”
“I’ll take a cheeseburger with bacon, hold the tomatoes,” she orders. He gives her a grin and then starts to walk away as I hold up my finger. “And my friend here,” she adds and puts her hand on my arm, “will have,” she looks at me, “the same thing.”
“Sure,” I agree, “that works.” He nods at me and walks toward the system to put in the order.
“Thanks,” I mumble as she picks up her drink, holding it up in her hand.
“I aim to please.” She smiles at me and it’s not a fake smile. Not one that someone who is being polite gives you. No, this is a smile that fills her face and goes straight to her eyes.
“Well, to a better tomorrow.” She holds up her glass and I take an extra second looking at her, not sure what to do. “This is where you pick up your glass and we toast to a better tomorrow,” she tells me, and I reach for my glass. “For a smooth flight home for me and no termites for you.” The smile on her face is never-ending. “And hopefully good fries; it would suck after the day we had if the French fries are meh.” I can’t help but chuckle as I clink my glass with hers. “You have to say it,” she informs me. “You have to repeat what I just said or else it doesn’t work. And then we’re cursing tomorrow. Do you want that? I don’t!”
“I’ve never heard that before in my life,” I tell her and the smile fades from her face.
“Do you want to be the one who tempts fate?” she questions dramatically. “Wow, I guess you don’t care about termites in your house, but I care about a safe flight. So can we maybe not throw bad juju into the universe?”
“I would hate for bad juju to go into the universe,” I reply when I know she isn’t going to take a sip of her wine until I repeat what she says. “To a safe flight and no termites.”
“I mean, it’s not the same since you didn’t say it with feeling, but I’ve already had a long day, and it sounds like it’s going to be longer if I don’t take this sip of wine.” She clinks her glass with mine and takes a big sip before putting it down. “If those fries are floppy,” she looks over at me, “that is going to be an indication as to how tomorrow goes.” She holds up her hands beside her and crosses her fingers. “Please be good.”
“That excited to get home?” I ask her and she looks back over at me.
“Yeah, it’s been a week, and my bed is probably wondering where I am.”
“You didn’t tell the bed where you were going when you left?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I should have. I did hug my pillows a little bit more than I usually would though.” She takes another sip. “That should have been my first clue this trip would turn out the way it did.”
“Well, like you said, it’ll be all better tomorrow,” I assure her as the bartender comes over and sets the plates in front of us. “I can’t bear to look,” she tells me. “I’m going to need you to take one for the team and tell me how the fries are.” I turn my head toward the plate and see the burger on the side and the fries beside it.
She watches me as I pick up the fry and hold it up. “Crisp,” I confirm. “No flop.” I then bite into it. “Hot,” I tell her and her whole face lights up.
“I see the tides turning for us.” She points to me.
“Zane,” I tell her my name and she smiles at me.
“I’m Victoria.” I smile at her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zane.”
I stare into her eyes that have changed five times since she sat down, going from a blue-gray to a gray and then to a blue, and now they’re like a crystal blue. Her hair is pushed to the side, away from her forehead, leaving her neck exposed. “The pleasure is all mine.”