Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74956 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74956 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
I fight to conceal my shock that he’s finally getting therapy as I say, “That’s good to hear. But I think this was better, don’t you? This way, no one we know will see us leaving the arena with red, puffy eyes.”
He grunts, but his tone is warm as he admits, “I’m glad to start the day on the right foot. I didn’t like being at odds. I knew your mother would be upset with me. She wouldn’t want anything to ever come between us.”
I nod. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. She’d be proud of us right now.”
“She would,” Dad agrees.
We share a smile, soft and bittersweet.
“Well, I should probably grab Stone’s order and get back home,” I say. “Otherwise, I’m going to be late for my first day back at the office.”
Dad scoots his chair back with a nod. “I should go, too. We’re starting practice early so the team can have the rest of today and tomorrow off before the game on Thursday night.” He stands, his brows lifting as he adds, “Oh, and I’ve reserved seats for you and Stone in the box at the second home game next week. No need for him to sit the bench until he’s in less pain, but I don’t want him to miss a chance to study the evolution of play as we move forward.”
“Sounds good, thanks, Dad.” I step into the hug he offers, squeezing him tight, things feeling easier between us than they have in a very long time. When we step back, I add, “I’ll reach out later this week. Maybe we can grab dinner or something when you guys are back from Utah?”
His lips curve. “I’d like that. We could go to that sushi place you like.”
“Sounds perfect.” I lift a hand as I move toward the counter to order. “Have a good day. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” he says, looking like a different man than the scowling one I encountered when I first walked through the door.
Stone did good work here.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to make him sorry that he sent me in blind. After all, I would have been happy to meet my dad for oatmeal. Stone could have warned me and still left my father in the dark.
I ponder the best way to get my revenge as I wait for his order.
Halfway home, the answer becomes clear as Roger spots me from his usual hang-out spot at the base of the largest tree on the block. “Remy, how’s it going, girl?” he asks, a big grin on his lightly wrinkled face. “Come chat with an old man for a while. I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
“I’m actually on my way to work, Roger,” I say, pausing at the corner. “But if you’ve got some time this morning, Stone is stuck at home with a bum leg. And he was just telling me the other day how much he’d love to hear more about the C.I.A.’s involvement in the Chilean uprising and how that pertains to the U.S.’s role in suppressing the evolution of democratically chosen socialist governments in foreign countries.”
“All in the name of pushing their own oppressive capitalist agenda,” Roger says, falling neatly into my little trap.
But it’s a gentle trap, and he’s obviously looking for some company this morning.
“Totally.” I nod toward the other side of the street. “You want to come back to the apartment with me? You and Stone can have some coffee and hash it all out.”
Roger’s blue eyes light up. “Make that tea for me and you’ve got a deal, lady.” He bounds up from his perch, slinging his big backpack over one shoulder as he joins me at the corner. “I’m trying to cut back on caffeine. A little’s good, but too much, and my heart starts racing something fierce.”
“I hear you,” I say as we cross the street, the charms and bells on his pack jingling pleasantly. “I cut my afternoon coffee, but I need at least two cups in the morning to feel fully alive.”
He hums beneath his breath. “You’re alive even when your mind’s sleepy and your heart is easy. Don’t let the bastards convince you that wired for sound and grinding your way into an early grave out is the only way. You gotta keep questioning the premise, Remy. Every day, every premise, every thought, this toxic culture indoctrinated into your head and told you was the natural order.”
“You’re right. Excellent point, Roger.” I smile as I add, “You should talk to Stone about that after you give him his history lesson.”
* * *
Ten minutes later, we push through the door into the apartment. When Stone sees Roger behind me, he looks surprised, but not displeased.
He’s had Roger over a few times before, usually to let him have a shower in the men’s locker room at the gym or go for a swim with Stone in the summer.