Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“Are you sure that’s a good thing? I’ll be invading his space.”
“Yes, it’s a great idea, and I’m sure under all that nervousness, you’re thinking the same thing.”
I blush because a part of me loves going to the shop despite him sending me away all the time. The way sweat covers his bare, ripped biceps as he works sends shivers down my body. “Whoa, young lady. Calm down. I can see and recognize that look. You have a couple more months of school left.”
“I know, I know.”
“Good. Now, Vanessa would like you to come over to the shop today around noon to get a feel for the process.” I checked the time on my cell phone and it’s already eleven. Dang, that’s not a lot of time, but I guess that leaves me less time to chicken out.
“Um…okay.” When I enter the kitchen a few moments later, my father walks into the house. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hey, Princess. How are you doing this morning?”
“I’m great,” I lied. I’m a mess. Seeing Simon again is going to be a shock to my system that I’m not prepared for. It’s not that I don’t want to throw myself into his arms and continue where we left off in his hotel room, but I’m not sure that will ever be possible.
The doorbell rings, and in walks Mr. West. “Hey, Wrench,” my father says. They shake hands. “What brings you here?”
“Oh, Vanessa didn’t tell you?” Mr. West said, smirking at me.
“No, I just got home.”
“I’m going to help, Mrs. West out at the shop by working in the office.”
“She has a car. You didn’t have to scoop her up, Wrench,” my mom says.
“I was at the hardware store, so I was driving this way, anyway.”
“Good. Thanks for giving her something to do,” my mom says, hugging my shoulders.
“Yeah, I think it will be good for the both of them,” he says while giving me a knowing look out of the corner of his eye.
“I’m sure it’s going to be awesome,” I mutter. “What should I wear?”
“Do us all a favor, and nothing that’s going to get other men killed,” my dad mutters, shaking his head.
“Daddy, I’m a grown woman.” I roll my eyes at him.
“I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about Simon catching any guys staring at you in tiny shorts or in a low-cut top.” I blush profusely.
“Your dad’s right. We’ve both been married too long and understand how my son is going to react when a customer’s eyes linger too long.”
I roll my eyes again, and Mom says, “They aren’t exaggerating.”
“He hadn’t acted that way until that weekend, and he doesn’t even remember behaving that way.”
“Sweetie, just because you didn’t see it, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.” My father smirks. My mouth falls open, and my mind practically explodes.
“I’m going to change. I’ll be ready in ten minutes, okay?”
“Okay.”
Chapter Eight
Simon
I stare at her with a brutal discomfort building in my chest. Until last night, we hadn’t seen each other since the hospital. Vivian had fled, running back home. I suppose the sight of me had been too much for her. She was so damn angry, and normally I would brush it off, but I can’t. It’s too fucking much to bear. Her sadness is killing me.
I’m not sure why I have this pain, so I push it away because a headache starts to hammer through my skull. Digging in my pocket, I open my bottle and pop two pills and then go back to my work.
I focus on the way my hands easily turn the wrench and not on the way her eyes had slanted with painful sadness. I look over at my father, giving him a simple nod, which sends him over to me. In a whisper, I ask him, “Hey, Pops, what is she doing here?”
“Her dad wants me to help her learn about the books for her classes.” I wonder what she is taking this last semester. Then I recall she isn’t taking any math, so what’s the real reason she’s here? I already know the damn answer. My parents are trying their best to fix us—to fix me. The last broken piece of me. The part that even I know only Vivian can mend. Maybe I’ll never remember what happened that weekend, but it doesn’t matter as much as learning how to win Vivian. To remember why she was so furious with me, more than any other time before.
“Oh,” I mutter. My lips clamp together as I duck my head down toward the bike, refusing to look at her.
He grasps my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “You need to focus on school. Everything missing will come to you. Just give it some time. She’s not going to linger down here. I’m taking her upstairs.” Upstairs, where he takes Mom to screw? An unexplainable possessive feeling comes over me, and I grow angry.