Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Granny Grace coughs, and I jerk my attention toward her, narrowing my eyes when she’s simply smiling at the pile of papers in front of her.
Wait. I turn back to the boys, noting Chase has stepped in behind Brady. “Trip? What trip?”
“We’re going to the Halloween store just outside town,” Mason shares, glancing from Brady to me. “Paige made Deaton’s last year, and she started on this year’s, but I guess that flood from last week messed things up pretty bad at her studio, and Payton didn’t want to add to the stress, so we’re going to see what we can find.”
“And why can’t I go?” I cross my arms. “I need a costume too.”
“Liar.” Brady smirks, leaning back on the high desk. “Ari told me she ordered you guys something. Rude, by the way. Aren’t we supposed to be, like, Barbie and Ken or something?”
“Sure, if you want to guarantee that someone else will be wearing the same outfit. You might as well go as Hugh Hefner and put a tail and bunny ears on me.”
“I don’t know, I think you’d look good hopping around with that booty out.”
A scoff sounds, and we all look over to the source.
It takes Granny Grace a moment to realize and she glances up. “What?”
“Nothing,” I chuckle, passing the diaper bag to Brady, who passes it to Chase, his grin pointed at Granny Grace.
“Oh, no.” Brady spins, fully facing Granny Grace, and places his forearms on her desk, giving her his full attention. “I want to hear this.” He gives her his best crooked grin.
She scoffs again but sets her pen down, pushing her glasses up on her head, and mimics his position from her side, leaning close the exact same way.
“Hello, Granny Grace,” he drawls, peeking my way to confirm that she is, in fact, the person he is guessing she is based on our chats.
“Hello, Brady.” She makes his whole-ass day by knowing his name, his growing smile the proof. “I’m going to go ahead and save you a whole lot of trouble. How does that sound?”
I bite back a smile, and Brady flicks his eyes to Chase in amusement before looking back to her.
“If that girl right there wore nothing but a leotard and a puffy little ball on her ass, with those curves and that gorgeous, golden hair of hers, the night would not go the way you wanted it to.”
“Yeah?” He grins.
“Yeah. She’d be cold, and some poor fool would be knocked out cold.”
Brady frowns for a split second before his head falls back on a laugh, the other boys joining in.
Granny Grace doesn’t let him see her grin but buries it as she looks down at her papers again.
Brady steps over, taking Deaton from Mason’s shoulders, and Mason unfolds the stroller.
Brady comes closer, turning so Deaton is in my reach. “Give Calmy hugs, little man.”
Deaton leans over, and I squeeze his little body.
“Don’t worry, Girlfriend.” Brady smiles. “My costume of choice will not disappoint. I might even tell you what it is during our lunch date tomorrow.”
“Do you already know what you’re going to get?”
“Nope, but whatever I do pick out, it will be with you in mind.”
I roll my eyes dramatically, taking his shoulders and spinning him around, pushing him toward the door. “Okay, jerk faces. Bye. Go have your man time.”
The others wave their goodbyes, but Brady pauses by Granny Grace’s desk once more, looking down at the photo of her and her late husband sitting on top.
“Nice picture, Granny Grace.” He leans forward. “I drive a Chevy too.”
Granny Grace looks up, small creases deepening her wrinkles at first, but then her soft smile falls on the frame. “He always said the smart ones do.”
Brady places his hand over hers, and she glances up at him, but he’s already walking out.
I watch his form as he walks through the door, a sense of warmth settling over me.
Just before the doors begin to close, I hear him ask, “Either of you know what the hell a leotard is?”
My lips tip up, and this time when I look over at my friend, because that’s what she is, Granny Grace is looking at me.
“What?”
“That boy is gone on you.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Oh no, we’re…” I pause, not wanting to say fake dating because that would be a whole-ass story to get into. “Just having fun.”
“Oh, honey.” She stands, taking her stack of papers with her as she rounds the desk, patting my shoulder on her way. “Bless your little heart.”
“Okay, but don’t we have to add in learning to read or write or something?” Alister stares down at the partial lesson plan I created without him last class.
“You can’t make lemonade without the lemons.”
He blinks at me and I laugh.
“Did you even read over the instructions?”
Alister smiles. “I just figured I’d let you lead.”