Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 104657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
I smile at Will. “Good to see you. I heard your sister is with your parents this weekend. Did you get to meet your new niece before you left?”
He’s just a man. I treat lots of men. My hands clench at my sides, then I move them to my lap and gently fold them, and that calms me.
Will pauses before answering, staring at my chest and then my lips. Now I hate him. (Not really, but in theory.) He can’t treat me like a nobody for three months and then look at me like we’ll end up in bed later tonight.
He wets his lips and nods. “Yeah. She’s pretty special.”
Must be nice to be special in your eyes. “What’s her name?”
“Eloise. Ellie.”
“Speaking of babies,” Maren says. “I heard you and Will knew about Jamie’s pregnancy before I did.” She narrows her eyes at Jamie.
I glance over at Will because I knew he knew.
“It was a litmus test,” Jamie says with a laugh. Will slides his gaze to her. “Not really. I didn’t know that Fitz blabbermouthed to Will. I had to tell Everleigh because I needed to explain why I was looking for work in Missoula. Fitz said they’d probably tell each other. And I said only if you two were sleeping together.”
I stiffen, moving only my eyes in Will’s direction. He pauses his beer at his lips and grins at Jamie. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“You all suck. I should have known first,” Maren says.
“So, Everleigh,” Ozzy interrupts as if he knows that a change in subject will calm Maren, “how’s construction on your barndo going?”
“Really good. I’m framing walls.”
“Do you need help?” Ozzy asks.
“Help is great,” I say, looking at Will, and he playfully narrows his eyes at me. “But I know everyone is busy. And I’m fine in my Airstream. So it will get finished when it gets finished. I don’t mind the process.”
“I’m not too busy.” Ozzy shrugs. “Maybe I can bring Lola and she can learn a few things.”
“You’re a good man, Ozzy,” I say. “Maren is lucky to have you. Good men are hard to come by.”
Fitz clears his throat.
“You’re one of the good ones, too, Fitz. I didn’t forget about you.” I smirk at Jamie.
“Will’s a man too,” Fitz says with his back to us as he turns the burgers. “I don’t know if he’s a good man, but he would be all over that kind of work if he still lived around here.”
“I’d be all over a lot of things if I still lived here,” Will says before finishing the last swig of his beer. “Because I am good. A good man who is good at things.”
Heat crawls up my neck. What does he mean by that?
He stands. “Can I get anyone anything else to drink while I’m inside?”
“Everleigh, what can we get you?” Jamie asks.
“Uh . . .” I look around at what everyone else is drinking.
“There are lots of options in the fridge,” she says. “Go take a look.”
“Thanks.” I follow Will into the kitchen.
He tosses his empty bottle into the recycling bin. I want to say something. But what? Everything comes with that asterisk. And everything I want to say would sound like I’m making things about me.
And maybe I am.
After taking a cherry-lime sparkling water from the fridge, I close the door and face Will. He draws a long breath and leans his backside against the counter, hands on the edge.
“It’s good to see you,” he says.
I swallow my response. It’s a long one, with bullet points and lots of exclamation marks. A few words in all caps.
“There seems to be a lot of good going around tonight.” I stare at him, but he gives nothing away. “It’s good to see you too,” I say because I mean it.
I’m okay with silence. When I’m with patients, these pauses allow space for deeper self-reflection and time to process emotions. Nothing is rushed. But the silence between us in this kitchen feels like a lie, like there’s nothing to say. Yet, there’s so much to say.
“Working?” I ask.
“Volunteer with the fire department.”
“Gaming?”
He grins. “More than I should be. It’s an escape.”
“We could play together.”
Will wets his lips. “I do love playing with you.”
I tuck my chin, heat bleeding into my cheeks. “Are you sure about that?” The second I mumble the words, I feel regret for ignoring the asterisk.
“What does that mean?”
“I bet your dad loves having you with him. And your mom must be so grateful for the daily support. You are a good man, Will.”
“You’re dodging my question.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
“No.” I chuckle, shaking my head. “I’m keeping my emotions and ego in check. You’re in survival mode. Expecting anything from you isn’t fair.”
He squints. “What might you expect from me?”
“Nothing.”
He shakes his head. “If I weren’t in survival mode, what would you expect?”