Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 137144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“I think this place might need a new renovation,” he said.
“You can't do that. It must have been expensive to do all of this.”
He slashed his hand through the air. “The money doesn't matter if the house is trying to kill us.”
Well, she guessed that was true. He lifted her down onto one of the stools at the kitchen island, then placed her foot up on another stool with the ice pack on top of her sore toe.
“Now, what were you trying to get out of the fridge?”
I was trying to get into the front part to get one of those bottles of flavored water,” she explained.
“I don't know why Fiadh's friend bought this kind of fridge.
“Oh, so it’s brand new?” she asked. “You didn’t choose it?”
“No, why would I choose a fridge this annoying?”
“Good, because I hate that fucking fridge.”
He let out another surprised laugh. “Fucking fridge? I don't think I've heard you swear like that.”
“That’s because I've never met that fridge before.”
He shook his head and got the drink she was after from the fridge. Then he sat on a stool next to her foot.
“Do you want to go out tonight? We could go to the movies and I could feel you up when the lights go out.”
“Feel me up?” she repeated, nearly choking on a mouthful of water.
He wriggled his eyebrows. “One of my favorite things to do.”
Hmm. Did she want to go out?
The idea was kind of frightening but she had to start doing things that were a bit scary and the movies was probably a good start.
“I mean, provided we don’t have to amputate your toe.” He moved the ice pack to stare down at her foot. “Yeah, amputation might be all that we can do to fix it.”
“I think we can save it,” she told him. “I like the idea of the movies.”
He knew she was scared.
But she was trying to be brave and that made him so proud. She clung to his hand as they walked into the movie theatre entrance.
“All right, I have the tickets already. What are your favorite snacks?” He led her to the concession stand.
“Um, I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? Popcorn? Ice cream? Chocolate? Candy? Pretzel bites?”
“I, well, I can’t remember the last time I went to the movies,” she said, glancing around. “So I’m really not sure. Maybe I won’t get anything.”
“Not happening. Unacceptable.”
“What? I can’t go without snacks?” She gave him a startled look.
All right, maybe he was acting crazy. But he couldn’t handle this sadness.
“It’s a travesty that you don’t know your favorite movie snack and we need to fix that right now.” He stepped up to the concession stand. “Give me one of everything.”
The poor girl behind the desk just gaped at him. “One of everything?”
“Yes, one of everything.”
“Harvey? What are you doing?” She tugged at his hand, glancing around again. The older couple behind them were staring on in shock. “You can’t buy one of everything.”
“Of course I can. We’re going to figure out which one is your favorite. How can we do that if you don’t try each thing?”
“But . . . but that’s nuts. It will be so expensive.”
The girl started piling food on the counter.
“What have I said about money?”
“That I’m not to worry about it. However, I am worried about your state of mind.”
“My state of mind is just fine. My mind is obsessed by you. By what you like, what you want, who you are. And I know that you don’t know all of you yet, that you’re still figuring all of that out. And I’m going to help you find out.”
Lily stared up at him in amazement. “You’re amazing, you know?”
He paid for the food and started picking everything up. She moved to help him. “I know. I am amazing.”
“And so modest.”
“That too. I’m the full package, baby. Stick with me.”
Lily stared up at him with a smile. “I intend to.”
“Good.” He leaned down to kiss her and a packet of M&Ms landed on the floor. Followed by some Sour Patch Kids.
“Oh no! They’re revolting!”
“Revolting,” he said with a smile. “So you don’t like either of them?”
“No, I mean they’re mutinying and trying to get away!”
“So they are. Grab those mutinous bastards, baby. Let’s go watch a romantic comedy and I’ll let you feel me up.”
She glanced over as the older couple who had been behind them at the concession stand gaped at them.
Then the man winked at her. “Better go with that man, darling.”
“And hold him tight,” his wife said, staring at her husband adoringly. “I know I have all these years.”
Right. Hold him tight.
That’s what she intended to do.
Things had been rocky up until now, but she just needed to hold onto Harvey and everything would be all right.
Lily was coming out of the kitchen when she heard voices. She froze, unsure what to do.