Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49669 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 199(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49669 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 199(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
I sensed Rush’s eyes on me as I moved around the kitchen in search of a suddenly missing dish towel, but I couldn’t find it.
“I used it to clean up yesterday,” I heard Rush say from behind me. As he spoke, he moved around the island so I could see him since the boxes of books were still in the same place. “I’m not sure if that’s the one you’re looking for…”
“It is,” I acknowledged. “I threw it in the laundry basket.”
I pressed my back against the sink as he approached me. I couldn’t say if I was happy or disappointed when all he did was hand me Pip.
Rush took several steps back and leaned his back against the edge of the island, leaving only a few feet between us.
“I could offer to take my shirt off and use that to wipe it down, but that sounds like the beginning of a bad porno movie.”
The comment was so out of the blue that I let out a shocked little laugh. It was only when I saw the mischief dancing in his eyes that I realized he’d said the words for that exact effect.
“Do they even call them pornos anymore?” I asked. “How old are you exactly?”
“Touché,” Rush said with a smile.
I couldn’t resist the smile that crossed my own mouth. The only one I’d ever bantered with in any kind of way had been Gio, and that had been a long time ago. The mere thought of what I’d let my relationship with Gio become made something inside of me hurt. I eased Pip to the floor and then turned to face the sink and turned the water on. My hands didn’t need washing, but I needed a moment to get control of my wayward emotions. When I turned around though, Rush hadn’t politely moved away, and he hadn’t stopped looking at me with those all-knowing eyes of his.
“Where did you go just now?” he asked.
“Nowhere,” I easily lied.
God, I’d become way too good at that. Not necessarily telling lies people believed but being able to just spout one off without giving my conscience even another thought.
I could tell Rush didn’t believe me, but I was glad when he didn’t press the issue. He glanced toward the wall that separated the kitchen area from the dining area. “Are you remodeling?” he asked.
“Um, yeah… no… I don’t know,” I said with a laugh. “They make taking a wall down look a lot easier on TV.”
Rush smiled. “They do. My father would go crazy when he watched those shows. Kind of like when a cop watches a police show or something.”
“Your dad worked in construction?” I asked.
That sadness he’d been wearing when he’d talked about the table fell over him again, but there was also a lightness in his eyes as he confronted his memories.
“He was a contractor. Built his business from the ground up. He was hands-on, and he never left a customer unhappy. Didn’t matter how big or small the job was. ‘Treat every job like it’s the one that’s putting food on your table, son, because sometimes it is.’”
“Smart man,” I said softly.
“He was.”
“And your mom?” I dared to ask.
“Had him wrapped around her finger,” Rush responded. We both laughed at that, but then Rush went quiet again. “She worked in a nursing home. Even after Dad’s business blew up and there was enough money to do anything or nothing, she never missed a day of work. Every single one of her patients was family, and my mom never turned her back on family.”
The last few words of his statement caused a sharp pain to slice through my gut. Rush must have noticed because he said, “Fuck, Christopher—”
“It’s okay,” I said even as my heart dropped out. The mere fact that he knew why I was upset was telling. “He told you, didn’t he?”
Rush fell silent for a moment. “He told me you and your family aren’t as close as you used to be and that they’re all worried about you.”
What did you think was going to happen, Christopher? Rainbows and unicorns and some cheesy happily ever after?
I welcomed the ugly voice’s return. Cynical, bitter Christopher never failed to make his presence known if the old me tried to resurface for too long.
“Well, at least I’m getting something out of the deal,” I murmured as I glanced toward the new table. “Do I have to provide some kind of proof that I’m still the naïve, sweet kid I used to be, or will they take your word for it?”
“It’s not—”
I wasn’t interested in hearing anything else that he had to say, so I made a move to leave the kitchen, but Rush’s fingers closed around my left wrist. I hated the warmth that flowed through all the spots where his skin met mine.