Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Wow, she’s chipper in the morning,” Kinsley notes.
“It’s the cheerleader in her.”
While I get ready for work, Kinsley insists on taking Becky for a quick walk. Usually, in the morning, I just let her out into the backyard to do her business, but if Kinsley wants to walk her, I won’t stop her.
When we arrive at Thea’s Breakfast Nook, everyone stares at us curiously. It’s a small town, and with me being a local firefighter and having lived here my entire life, I know just about everyone.
“Shane,” Thea says with a smile. “How are you doing this morning?”
“Good,” I tell her. “Just grabbing some breakfast before work.”
“And who is this beautiful woman?” Thea asks, smiling at Kinsley.
“This is Kinsley. She owns Exposed Ink, the tattoo shop downtown.”
“Oh.” Thea’s eyes light up. “How fun! I’ve always wanted to get a tattoo,” she says to Kinsley. “A little butterfly or unicorn.” She waggles her brows, and Kinsley stifles a laugh. “Maybe one day, I’ll get brave enough or drunk enough and actually go through with it.” She winks. “Your mom and dad come in often, so it’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Kinsley says, her eyes filled with mirth. “And anytime you want to come in, just ask for me.”
“Will do,” Thea says, showing us to our table and setting the menus down. “Take a look, and someone will be with you shortly to take your order.”
“What happened to refusing to kill all the unicorns?” I murmur once Thea is out of earshot.
“To see that woman, who is probably in her eighties and has never been inked, get a tattoo would be worth killing a unicorn.” She smirks, grabbing the menu. “Now, tell me what’s good. I’m starved.”
“Everything,” I say honestly because I’ve yet to eat anything here that wasn’t delicious.
While we eat, Kinsley gushes about how she still can’t believe she got to meet one of her favorite authors, which leads to who she’d love to meet in the future, and while she talks, I can’t help but think about how much she’s changed in the month since I met her. She’s laughing and smiling and talking animatedly. She might not want to admit it, but I’m totally growing on her.
After paying the bill, I swing by her place to drop her off.
“Thank you for this weekend,” she says, sounding almost shy. “I had a good time. Even if it started against my will.”
I bark out a laugh. “Does that mean I’ve earned your number?”
Kinsley shakes her head and grins. “Not a chance. I had a good weekend, but not that good.”
FIFTEEN
Kinsley
“There she is.” Mom glances back at me from where she’s cooking at the stove and smirks. “Have a good weekend?”
When I don’t respond, she raises a knowing brow and adds, “What? You didn’t believe anyone bought your vague I’m hanging out with a friend text after I invited you to breakfast yesterday morning, did you? And when I dropped by this morning, I noticed you still weren’t home. I assume you spent the weekend at Shane’s?”
“Sorry,” I mutter, sitting on the barstool at the island. “I should’ve called. But in my defense, I didn’t plan on—”
“Stop.” She waves me off. “I was only giving you a hard time. You’re a grown adult.”
“Yeah, a grown adult who lives in her parents’ pool house.”
Mom stops stirring whatever’s in the pan and turns around. “Are you thinking about moving out? You know you’re welcome to stay as long as you want, but if you’re ready …”
“I know, and I appreciate it. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have even considered it, but lately …” I shrug. “I don’t know. I feel like I’m finally starting to heal, and I’ve been thinking about what my future looks like.”
“And it’s not in our pool house?” Mom says with a wink.
“As nice as it is, no.” I laugh. “With the money I’ve saved from living with you guys, I can afford a place, so …”
“So, you should start looking. And if you need a second opinion, your dad and I are always around.”
“Second opinion for what?” Dad asks, strolling into the kitchen. “And what are we around for?”
He makes a beeline straight for my mom and wraps her in his arms, giving her a kiss on her cheek. Rather than it hurting my heart like it used to because I would think about how Brandon would never hug or kiss me again, it makes me think about the way Shane kissed the tip of my nose yesterday. It was such a simple gesture, yet it felt big. Like things between us are shifting, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
It’s one thing to kiss him out of lust, but it’s another for him to be cute. Making out can be chalked up to hormones and chemistry, but kissing my nose felt intimate. Like something couples do.