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)
“Have you met Kinsley?” Taylor asks when she pulls back.
“I have,” Jamie says, plastering on a fake smile for her daughter’s sake.
“I actually need to go,” I tell Taylor. “Have a good trip with your mom.”
I give her a quick hug and pet Becky, who’s wagging her tail and demanding attention, and then, after grabbing my phone and keys, I leave without bothering to get changed, just wanting to escape as fast as possible.
Once I’m home and dressed, I have a seat on my couch, grabbing my current read. But I’m only a few pages in when the quiet gets to me. There’s no Taylor talking my ear off and stomping up and down the stairs. No dog wagging her tail and begging for attention. Usually, when I’m reading while at Shane’s, he’s watching a sports game on the TV while touching me in some way.
But here, it’s just me and the quiet.
Missing Shane, I shoot him a text even though he just left for work not too long ago.
Miss you.
He texts back within seconds.
Miss you more, baby. I’m counting down the minutes until I get you to myself for the next four days. I expect you to be in my bed, waiting for me, tomorrow morning.
Since we’re going to be heading into the city to meet with Taylor on Friday, Shane took the rest of the week off. I still have to work the next few days, but I don’t have to be in until later, so waiting for him in his bed is definitely going to be happening.
But I still have to mess with him, so instead of agreeing, I respond with:
And what’s in it for me?
Instead of the message showing delivered, after several minutes, it turns green, and I roll my eyes because his phone probably went dead again. We will definitely be getting him a new phone this week.
Since I’m clearly not in the mood to read—or be in this quiet house by myself—I head over to my parents’ place. My mom is in her library, reading a book, but my dad is nowhere to be found.
“Where’s Dad?” I ask, making my presence known.
“With your uncles. They’re on a mission to find a new poker table since the one in Jase’s man cave needs to be replaced.”
She closes her book and stands. “You ready to go see some houses?”
I nod even though looking at houses is the last thing I want to do.
Seven houses, two condos, and one townhome later, and Mom and I are sitting at the coffee shop, drinking our iced lattes.
“The second home we saw was nice,” Mom says. “The yellow was a bit much, but that can be painted.”
“Yeah, but you can’t see the kitchen from the living room.”
Mom smirks.
“What?” I shrug. “I like when the living room can be seen from the kitchen. It feels more open. When Taylor and I are watching TV and Shane is cooking …”
Her smirk widens, and I huff in annoyance.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She shrugs nonchalantly. “I’m just wondering when you’re going to admit that the only house you want to live in is the one where Shane and Taylor live.”
“It is,” I admit, “but it’s too soon. Right? I mean, Brandon and I didn’t move in together for years and—”
“Don’t do that,” Mom says, losing her smirk. “Don’t compare. It’s not fair. Shane isn’t Brandon, and the love you share with him isn’t the same.” She leans in and takes my hand in hers. “The accident changed your life, and you aren’t the same person you were when you were with Brandon.”
When I frown at her words, she adds, “That’s not a bad thing, Kins. It just means that you, of all people, know how short life can be. You have to go by what you feel in here.” She gently taps the area above my heart. “What is your heart telling you?”
I don’t even have to think about it when I say, “It feels like being with Shane and Taylor is where I’m meant to be. I don’t want to waste time questioning things. I just want to live, and when I’m with Shane, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
“Then, I think you already have your answer,” Mom says, squeezing my hand.
“I’m sorry for dragging you to see houses.”
“Nonsense.” She waves me off. “I already told Patty you wouldn’t be buying anything, but you needed to see for yourself that what you want is to live with Shane and Taylor.”
“Is that why she took off after giving us the codes to all the houses?” I laugh. “I thought she was flaking.”
Mom shrugs, taking a sip of her coffee. “So, when are you going to move in?”
“I was thinking I’d tell Shane in the morning, and then we could figure it out together. He surprised me with this romantic night and a key to his house when he asked me to move in, so maybe I’ll do something similar since Taylor is out of town with her mom and we have the place to ourselves.”