Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 53529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“What do you mean?”
“Look for yourself.” She points her pink manicured finger at the excited crowd gathering around us, taking videos and pics. “The world is falling into chaos. People have lost trust in the government, in big companies, and in each other. You can bring everyone together. You can give them hope for real change.”
What’s she smoking? “You must be thinking of the other guy with the red cape.” I’m not wearing one now, but I did before my “death.” River asked me to do it. I figured she might have a kink I didn’t know about, so who was I to say no?
“Just Mr. Love, you can be a real-life superhero. You’re larger than life. Do you know what that means to people?”
“Call me Huff,” I say, making another attempt to get her to stop calling me Just. She has no clue who I really am. “Luna, I am a regular guy who was subjected to some nasty chemicals and survived. That’s it.”
“We both know that’s oversimplifying it. You’re a modern miracle. And who’s to say this wasn’t fate?”
Someone had a little too much wheatgrass after yoga this morning. She strikes me as one of those California New Agey types. Bleh.
She adds, “And I appreciate why you put on the tough-guy act. Can’t be easy knowing there are people out to hurt your family in order to get to you. But you’re clearly a good guy.”
She’s right. I’m also not much for violence. It took killing twelve fish to work my way up to a mouse. Sure, the mouse was getting into my cupboards back at the lake house. I still felt like crap when I saw the mouse’s tiny head all smooshed like a ripe strawberry. What can I say? I’m a lover, not a fighter.
“I do prefer being nice over being an asshole,” I admit. “But I meant what I said, Luna. If anyone harms the people I care about, I’ll kill them.” I’m only being half truthful. I mean, yes, I will defend their lives any way I have to, but would I go straight to the kill option? I’d probably break a few pinky toes first. Those suckers are sensitive, and anyone who’s stubbed ol’ pinky toe knows it. Or maybe I’d superglue them naked to a very tall building after covering them in birdseed—a nightmare I once had that still haunts me.
So many beaks… A cold shudder runs down my spine.
Luna smiles with a curious glint in her hazel eyes.
“What?” I ask.
“I like you.”
I’m not used to getting compliments from pretty women. I’ve been in hiding since the change. “Err…thanks?”
“I mean it. You’re this strange mixture of hot and sweet with a dash of scary. You’re also genuine—a rarity around here.” She pulls a business card from her slacks. “My cell number’s on there. Call me sometime. Drinks. Coffee. Friendly chat. Sex. Whatever you want, I’m game.”
Wow. Well, she is beautiful, but I’m in love with the girl back home. Not that River still lives in my hometown. Also, she’s currently locked up, so she’s not even at her home.
“Thanks.” I slide the card into my jeans pocket.
Luna turns and starts walking toward the parking lot and news van. “Oh, and if you need me to send out more public announcements, just say the word.”
I nod. It’s actually good to have her in the chute. I found her by doing a little research online. She wrote a bunch of articles about me after I “died.” She said it was a shame the world lost me so soon. She said that people like me are born to change the world.
But is she right? Is this my calling?
Seems like something a narcissistic asshole would assume.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Speaking of narcissistic assholes, it doesn’t take long before Kyle’s calling to chew me out for my “stunt,” but here’s the thing: He never mentions being worried for the people of an entire city. All he talks about is how I’ve completely fucked his career.
What the hell, bro? Millions are about to die. In my humble opinion, their lives are a bit more important than his paycheck. Frankly, it seems extra shallow, even for him, so I add it to the list of things that aren’t making sense.
Then, when I make it clear I’m not going to sit by and let evil shits dictate how I live my life or threaten the people I care about, Kyle loses it. “You’ve fucked us all, Huff! You’ve put everyone we know in jeopardy by going public.”
“Here’s what I don’t understand,” I say. “You offered a deal to let me live out in the open if I helped with Morris. So how did you plan to keep Mom, Dad, River, even yourself safe once the world found out I was still alive?”
“We-well, we were going to-to—that’s not the point, Huff.”