Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“I actually have to get to the vet to pick up Athena.”
My eyes widen. “She came back? When? Where’s she been?”
He grins at my tumble of words. “She’s been pretty secretive about her movements since we last saw her. Can’t get her to talk about it.” He smooths his palm over his stubble, and I close my eyes in a long blink, remembering what he feels like.
We grin at each other like the other person is chocolate and we’re desperate for a bite. I wonder how many people know this funny side of Byron.
Then the rest of his words register. “But she’s at the vet. Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” he says. “I got her checked out, vaccinated, and microchipped.”
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “You’re going to keep her?”
“I made a promise,” he says. “We’ll figure it out.”
I let his words seep in, staring at him as he stares at me.
Rachel calls Byron’s name for his hot chocolate, interrupting us.
He takes his cup and raises it. “Have a good day, Rosey.”
I watch him go and can’t ignore the ache in my chest. I want to burrow deep in his plaid shirt and snuggle into him. I want to kiss him for so long, the skin on my face gets chapped and raw. I want to share hot chocolate and listen to his stories of New York. I miss him.
Rachel interrupts my pity party by sliding a plate of hot waffles in front of me. “You going to be at this party Byron’s throwing?” she asks.
“What party?”
That’s when she tells me about the party for Star Falls residents at the Colorado Club. I glance out the window and see Byron heading into the vet. I can’t help but smile. Good for him. Byron’s stopped running. Slowly but surely, he’s finding his way back home. It must be a nice feeling to belong to a place like this.
“Oh,” I say. “I’m not really a resident anymore, I guess.”
“Haven’t you learned anything?” Rachel says, nodding in Byron’s direction. “Once you’re a resident of Star Falls, we’re not so quick to let you go.” She smiles at me. “I’m not sure whether I’ll go. I don’t want my boss to think I’m up there scouting for work. I did tell my niece in the next town she should think about applying. I hear the money’s good, right?”
“Yeah,” I say. “It’s decent money, and the shuttle makes it easy to get into town.”
“I told her about the bus. She’s going to apply today. I hope she gets it. Byron’s alright. He’s probably a good guy to work for.”
“He’s a really good guy,” I say. The best I’ve ever known.
As I’m digging into my waffles, my phone buzzes and Marion’s face appears on my screen. My heart lifts. It’s so good to see her.
I accept the call. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“I found a locker at the library where I can leave all the stuff about colleges, so I don’t have to risk someone finding it back home.”
“That’s great,” I say. “Did you see your old guidance counselor?”
“Yeah,” she says, sounding a little giddy. “I did. She says she’s happy to help me outside school hours. Can you believe it?”
“What else did she say?” I ask, thrilled that Marion has actually followed up on what we talked about. I can hear the excitement in her voice. “Does she think a scholarship is possible?”
“I have to apply. But she gave me things I can start doing to help with my application. It’s going to take a lot of work. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to do it without getting found out.”
I see her issue. Mom will be in her business. She knows what hours she works, which friends she hangs out with. “Could you say you picked up a few extra shifts at the salon?”
“She might talk to my boss, or wonder why I’m not bringing home more money.”
She’s right. Mom has a way of finding out everything. Looking back, it was like living in a prison. I don’t know why I stayed as long as I did. But I’m free now. I just want the same for Marion.
“What if you said you were doing some volunteering? You could say you were helping out at the library,” I suggest. “They say the easiest way to lie is to stay as close to the truth as possible.”
“You know what she’ll say,” Marion replies.
“Charity begins at home,” we both chant.
I sigh. “Can you say you’re hanging out with one of your friends?” She’ll be worried they’ll end up giving something away. “Or make up a friend. Someone new in town. There must be a way.”
“I could pretend I got a second job.”
“But she’d want some of your paycheck,” I say.
“I could say I was saving up for something. Something for her. Maybe she’d give me a pass.”