Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“You can enjoy the cookies,” Willow said, coming back to the bar. “One of Rebel’s pet peeves is men and women who do not wash their hands. If you use the toilet, you’ll see someone waiting, and they’re going to tell you to wash your hands.”
Cathy couldn’t help but laugh, and she reached for one.
“Also, they are changed every night.”
“What brand are these?”
“I don’t buy them, I bake them.”
“You bake?”
Willow nodded. “There are a lot of things I do now that I didn’t do before.”
Cathy frowned.
“I had a kid, a baby girl, and it’s like your channel. I never used to watch it. Don’t be upset.”
This time, she chuckled. “I’m not upset. I know not everyone wants to watch a woman talking about makeup and the latest hot beauty product.” She took a bite of the cookie, and it tasted better than she thought it would.
“Yeah, well, I’ve had a daughter, and I want to be able to tell her everything and teach her.”
Cathy didn’t know the whole story, just the gossip and rumor about Willow’s parents. Her mother left abruptly, and it was the divorce papers that sent her father over the edge, drinking heavily. He’d been known to always be drunk and rarely had time for his daughter.
She was not going to ask questions about the other woman’s past.
“These are good,” Cathy said.
“Thanks. For Christmas, I figure overload them with cinnamon and chocolate chips.”
Cathy laughed.
“So, how are things going with you and Brick?” Willow asked.
“They’re, uh, they’re going good, I think.” This had to be the longest conversation she and Willow ever had.
“Look, I don’t know what the deal is between the two of you. I don’t know if it’s a good time you’re both after, or something else. Either way, I want you both to be happy.”
She wasn’t exactly sure what Willow meant.
“Brick’s looking to settle down,” Willow said. “He’s not after a good time, at least not with what he told me recently. He’s wanting the wife, the kid, the married life.”
“Oh,” Cathy said, and she tried to glance around the bar, but she couldn’t see him.
“He hasn’t told you?”
She shook her head.
“Crap. Look, I don’t know what this means, but don’t play with him, okay? I know you’ve got your own shit going on with your sister and your family, and that ex of yours. Brick’s a good guy. He’ll be there for you no matter what.”
“It’s nice to hear you care for him.”
“But?”
“There’s no but. I’ve got nothing else to say.” She held her hands up in surrender. “It is what it is, but I guess Brick is not looking to settle down with me, because he hasn’t said a word about it,” she said.
Cathy tried not to let that upset her. Brick could do what he wanted. If she wasn’t the woman he wished to spend his life with, then that was fine. She’d been through a great deal of rejection in her life, and experiencing a little more was not going to be a problem for her.
She stood from the bar. “I’m just going to the ladies’ room. Don’t worry, I’ll wash my hands.” She tried to keep it light and easy. At that moment, all she wanted to do was run and scream, but she couldn’t do that either.
There were so many men from the club, Brick’s club, and she didn’t want any of them, or Willow, to give him a message that his date was having a meltdown. Walking to the bathroom, she stepped inside, and sure enough, there was a guy near the door, but with perfect sight toward the sinks to force everyone to wash their hands.
Cathy was sure to give him a smile and quickly rushed past him to go into the stall. She didn’t need to use them, but she closed and locked the cubicle door, took a seat, and then looked toward the metal door.
Brick was looking for someone to be with full-time. He’d not mentioned anything to her about settling down or being with her longer than through Christmas. They hadn’t talked about the future. They hadn’t even talked about the fact they were having unprotected sex, and now she didn’t know what to do.
Did she talk to him? Did she warn him there was a chance she could get pregnant? She didn’t want to be one of those women accused of trapping him in a relationship he didn’t want.
Running fingers through her hair, she dropped her head to her knees and took several deep breaths. This was hard. She didn’t know what to do or say next. What did Brick want? Nothing made any sense to her.
“Hey, babe, are you okay?”
She lifted her head at the sound of Brick’s voice.
“Brick?”
“Yeah, I went to the bar and you weren’t there, and Willow said this is where you’ve been.”