Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
“Yeah, you’d be right. Thanks again, Kody. I really appreciate all your help.”
“You’re welcome. See you tonight. I’ll have her FaceTime you before bed,” Kody offers, and fuck me, that means more than I’d like to admit.
“That’d be great.” I’ve been spoiled being home with JoJo every night except the occasional one night a week she spends with my parents. It makes me feel like I’m missing out or she’ll have some kind of trauma with losing Emma as abruptly as she did. I know it’s guilt. Doesn’t mean acknowledging the subject makes it any better.
“Alright, well, duty calls. Bye, Jameson.”
“Later, Kody.” The phone clicks off on the other end, and it signals me to get my ass out of the truck. It’s time to get this clusterfuck of a day over and done with. I’ve got a little girl to get home to tonight.
15
KODY
I think I may have screwed the pooch on my first day of watching Josephine, especially if Jameson asks me to watch her again. The bar is going to be set pretty high after the day we had. In the morning, we made breakfast, played dress-up, and then had lots of arts and crafts type fun. After lunch and a nap, she was back in action with an abundance of energy. There was still a lot of day left, so we spent the majority of our time outdoors. I went into the garage and found a wagon and a stroller, figuring the wagon would be better for Josephine. There was no doubt in my mind she’d want to walk for a while. I also knew she’d eventually get tired and would want to take a break. She lasted longer than I thought, and while walking, she picked up a plethora of items along the way. The flowers, well, more like weeds she picked we put in a glass of water for Jameson. The leaves, we traced her hands and feet and then glued the leaves around them, breaking them up until they fit. It was kind of a reverse effect since Josephine collected so many. We left the rocks for another day, where I promise she could paint them and disperse to her grandparents’ and uncle’s.
Needless to say, I’ve set the bar high, and I’m really going to put my thinking cap on for my next day with Josephine. Maybe I’ll stop at the store and pick up a few new puzzles and some other crafts since she really enjoys them. There’s no way I’m going to even attempt to take her to the park after last time. Jameson would probably kill me. I could see if he’d be up for putting her in those jungle gym classes once a week. The weather is only going to turn colder, and with the energy she has, keeping her inside is going to be impossible.
The sun is finally down. JoJo is fast asleep in her own room, which didn’t take much convincing either. After a FaceTime call to her dad and a few bedtime stories, she was out like a light. Now, I’m sitting on the couch while the television is quietly playing a mindless show, not that it’s holding my attention. Clearly, I’m tired. It’s been a long time since I’ve been as active as I was today. I guess it’s slowly catching up to me. One minute I’m trying to keep my eyes open, and the next thing I know, Jameson is whispering in my ear, “Kody, babe.” I hear his voice, but I’m warm, he’s being nice, and I want to enjoy the moment for a few minutes longer.
“Son of a bitch, I’ll call Shaun and let him know she’s staying here tonight.” I blink my eyes rapidly. They feel like sandpaper, but there’s no way I’m spending the night on Jameson’s couch.
“Jameson.” His name comes out in a croak. It does the job at getting his attention. I watch as he places his phone on the counter and waits for me to say more. “Sorry, I’m awake. I promise I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” I pull the blanket off my body. Maybe the cold air will wake me up from the fog that’s currently trying to take hold of me.
“Kody, I wasn’t worried about you sleeping. I’m more worried about you traveling home when you’re already exhausted.” He leans against the counter, crossing one ankle over the other, arms doing the same across his chest. He looks like he’s had a rough day. His hair is mused, there are dark circles beneath his eyes, and he has what is either dirt or oil smudged along his cheekbones and on what was once a clean outfit.
“Shaun only lives ten minutes away. I’ll be okay. Unless you need me early again tomorrow?” Now it’s me crossing my fingers, hoping it’s not another twelve-hour day. Okay, that sounds awful even in my head. Josephine was easy. The problem is me. I’m the problem. I’m no longer used to working twelve hours a day running after a toddler. Give me a photo shoot all day long. I’m tired the next day, but not nearly as badly as I currently am.