Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“To Vera.” My dad raises his beer bottle while we eat lunch on the three-season porch.
“To Vera,” Mom, Colten, and I echo.
“Still not drinking, huh?” Dad eyes my water glass while he and Colten enjoy their beer and my mom sips a glass of wine.
“Still not drinking.” I set my water glass on the table.
“Never? You’ve never taken a drink, Jo?” Dad continues to probe.
I don’t know why he thinks I would lie about it. “No, Dad.”
“Why do you think you’ve had such an aversion to alcohol?”
“I’m not sure it’s an aversion. I simply have no desire to have it. Never have. I don’t know why, but it’s not exactly a bad habit to avoid.”
“Are you dating, hon?” Mom asks.
“When I have time.”
“Anyone special?” She passes me the bowl of cucumbers and onions in vinegar.
“You’re not using dating apps, are you, Jo?” Dad asks. “Those are bad news. Nothing more than creeps looking for sex, right?”
I say “no” in the same breath that Colten says “yes.”
Tossing a hard scowl in his direction, I clear my throat before shifting my attention back to my dad. “It’s a mixed bag. It’s also about the only way to meet people these days. I’ve met a handful of decent guys, but I haven’t met anyone with big enough balls to handle my profession.”
“My point exactly, Jo. You need to find a friend who can get you a date with a decent guy.” Dad takes a bite of his burger.
My phone vibrates in my back pocket, and I retrieve it.
Detective Mosley: My balls are huge.
I glance up at him across the table. He dips his chin to his plate to hide his grin while setting his phone on the table facedown.
Josie: Not really. I’ve seen a lot of testicles, so I would know.
He glances at his phone and smirks.
“Colten, I was so glad your mom called me. She seemed overjoyed that she got to spend time with Reagan while your ex-wife went on her honeymoon.”
“Not ex-wife,” I say. “He didn’t marry her. He just impregnated her.” I stab a potato with my fork and bring it to my mouth, pausing it at my lips when I realize all eyes are on me. “What?” I shrug. “He did.”
Colten clears his throat. “For what it’s worth, which isn’t much at this point, I did propose to Reagan’s mom, but we both knew our relationship wasn’t there. We had feelings for each other, but not the kind that two people should have when they get married. It was the right call.”
“That’s mature of you. Is there anyone special in your life now?” Mom asks.
Colten chews a bite of food and looks right at me as I sip my water. “As a matter of fact, I am seeing someone who I think is pretty special.”
I choke on my water.
“She’s a doctor. Incredibly confident. Sometimes she’s stubborn to a fault, but I like her feisty side.”
Dad belly laughs. “Sounds like Jo. You should introduce them. They’d be best friends.”
I stare at my half-empty plate.
“She’s a little commitment phobic, so we don’t go out much. I know she’s not ready to meet my friends. She got burned years ago, and she’s having a hard time getting over it even though it’s been nearly two decades.”
“I don’t know, Colten. She sounds unstable,” Mom adds. “You might be too good for her.”
“I doubt it,” I mumble before shoving a bite of food into my mouth.
Colten seems to be the only one who hears me, and he nudges my foot under the table. I return his gesture with a hard kick to his shin. He grunts, drawing concerned looks from my parents.
“You okay?” Dad asks.
Colten nods, reaching down to rub his leg. “Cramp. Long car ride.”
“How’s Benji?” I ask, opting for a change in conversation.
After lunch, we get dressed for the funeral and load up in my mom’s Camry. I stare out my window, hands tightly folded on my lap as we make our way to the service. Colten leaves his hand on the middle seat between us like he used to do when we were younger. I’d set my hand next to him, letting our pinkie fingers touch without my mom or dad noticing. It used to feel intimate and a little forbidden.
Things have changed. We can’t be trusted to let any parts of our bodies touch.
However, the second we join the line of people filing into the church, Colten rests his hand on my lower back. I try to squeeze between my parents as soon as we enter the church, hoping to claim a seat between them instead of next to wandering hands Colten. Sadly, my dad reaches for my mom’s hand, blocking my attempt. When we slide into the pew, I nestle right up to my mom, so much so that she shoots me a funny look that I ignore.