Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
It’s just better than dealing with real life.
Maybe one of the main reasons I love it so much, too, as well as wanting to make it a career.
The great thing about spending time with Joey is he never dwells on anything bad for long.
So a few hours flash, and it’s almost dinner by the time we both agree to take a bathroom break.
“And I should think about what to get us both for dinner,” I remind myself aloud.
“I thought they’d be home by now,” Joey murmurs, pausing at the doorway before going to the bathroom.
“Working late,” I call after him. “But we’re both still grounded,” I add, shaking my head again at just how stupid it all sounds.
“Maybe we can be grounded together? And maybe she won’t ban me from the computer room,” Joey calls out, laughing to himself at his own ideal outcomes for us both.
But I think we both know that neither of our moms is going to be lenient over this, and I hate to admit it, but I guess mom’s right.
I’m his sitter and friend, not his parent. I’ve probably blown my only chance at earning anything resembling money.
But today’s been worth it.
The single thought brings every second of excitement back for me. Just remembering the encounter with Zak and how special it made me feel.
My little daydream of memories is suddenly broken, though.
The sounds of Joey finishing up in the washroom are mixed with a knocking, then a loud “Hello?”
I figure someone must be at his front door, so I make my way over to have a look.
I freeze to the spot when I glance through the living room window.
“Oh my god…Oh my fuckin god!” I exclaim, clapping both my hands over my mouth.
Joey’s joined me in the living room and, using me as a shield, peers past me, trying to see what I’m looking at.
“What is it?” he asks, sounding genuinely frightened.
But it’s not long before he can see for himself.
Someone’s next door at my place. A man.
A tall, dark, and very handsome man is knocking on my front door, even peering through the front windows.
“It’s Zak fucking Templeton, is what it is,” I gasp.
CHAPTER SIX
Zak
Even making excellent time on the drive and with no real heavy traffic in parts, it’s the longest drive of my life.
Every inch toward her feels like a mile, and every mile is like an eternity.
I want to stop and pore over her message again, but with the real thing only a hundred miles away, I’d walk on broken glass the whole way if I had to just to see her again.
Between driving and fielding a few calls from my development team, I can’t seem to cram enough of Jade into my mind anymore anyway.
If it weren’t for little Joey, I’d never have even known Jade existed.
I shudder at the thought, and it’s getting dark by the time I reach Baltimore, and Jade’s street in the suburbs seems eerily quiet and empty.
I’ve seen a lot of that in my recent travels. There are entire streets, even neighborhoods with only a few houses with no one living in them anymore.
But with Jade’s neighborhood, I can see it’s most likely people just making their way home from work.
Parking a few doors up from what I recognize as Joey’s house, my thoughts prove correct as driveways slowly start to fill up with cars returning home for the day.
With me sitting in mine, having to think about just how I’m going to explain my being here so quickly.
Completely unannounced and uninvited.
And still not knowing whether Jade is actually Joey’s mom.
Not a hundred percent certain anyway.
I don’t want to assume she isn’t and go to the wrong house, but at the same time, I don’t want to assume that she is and still go to the wrong house.
I’ve got Joey’s details, including a cell number, but I feel weird enough turning up like this without making it any more complicated than it has to be. As long as I get to see Jade, we can figure the rest out as we go.
With the street lights flickering to life and under the dull glow mixing with the fading dusk, I figure there’s only one way to do this.
I choose the house closest to the corner, and after ringing the bell and rapping on the door, I don’t know.
I just feel that this is Jade’s house.
Don’t know how or even why; I can just sense it.
Nobody’s home as far as I can tell, but she’s close.
I just know it.
While I know it’s not a great look to be lurking in front of someone’s house, I turn my head to ensure nobody’s watching.
And from the house next door, Joey’s house, I see movement in the front room.
She’s there.
In a few long strides, I’m on what I assume is Joey’s porch, clanging the old-style bell as I try again to think of what I’m going to say to whoever answers the door.