Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
I still work at the Target in the mall, but Dean grumbles every time I go in. He hates it, but I can’t be a lazy moocher all day. I have another month until my birthday, so I’m saving every dollar just in case I need it.
“Mr. Evans, I’ll be back at six. It’s an early start.”
“No problem, Greta. Maybe we should take you to get your license.”
“I actually have a license. It’s been a long time since I’ve driven anywhere, so I probably do need some practice.”
“That’s good. We have an older car we let the kids practice on, but it’s being fixed from Becks’ most recent driving practice.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t tell the kids; you’re going to drive us to the Target.”
“Really?” I move my head so fast I nearly give myself whiplash.
“Yes. I want you to feel comfortable behind the wheel. We think of you as one of our own and it has nothing to do with my son. You’re a sweet girl and a great friend to the girls.” We switch spots and after going through all the safety checks and adjustments, I pull out of their driveway onto the main road in his Mercedes.
We make it there in one piece and he smiles. “You did good even with the asshole who cut you off.”
“Thanks. It’s easy when it’s a calm day and no one’s shouting at you.” We both get out and switch spots and that’s when his brother shows up.
“Hey, Ted. How’s it going?”
“Great. Great. Greta, how are you doing?”
“Good, Mr. Evans.”
“Great. I have to get going to drop off these to my wife, but I’ll stop over to go see Dean. It’s been a while.”
“Sure, bro.” They smile and hug. “I’ve got to get out of here too.”
“Be safe, Greta and Benji said he’ll pick you up.”
“Thank you again, Mr. Evans.” I wave them both off as they stand and talk. Emily told me how her parents met years ago and it sounds more taboo than it is, but I’ve never seen two people so loving after twenty-five plus years of marriage.
At work, I bust my ass, hoping to get home soon enough because I miss that grumpy, handsome man who drives me insane.
It’s finally time to go and Benji shoots me a text to tell me he’s outside. I meet him and hop in his car. “Hey, we have to stop at Dean’s condo. He needs some things. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No. It’s cool. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there.”
“You’ve been there before?”
“Yes that’s how we met. I was stranded here in the rain. He was a complete gentleman that made sure I ate and dried up. Then he dropped me off at home the next morning so I wouldn’t be late for school.”
“No wonder the man is nuts over you. I thought it started later. Anyway, let’s get his things so captain asshole calms down.”
“Why would he be upset? He spent today with that blonde beauty.”
“He fired her today. I’ll be taking over the rest of his lessons with my dad as well.”
“Why?”
“Because she came onto him right after you left this morning.”
“What?”
“Yeah. I don’t know how he didn’t notice she was digging him. It wasn’t until she mentioned that after his sessions she wondered if he was interested in seeing her.”
“He snapped off and sent her packing.”
“Are you sure nothing more happened?”
“Greta, my brother has been crazy about you. There’s nothing he’d do to betray you. Every second he’s afraid of not being good enough for you. Let your worries go. He’s learned what he needs to know to heal and now it’s more about repetition. He can’t wait to be healthy just for you.”
I smile as we arrive at Dean’s condo building. We’re up the elevator and inside when my phone rings. I ignore it and we go inside the condo. It’s as nice as I remember, maybe even a little cleaner.
“He needs some clothes. Can you water his plants?”
“Sure.” I do and that’s when I see a picture frame on the ledge. It’s beautiful so I pick it up to see who it is. It’s a picture I took with Emily, but she’s been cropped out. I smile to myself and give it a kiss before setting it back down. When I step into the kitchen, I can tell that it’s been cleaned and the fridge empty. Except for a tiny note clipped to the side of the refrigerator. I don’t know the woman’s name, but suddenly, there goes all the hearts and flowers I’d been feeling a moment ago.
“Do you think he needs that?”
“Not really. It’s the cleaning lady mom hired to make sure Dean’s place wasn’t left crusty while he was recuperating at my parents. I use her sometimes for my place. She’s fifty.”
“I really need to stop being jealous.”