Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 125117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Do you want to watch a movie?” Truman asked, wanting to turn off his brain.
Bruce lifted his head as if to say that he certainly wanted to lie on the floor at their feet for two more hours.
“Sounds good,” Ash said.
“What are you in the mood for?”
“Something magical,” Ash said with a wink. “Do you want some more cocoa?”
Truman held his cup up with a nod. He guessed Ash knew where everything was since he likely spent time here with Greta.
Truman found an old movie that promised witchiness and starred people whose names he vaguely recognized.
When Ash returned with the cocoa, they settled in to watch, Truman pressing his knee against Ash’s thigh and moving close enough that their shoulders touched. Like this, if he turned his head, his face was close enough to Ash’s that he could see every freckle and hair and line.
The movie was fun and silly and seemed to involve a subplot about poison that had nothing to do with the magic of an actual magical potion, which Truman found unsatisfying. But there was a black cat and an underground music club and a number of gorgeous antiques.
Truman turned to make a snarky comment about the protagonist’s hat to find Ash’s eyes closed, lashes fluttering appealingly. His lips were slack, and in the light of the television, the dark circles under his eyes were more visible. Truman turned the volume down three clicks and enjoyed feeling Ash’s warm weight next to him.
The shriek of a phone sometime later made Truman jump and Ash lurch upright with a gasp. It was Ash’s phone, and he snatched it up with a look of disoriented panic.
“Hello? Oh damn. I’m so sorry, Marjorie. Thanks for calling. No, no, I know. I will. Is…is she okay? Yeah. I’ll be right there. No, I’m not at home. Yeah. Okay, thanks again. Thank you. Bye.”
Ash was trying to shove the phone in his pocket and gather his things at the same time. Truman’s stomach fell.
“Hey, hey, what’s up? Is it your mom?”
“I can’t believe I fell asleep. I never do this. I should’ve been there hours ago.”
Ash’s face was tight, his eyes wild. Truman tried to catch his arm to tell him it was okay, but he never stopped moving.
“I’m really sorry to run out like this again,” Ash said miserably.
“Let me come with you. I can watch out for Bruce.”
“Oh, shit, Bruce!”
Ash doubled back, eyes wild.
“Ash, stop for just a second.” Truman caught his shoulders. “Let me come with you. I can drive. I can hang on to Bruce. That way, you can take care of your mom.”
“I don’t wanna make you do that.”
“You’re not making me. I’m offering. Please.”
Ash blinked owlishly, then bit his lip and nodded. “Okay, thanks.”
They piled back into the van and drove downtown, where they pulled up at a house around the corner from Thorn. The front door opened before they reached the door, and a curly-haired white woman in her fifties waved.
“Hey, Ash.”
“I’m really sorry,” Ash said by way of a greeting.
“That’s all right. Julia and I were just having a little chat, right, Julia?” she said heartily.
The woman who followed her out the door looked a lot like Ash. She was tall, with ash-blond hair and blue-gray eyes, but she looked disoriented, and she was wringing dry, reddened hands.
“Ashleigh, I couldn’t find you,” she said. “You’re out too late.”
“I’m sorry,” he said gently. “I was watching a movie with my friend. This is Truman.”
Julia perked up. She held out a hand to him, and Truman shook it.
“Hi, Truman. Call me Julia. It’s always nice to meet Ash’s friends.”
“Nice to meet you, Julia.” Truman searched for something to say. “You’ve got a great son.”
She smiled. “I agree.”
“Do you want to go have dinner, Mama?”
“I am a bit hungry,” she said. “Should we stay at your house?”
“Nah, let’s go home to your house,” Ash said.
“I like your new couch,” Julia said. “Much more comfortable than the old one.”
“Thanks,” Ash said and held out a hand to her.
“Hi, Brucie bean,” she said, crouching to scratch behind Bruce’s ears. He greeted her enthusiastically, licking her face and putting his paws on her shoulders.
“I’m so sorry, Marjorie,” Ash was saying softly.
“Never mind that,” Marjorie said, waving him away. “No harm done, and it was nice to chat with Julia for a bit.”
Ash closed his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets like he was preventing himself from doing something. When he spoke again, his voice was choked, though with emotion or regret Truman couldn’t tell. “I really appreciate you being so understanding.”
“Sweetie. There are a lot of people on this island who’ve known Julia a long time. We want to help you. I don’t know why you won’t let us.”
“I’m…I…thanks. I’ve gotta go.”
Marjorie watched them from her front stoop as they walked to the van, and she raised a hand in farewell. Ash was helping Julia into the van, and she was telling him that she knew how to get in a car, so Truman waved back.