Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 95(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 95(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
Another gust of wind rushes past us, Savvy bracing herself on her porch railing. The wind is powerful enough that it blows the plush platypus along with it. Nate cries out for it as it goes flying outward toward the unfinished gazebo.
“Oh dear,” I say, and rush to go grab it.
The gust kicks it up farther, and I find myself chasing it across the yard. I hear something creaking.
“Char, what are you doing? Get away from there!” Bear yells.
I grab hold of the platypus and glance to my right. The gazebo is swaying, or more specifically, the roof is swaying.
And it’s swaying toward me.
I see it come loose from its supports, and I panic, a deer in the headlights.
“Charlene!”
I’m tackled to the ground as the gazebo’s roof slides off its supports and right onto the spot where I was standing merely seconds before.
On top of me is Bear, who had pushed me out of the way, stopping me from being crushed by the heavy gazebo roof.
“Are you okay?” he asks, breathless, panting, sweaty, and more anxious than I have ever seen him before.
I shake my head and collect myself. I still have the platypus, and I do kinda hurt. Getting tackled by Bear is far from as gentle as he usually is with me. “I don’t think anything’s broken. Bruised, maybe, but nothing I gotta go to the hospital for.”
“Good. I’m sorry for hurting you.”
I look up at the gazebo roof in what’s now mud. “I’m not going to complain about some bruises and cuts; they’re a whole lot more preferable to having a gazebo roof fall on my head.”
Bear pulls himself up and then helps me up. He sees me still carrying the platypus. “Going off and risking yourself for a plush toy.”
“The poor kid is already freaking out. Doesn’t need to lose his favorite platypus too.”
Bear smiles. “You’re not only going to be a fun mom, you’re going to be a great one.”
We get up, and head into the cabin as the rain begins to pour down. I return the platypus to Nate, but when I look over at Bear, I note that his cheery demeanor has turned dour.
Why the sudden change? It hurts my heart to see him like this.
Did me endangering myself really bother him that much? I didn’t even think it was dangerous when I ran out. I couldn’t have known.
I didn’t want to break his heart though. He’s so sweet and caring.
God, is this what real love is? When you care so deeply for someone you agonize over even causing them the slightest bit of discomfort?
I want him. I need him. I never want to see that frown on his face again.
I love him.
And I don’t know what to do about that.
SEVEN
char
When the storm passes, we head back to our own cabin. Bear hasn’t said anything since we came in. He went to take a nap on Hunter’s sofa to wait for the storm to pass over.
But I have an inkling that he just lay there with his eyes closed.
Something is bothering him deeply.
“Come on. Spill it,” I say, as we drive back home.
“Hmm?” he says.
“What’s bothering you? You’ve been way more silent than you usually are.”
“I have a headache,” he says, his tone unconvincing.
I let out a sigh. “Is it because I almost got myself crushed by a gazebo?”
“That doesn’t help things, no. Don’t do that again, please.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t notice that it was about to fly off. I just wanted to do something nice for baby Nate.”
“I know. I’m not blaming you for that.”
“Then why the cold shoulder?”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” he states, when there is very much something to talk about.
“How about that storm? Or how you’re going to get the gazebo’s roof out of the mud? Or why do you look like you want to go drive this truck off a bridge?”
He grumbles, his hands hard on the steering wheel. “Look, Char, this is all happening too much, too fast. I barely know you. I opened up my cabin so that you could get back on your feet, and yes, we had some fun, but we shouldn’t be treating this like it's something more than what it is.”
Anger rises inside me. Where does he get off? All the things we’ve felt for one another have been pure passion, and I can’t be convinced otherwise. “What is wrong with you? Seriously?”
“What is wrong with me? I’m not the lovesick girl who thinks I’m going to propose marriage after a week of knowing her.”
I grit my teeth. “I’m not expecting that, Bear. I know you have issues with marriage. With your mom and all that.”
Bear goes silent as I call out his problem exactly.
“I’m not getting married,” he finally says. “I’m not doing it. I’m not going to let myself get hurt like my mom did, and I’m not going to even give myself the chance to hurt anyone else.”