Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
“I forgot to mention you’re a great boss.”
“It’s been great to work with you. I’ve been thinking about consulting and working freelance. If that’s something you’d be interested in—”
“I’m interested.”
I rest my hands on the desk. “I’ll keep you in the loop with what’s going on, then.”
She stands. “Remember to invite me to the wedding.”
Chuckling, I reply, “You’re on the list.”
I rush home to change into basketball shorts and a tee before racing out the door in my sneakers. It’s later than I intended, but there’s so much to do lately that time is lost if I’m not paying attention.
Walking onto the courts, I scan the players before finding Baylor playing on the back third. They’re short a player since it’s usually me, but I don’t jump in. That’s not how pickup games of basketball work around here. I lean against the fence and wait for someone to score.
Baylor sees me out of the corner of his eye but keeps playing. He’s not been responding to my texts or calls. I even sent him an email to see if he’d reply. He didn’t.
One team scores points, and they scatter to take a water break. Baylor walks by me and says, “Find another team, asshole.”
“Fuck you, Baylor.”
“Ohhhh,” the other players caught that and start to laugh.
Holding the water bottle at his side, he says, “Fuck you, man. Go find another court.”
He flips me off, then squirts water in his mouth.
“No. We will either take this out on the court or take it off the courts and get it all out. Your choice.”
He comes closer, looking me up and down like the sight of me pisses him off. “You don’t get to make the rules. You’re the one who fucked up by fucking my sister.”
“Dammmnnnn,” another player says, holding his fist to his mouth. “That’s dark, man.”
I don’t even know who this dude is. “I don’t need the commentary. Thanks.” Baylor is tossed a basketball, which he starts dribbling in beside him. That he’s even listening is progress. “We’ve invested thirty years into this friendship. You ready to let it go? Because it’s in your hands.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I ask, “What’s it going to be, Greene?”
He eyes me over his chin, then tosses the basketball to another player. “Fine, we’ll talk outside the courts.” He grabs his stuff and heads for the exit.
I follow, giving him the space I think he needs. He takes a left and heads for some benches where spectators sit. Sitting on opposite ends, we still take up most of the bench. I rest my forearms on my knees and watch the games being played before us. “I should have talked to you.”
He looks over at me. “And say what? You want to sleep with my sister? Not sure that approach would be any better.” He returns his gaze to the courts. But then he sits back and says, “I heard what you told my dad.” He looks at me. When I look at him, I nod. “You love her?”
“I’m in love with her.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why?”
“What is it about her that you fell in love with?”
“Oh, um.” I glance at the sky. I know the answers, but I just don’t know if he wants to hear them. He’s asking for a reason, so I’ll respect him enough to honestly respond. “She’s funny and smart. She knows who she is and doesn’t hide it.” I close my eyes and see her face in my head, her sitting in the wildflowers, staying with her horse during the storm, her hair splayed over the pillows of our place in the barn. “She knows how to fix an irrigation system and make a killer peach pie.” I look over at him, lowering my voice. “She’s beautiful inside and out.”
“She’s just like my mother. It’s like looking at Mom sometimes.”
“She has her strength and determination, her dad’s easygoing nature, and her brother’s charisma.”
“That’s all I get? Charisma.” He rolls his eyes and chuckles. “It’s a start, so I’ll take it.”
“She rolls her eyes like you just did.” I glance between the game on the court in front of us and then at him again. “You guys are more alike than you realize. She’s got your sense of humor—”
“My humor is in the gutter.”
I shrug. “Point proven.”
“Jesus. I don’t want to know that shit about my sister.” But the smile on his face tells me he’s not too bothered. He looks over at me once more, and asks, “Have you told her all that?”
“Give or take.” I take a few seconds to breathe, then add, “She loves hard and gives all of herself to the people she cares about, but let me tell you what opened my eyes to the woman she’s become.” He’s staring at me, but a lump forms in my throat. I push through and swallow it down. “Seeing her with my son. That changed everything for me.”