Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
After she stepped inside, Lizzie appeared with her backpack.
That was a curveball I didn’t expect.
“Do your homework on the couch while we work.”
Lizzie did as she was told, but she gave me a look. “Hey, Derek.”
“Hey, Liz.” I watched her move to the couch and set down her stuff.
Emerson cleared her throat as she took a seat at the table, opening her bag and pulling out all her notes so we could get to work.
Lizzie texted me. She forced me to come so you wouldn’t be alone together.
I exited out of the message and acted like it never happened so Emerson wouldn’t notice. I’d looked forward to the opportunity to be alone with Emerson, to let our chemistry burn naturally. That would be impossible with her daughter nearby. But instead of abandoning the plan altogether, I just changed it. “Liz, join us at the table.” I turned to her in the living room. “It’ll be a lot easier for you to work.”
Lizzie looked at me, slightly skeptical of the invitation.
Emerson looked surprised by the offer.
I left the chair and walked over to Lizzie, helping her with her things and carrying them to the table. I placed everything right beside me, so we could be close. “Are you caught up on the story?”
“Yeah.” Lizzie moved into the chair.
“Great. You can help.” I sat down again and grabbed my phone. “I’ll order a pizza. Is that okay?” I turned to Emerson.
Lizzie grinned victoriously. “That sounds good. We haven’t had pizza in forever.”
Emerson looked annoyed, like she just saw her plan backfire in her face and there was nothing she could do to reverse it. She gave her daughter an irritated look but didn’t argue. “Alright.”
“Awesome.” When Emerson looked away, Lizzie winked at me.
I grinned and winked back.
The three of us talked about the book and where the story should go, and while Lizzie had interesting ideas, nothing really fit the tone of my work. But she was thirteen, and I didn’t want to hurt her confidence so I considered everything she said.
We enjoyed pizza and root beer, and instead of the session feeling like work, it seemed more like a family dinner. I had everything I needed to start writing, but I continued to keep the conversation going so I could spend time with both of them.
I missed it…when it was the three of us.
At the end of the night, they packed up their things and got ready to leave.
I grabbed my wallet and keys and followed them to the door. “Let me give you a ride.”
“We don’t need a ride, Derek.” When Emerson realized how harsh she sounded, she tried to backpedal. “But thanks anyway.”
I wasn’t letting the two of them walk home alone at night. Emerson could handle herself, but I didn’t like the idea of Lizzie being with her, two petite women traversing the streets alone when someone could be watching them. “I insist.”
“And I said no thank you.” Emerson turned to the door.
Lizzie came to my rescue. “Mom, I’m tired, and my bag is so heavy. Let’s just get a ride.”
Emerson flashed her an angry look. “Lizzie.”
Lizzie bowed her head.
I crossed the threshold, shut the door behind me, and continued to walk, silently rejecting Emerson’s refusal.
“Derek, I said—”
“I heard what you said.” I hit the button on the elevator. “I’m not letting Lizzie walk in the dark with a woman who’s only a few inches taller than her.” I loved Emerson with my whole heart, but I was more protective of Lizzie than I was of her mother. I wasn’t ignorant to the crime that took place in this glorious city. Even if you were on the right side of town, you were still vulnerable.
Emerson stared me down for a few seconds but didn’t fight me.
We got into my Range Rover, and I drove them home. It was a quiet drive, and no one said anything. The last time we were all together in the car was when we went to my family’s cabin for Thanksgiving.
I missed that time in our lives.
I pulled up to the curb, and Lizzie immediately hopped out. “Bye, Derek.” She shut the door behind her and quickly went up the steps to head to their apartment. She made it really obvious that she was trying to give us the opportunity to be alone together.
Emerson sighed loudly and looked out the window. “That little traitor…”
I turned off the engine because I intended to walk her into the building.
She unbuckled her safety belt but didn’t get out of the car.
“Your daughter just wants you to be happy.”
“And being with the man who broke my heart is the path to happiness?” she asked sarcastically, her eyes out the window.
“Being with the man you love and who loves you is.”
She shook her head. “Spin it however you want. Doesn’t change what you did.”