Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“I’m okay,” I tell him while my mom, Myla, and Malo all leave the room, and I carefully stand as Maxim gets up and takes the flowers setting them on the side table where there a few others. As I hug Harris, Maxim get close and places his hand against my lower back to hold me up like he’s afraid I might fall or break.
“You don’t look too bad,” Harris tells me, and I laugh as he rocks me back and forth. “Molly and I have been worried about you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He lets me go so Molly can hug me, and she does it quick, like she’s afraid to touch me.
“We wanted to see you in the hospital, but my mom didn’t think it was a good idea to visit you there,” Molly tells me, fiddling with her hands in front of her.
“Your mom was right.” I sit, and Maxim places the blanket back over my lap while the two of them take a seat in the oversized sapphire-blue velvet chair that Myla picked and I fell in love with. “It was kind of chaotic. I’m glad you both waited to come see me at home,” I tell her honestly. The truth is I cried for the first two days after I woke up, not for me but for Shell and the fact that I wasn’t able to help her. Even now I can’t help but to wonder if I didn’t mess up by not leaving the house and calling the police. She nods, then looks at my throat and flinches so I drag the blanket up my lap and hold it to my neck so she doesn’t get uncomfortable. “So what are you up to today? Anything good?”
“We’re going to the travel agent to start planning our vacation,” Harris says with a smile while taking his wife’s hand.
“That’s exciting. Have you decided where you’re going?”
“We’re going to take a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas.” Molly wiggles like she can barely contain her excitement. “I’ve never been on a boat or to the beach before.”
“You’re not going to want to come home,” I promise, then cover my mouth when I yawn.
“We should let you rest.” Harris stands, and Molly gets up with him. I want to tell him they can stay, but I know before long I’ll end up passing out. Plus, Molly’s visibly uncomfortable.
“How are you guys getting to the travel agent?”
“Molly’s mom is driving us, she’s outside,” he tells me and I nod.
“Well next week when things calm down, we’ll have dinner.”
“Sure.” Harris walks over and leans down to give me a short hug while Molly just waves.
After Maxim comes back from walking them out, he sits next to me, then reaches down so he can bring my feet to his lap.
“Tired?”
“Unfortunately.” I let out a deep breath. “I swear all I’ve done is sleep for the last few days, and it’s annoying.”
“Your body needs rest to heal. Do you want me to help you get into bed?”
“No, I think I’ll just doze here.” I cover his hand with mine. “What were you guys doing outside?”
“Setting up the new loungers for the pool. Something that would be a lot easier to do if your dad and mine actually used the directions.”
“Directions are for wimps.”
“Apparently.” He smiles, then reaches up to touch my cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I smile back, and his expression softens.
“Maxim, can you come help us upstairs for a minute?” his mom shouts, and he groans, letting his head fall back on the couch.
“I love my family and yours, but I can’t wait until they all leave.”
“Me too,” I tell him as he moves my feet carefully off his lap, then stands and looms over me, placing one hand on the armrest of the couch and the other on the back.
“Rest, and yell if you need something.”
“I will.” I accept a soft kiss, then watch him walk out of the room. Once he’s gone, I grab the remote, lie down on the couch, and Binx jumps up to join me. I turn on a comedy, finding it much easier to watch than one of the shows I’d normally be into. Then again, I think I’ve had enough true crime to last me a lifetime.
_______________
SITTING AT THE desk in the home office Maxim and I have been sharing since we moved into the house, I go over the schedule for Wet for the next week double checking that all the slots are filled on the computer. As I click through the list of women on the schedule I wonder if I can convince Maxim to take me back to Vegas sooner than later so I can meet all the girls. Maybe then I would have a better idea of where they would best fit cause right now I’m just pretending that I know based on their names. Like Crystal probably likes showers and Tina sounds like a girl who enjoys a nice bath.