Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 20958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“Have at it,” Rhodes says as the chime on the door goes off. He’s sitting at the register drinking a cup of coffee. So, I leave him to it. The faster the days goes by, the sooner I’ll be leaving here and head straight to Drena's.
8 Drena
I should have known today was going to be a day that would overstimulate me, overwhelm me, and over all of the damn things. Like yesterday, this morning started off great. Waking up with Kade is becoming quite the treat. One I want to have a repeat performance on the daily. The only downside after our session in the waves was him telling me he had a dinner to go to this evening, but he’d be at my house as soon as it was over. And while that makes me happy, still, this routine we’ve settled into has me spoiled.
“Finally, you’re here.” I straighten my dress, trying not to fidget as my mom greets me. I guess Kade having his plans worked out after all. Mom called during my break, asking to meet for dinner. The minute she said the name of the restaurant, my excitement fizzled out and died. I’m not the type of person who has the means to pay for an expensive meal or the dress to wear. I had to dig deep into the back of my closet to find something appropriate for the ridiculously expensive restaurant. The only problem with the little black dress is it hugs my curves a little too well.
“Sorry, Mom, I told you I’d be a few minutes late when we spoke on the phone.” Lilian James is never frazzled, and right now, she’s emulating Mrs. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. Minus the over-the-top dresses and hair haphazardly done. Tonight, Mom looks the part of her sophisticated self. Gone is the mom who used to wear cut-off jeans turned into shorts. She’s in an off-the-shoulder dress that's cinched at the waist and flows out toward the floor. Her hair is in a tight chignon, whereas mine is down and to the side in soft waves.
“It doesn’t matter. You’re here now. Shall we go in?” I barely hold the need to roll my eyes at her antics.
“Lead the way.” I take in the dark mahogany wood double doors, elaborately decorated with brass handles. The hostess greets us right away. I look down at my dress and notice her own. Yeah, I’m really underdressed. The nerves I’ve held back since stepping out of the Uber have me ready to toss my cookies. The only reason I’m able to hold back is because I’d probably get kicked out after using their planters or fish tank as a barf bag. Then Mom would be embarrassed, and another lecture would ensue.
When Mom tells the hostess she already has a table, she nods and holds her hand out in a way where she’s offering for us to proceed. My eyes go every which way, unable to look at the back of my mom's head. I’m too confused as to why she’d pick one of the most expensive places to eat in our area when she knows I’d much rather eat at a different place. A restaurant where I can be comfortable in a tank, shorts, and sandals. An atmosphere with live music, the water off the back deck, where I can sip on a margarita without feeling out of place.
“I have something to tell you.” Mom stops so abruptly I can barely put the brakes on my own feet before crashing into her.
“Okay?” She turns around to look at me. There’s concern written on her face. Surely, she’s not going to tell me devastating news in a public place.
“Well, I should have told you, but, well, it just happened.” She starts walking again, keeping the anticipation going. I follow her lead like a pig to slaughter. The only difference is I’m in human form and there’s a lot less noise surrounding us. We round the corner to find a small grouping of tables. My gaze lifts, and I see a man in a three-piece suite standing next to the table. “I’m married.” She walks up to the man, and he wraps his arm around her waist, pulling her in close. As if she didn’t just drop a bombshell and leave me floundering.
“Excuse me?” My hand goes to the back of a chair, holding myself up while trying to grasp the news she delivered.
“We’re married. This is Jasper Callahan,” Mom introduces her husband.
“It’s nice to meet you, Audrena. Your mom has talked about you so much I feel as if I already know you,” Jasper says. His words don't come off slimy, yet the revulsion is rolling off me in waves.
My suspicions are confirmed when he shakes my hand, he lingers, and I’m pretty sure he dragged the tips of his fingers along the palm of my hand on purpose. “I can’t say the same.” I’m receiving a pointed glare from my mother’s direction. Too damn bad. She didn’t have the decent courtesy to so much as give me a heads-up that she was getting married. Nor did she invite me. So, my mother can deal with it, or I can walk out the restaurant door and not look back.