Filed to story: My Life with the Walter Boys Book (I & II) PDF Free
Guess what? The manager at Tony’s quit. I’ve been promoted.
Sat, Jun 15 at 10:11 a.m.
Jackie Howard
That’s awesome, Cole! Congratulations!
Cole Walter
Thanks! It means less time working on cars, but I need the money for school.
Anyway I went home for dinner last night and it felt weird without you and Danny there.
Sun, Jun 23 at 4:34 p.m.
Cole Walter
Conspiring against me, huh?
Jackie Howard
I don’t know what you mean.
Cole Walter
Liar. You took Danny to a Broadway show
Jackie Howard
Is that a crime
Cole Walter
It is when he says it was the best live performance he’s ever seen.
I won’t be able to convince him to move back to Colorado if he falls in love with New York.
Jackie Howard
Should I lock him up and never let him out?
Cole Walter
Yeah that would be preferable. Anyway, how are you? You never told me about your internship.
Wed, Jun 26 at 11:02 p.m.
Cole Walter
Did I do something to piss you off?
Jackie Howard
No, why?
Cole Walter
Because you’ve barely spoken to me since you left.
Fri, Jun 28 at 5:16 p.m.
Jackie Howard
Hey Cole. I’m sorry for going AWOL. It’s been more difficult than I thought to be home again. I need some time to figure things out. Can we talk when I get back in August?
One
One
The first time I arrived in Colorado, I was a nervous wreck. It made sense, given the circumstances. Not only was I forced to leave the only home I’d ever known, but I had to move across the country to live with a stranger, one who conveniently forgot to mention her twelve children until we were settled on the plane.
This time was different, though.
When my flight touched down at Denver International Airport, I couldn’t blame those past things for the uncomfortable fluttering inside my chest; New York was no longer the only place I’d ever lived, Katherine had become a mother figure to me, and her twelve kids? They had taught me that I didn’t always need to be perfect.
There was a singular reason for my current apprehension—sooner rather than later, I would have to face Cole Walter, and God only knew what kind of reception I’d receive. As I waited for the baggage carousel to deliver my suitcase, I almost texted him. Thankfully, I only typed out three words before realizing what I was doing and deleting the message. Maybe that made me a coward, but what could I possibly say after not talking to him for nearly two months? Besides, if he didn’t already know I was back, he’d find out soon enough. News and gossip spread like wildfire in the Walter household.
Hopefully by then, I could find the words I needed to apologize.
***
I don’t consider myself a violent person. But when Isaac Walter pulled up to the curb over an hour later with a shit-eating grin plastered across his face like he wasn’t inexcusably late, I couldn’t help but picture my hands wrapped around his throat. After stowing my suitcase in the bed of the truck, I yanked open the passenger door and threw him the chilliest glare I could muster.
“Where were you? I’ve been waiting for—“
“Hey, Jackie.