Treadmill Week 53 & What I #amreading – First Flames by Drew Hunt – Red Popcorn Strings and Gumball Rings by Nell Iris

Addison Albright

9 years ago

Treadmill Goals:

Get on the treadmill (or equivalent exercise) daily
Pace is fine at 30 min/mile, although I may up it on occasion
Time range between 30 minutes and 1 hour per day
Distance 1-2 miles per day
Read the chosen book, which I won’t allow myself to read outside of my treadmill time, hopefully motivating me to reach or exceed the above goals (the only exception to this is Saturday nights, if I want to finish off a book so I can start a fresh one for the new week)

Note: Although I will try to avoid them, my daily #amreading updates may or may not contain spoilers, so read at your own risk.

It was a two-book week. Two sweet stories, both with a Christmas theme.

My favorite lines this week:

SUNDAY – Sinking into my chair behind the desk, I realised if my life were a book, it would be a bloody boring one. A title which would forever remain on the shelf.

MONDAY – “Bloody well is,” he said with feeling. “The most edible thing we had for lunch today was the skin off the rice pudding.”

TUESDAY – I scrunched my eyes closed. I’d done it again. “How come the floor never opens up and swallows you when you need it to?”

WEDNESDAY – “Then that’s what we’ll do.” I kissed Mark on the top of his head. He wriggled contentedly in my arms.

THURSDAY – Mark stared at the book for the longest time. I saw his shoulders had started shaking. He was crying. What had I done wrong?

FRIDAY – “With you, my angel, it couldn’t be anything else.” I put my arm around his waist and we climbed the stairs together.”

FRIDAY – “Aw, bless your heart.” He didn’t even try to sound polite. He’d had it with her and the rest of the family. This was the reason he never saw them anymore.

SATURDAY – The sight made Ellis’s mouth more parched than a car battery boiled dry, and he licked his lips, desperate for some moisture.

SATURDAY (BONUS LINE) – Ellis took pity on him, raised his head, and kissed him. A soft, quick kiss, meant to take all the pressure away from Casey. “I know, boo.” He leaned his forehead against Casey’s. “I know,” he repeated.