Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“And taken every screw in the place,” I agree with him. “But I’ve had time to think about it,” I admit, “and I’m so glad he did what he did.”
“You’re glad?” he repeats.
“I mean, it sucked at the time. But—” Then I met Gabriel, I say silently. “Now it’s done, and we move on.”
“Why don’t you come and stay with us for a bit?” he offers, and I take a deep inhale but then close my eyes when I feel like I’m going to vomit. The nausea rushes through me for a couple of seconds before leaving.
“I’m busy,” I tell him, not lying to him. “I got five new clients last week, and I have to do a walk-through with each for the next month.” I look around for the restaurant I’m supposed to be at.
“Mom says you haven’t been feeling well,” he says softly.
“I’m fine.” I walk between parked cars, waiting to cross. “I was just nauseated is all,” I admit to him. It started two weeks after I was back. I know exactly why I’m sick to my stomach all the time. Except I’m not about to admit to my mother and my brother that it’s because I miss Gabriel so much it’s made me sick to my stomach. So I just pretend I caught a bug, hoping nobody catches on. “Anyway, I have to go. I’m here,” I tell him. “Thank you for calling and checking up on me.”
“Yeah, I would have liked to have known about this when it happened.”
“Hey, don’t be too hard on Sofia. I swore her to secrecy.”
“Sofia knew?” he snaps. “Sofia,” he yells her name and she must come into the room, “you knew about Zara and didn’t tell me?”
“Matthew Petrov,” she yells his full name, “you did not just call me in here to give me attitude. I was up all night with your son, and now you want to come at me?”
“Yikes,” I say. “Anyway, I have to go, love you. Give RC a kiss for me.” I hang up before Sofia snatches the phone from him, instead opting to text her.
Me: I’m so sorry. I owe you.
I put the phone in my purse before I pull open the glass door to the little shop. The bells on top tinkle as I look around the room and spot him sitting at the back. He holds up his hand, and I nod, walking around the tables to him. He stands up when I get to his table. “Zara,” he says, and all I can do is look at him and see if I feel something, anything.
“Daniel.” I pull out the chair in front of him before he makes the mistake of leaning in to get a kiss or something.
“Thank you for coming.” His voice is soft, and I see him rubbing his hands down the front of his jeans.
“I really didn’t have that much of a choice.” I look around to see if the server will be coming by so I can get some water. The nausea is starting to work its way up. “You’ve been calling and texting me nonstop,” I remind him sadly because the one person I’ve been wanting to call and text me has not reached out at all, making it clear to me that he is more than okay. The thought makes my stomach rise and then fall, like the water in the ocean moving up and down, side to side.
“I’m sorry, but I needed to talk to you.”
“Why?” I fold my arms over my legs. “For what?”
“Zara, I made a mistake.” His voice is low so no one else around us can hear, and I lean in.
“Daniel, you fucked your coworker for the past three years.” My voice isn’t low, but it isn’t high either. “A mistake is a onetime thing. What you had is an affair.”
“I know, I know.” He taps the table. “But it was all a mistake.”
“I obviously didn’t make you happy or fulfill something in you”—I lean back in my chair—“or else you would have never done that to me.”
“It’s not that, it was just—” I hold up my hand.
“Please, spare me.” I shake my head. “I don’t really care to hear what it was between you. What I know is that it was a selfish thing for you to do to me.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
“What do you want?” I ask him. “You want me to say that I forgive you?” I ask him but then quickly continue. “Because I don’t. I don’t forgive you for cheating on me. I don’t forgive you for bringing that woman into our house, and I especially don’t forgive you for fucking her on my favorite blanket.” I push away from the table. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go see a man about a horse.” I silently laugh as he glares at me.