Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Patton may have been like that once—we’ve barely spoken about his body count or old habits and at this point I don’t want to—but he’s not like that now.
“If that’s the case, what makes you think he’ll be interested in you?”
“Um, hello? Because I’m on his level. Come on, Lemmy, keep up. I’m the caviar and the rest are all bread girls.” She sighs. “Anyway, what are you doing with makeup? Are you seeing someone?”
Help me.
It’s burning the tip of my tongue, the truth about the only girl Patton Rory is seeing.
But if I do that, she’ll freak.
She’ll probably work overtime, grinding me into dust, especially if she thinks I ‘stole him’ right under her nose.
Not to my face, of course. She’d be sickly sweet and absolutely murderous behind my back.
First, she’ll tell everyone who’s anyone in this town that I’m just another ‘bread girl’ who slept with him to get ahead. I don’t have much of a social life and even fewer opportunities, and what little I do have revolves around Kayla and her favors.
Or if I confess to dating Patton, her grudges.
I don’t need her rumor mill spinning in overdrive and frankly, neither does Patton.
Also, if she finds out, she’ll tell my parents for sure. We haven’t spoken in years, but the second they get wind of it, they’ll be all over me.
Total circus.
I don’t even know if I’m ready to have them back in my life. Not without a real heartfelt apology, certainly.
“Yeah. It’s a date, I guess.” My shoulders sag. Truth and lies all wrapped up in one nice unit, so close you can’t tell where one ends and another begins. “He’s in real estate.”
Truth, but lie, because my intention is to deceive—and Kayla slurps it right up.
“So exciting!” she squeals. “Tell me where he’s at this instant. Out of ten?”
“Easy ten.”
“Oh, okay. But how would I rate him?”
I can’t bite back my smile. “You’d probably give him a ten, too, Kayla. He’s hot. Like Arizona heatwave.”
“Shut up!” She gasps. “I can’t wait to meet him. After you get Patton on board with me, we’ll do a double date.”
Hell no, we won’t.
Patton knocks and enters the room with Arlo in tow. He frowns at me, and I mouth Kayla’s name.
“Honestly, Kay, I can’t really do anything for you,” I say. “You guys have met several times. You’ll have to close the deal, right?”
She huffs a breath. “That’s a little selfish, Lemmykins. I bet if you arranged another few meetups, I could hit the zone. He’s probably just intimidated, but once I show him how down-to-earth I am, he’ll be smitten.”
Holy hell.
Her gross image of Patton is so different from the real deal it’s like calling a cartoon scribble a Picasso painting.
“I’ll see what I can do. No promises.”
“You’re the best, bestie,” she says, happy again. “I’ll pop on over soon. Say hi to Patton for me when you next see him. See ya!” The call, thankfully, ends.
I drop the phone back on the table with a groan. “Sometimes I hate that girl.”
Arlo clambers onto the big bed and starts bouncing before I stop him with a glare.
“Queen Bee Kayla is icky,” he informs me.
“Arlo! Whatever you do, keep that to yourself.” I want to tell him that isn’t nice, but the nickname rubbed off yours truly.
I never said I was perfect, okay?
“The boy’s right,” Patton cuts in. His voice is tight, and when I look at him, his eyes glitter with that sharp, suppressed anger. “And you’re damn lucky you hung up when you did, or I’d have been tempted to tell her what I think.”
“Patton, no—”
“It wouldn’t happen with her in a thousand years, even if I was single and dry as the Sahara.” He strides forward and kneels beside me. The sight of him kneeling by my chair is enough to make my heart flutter. “Never, Salem.”
I stroke my hands through his hair.
I’m not oblivious to the little eyes watching us.
We haven’t told Arlo everything, but after weeks together at Patton’s house, he’s pretty much figured out we’re dating. Kids deserve more credit than they get.
Thankfully, he just told me I’m cool for dating Patman, and that was the end of it.
A little anticlimactic after everything.
Still, Arlo retches at the sight of us kissing.
“I prefer flowers,” I remind him.
“And that’s why I let you finish the conversation. But you already know I’ve found my woman, right? She’s sitting right in front of me.” His voice softens. “And she looks like a knockout tonight.”
This time, I don’t let myself question it. I just press my lips to his while his hand finds my waist, nudging me closer.
“Ewwww, you guys!” Arlo screeches. “Gross! Mommy, stop. He can’t kiss you unless he beat a bad guy.”
His movie logic makes me break away with a laugh. I beam Patton one more quick smile.