Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I slowly shook my head. “I don’t know why I ever married you. You make me sick, and the idea of spending a single moment alone with you repulses me. You have one minute to get out of this store before the police get here to arrest you for violating your restraining order.”
“Even though I’m in my store?”
“It’s not your store!” I shouted.
He laughed—and I instantly knew I’d made a mistake. He wanted to rile me up. That’s why he was here. That was always how he’d gotten his kicks. The damn mind games.
A siren wailed in the distance, and Jack held up both hands as Palmer appeared at my side.
“Good seeing you, Palmer.”
“Fuck off, Jackass.”
He laughed again, then turned on his heels and rushed out the door. I quickly locked it and leaned against the glass as I attempted to get my heart rate back to normal.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Brody standing there. I could see the anger all over his face, but before I could say anything, Palmer started to speak.
“Okay, do you want to tell me what that was all about, Sutton?” she asked.
Brody turned and walked away.
With shaking hands, I called 9-1-1 back and told them Jack had left. The dispatcher told me the officers would still do a drive-by. I ended the call and drew in a slow, deep breath before exhaling it all out in one big whoosh.
I met my sister’s gaze, and the only thing I could do was shake my head and let out a quiet, “Not now, Palmer. I can’t. Not right now.”
For once, my sister let something go. Her face softened as she said, “I’ll finish closing up and meet you in your office, okay?”
I nodded. “Thanks, Palmer.”
She reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Of course. I love you, sis.”
Fighting back tears, I drew in a shaky breath. “I love you too.”
“Why are those two over there pouting?” Palmer asked as she walked up and handed me a glass of wine.
My eyes followed her gaze to where my brother and Brody were sitting alone at a table.
“Who knows with those two,” I said before I took a sip of my drink.
“Apparently, Brody told Brax to invite some single women to this party.”
That caused my heart to do a weird drop. Would he really do that? Was he hoping to get in one last weekend of meaningless sex before Monday, when we were set to head to the Justice of the Peace together? “Why?”
“Who knows. Maybe they both want to get laid.”
I looked back over to the table and stared at Brody. He was listening to something Braxton was telling him, ignoring the party going on around him, his head bent and a look of concentration on his face. The idea that Brody might want to sleep with someone before he was officially off the market made me sick to my stomach.
“And where in the hell is Harlee?” Palmer asked. “I swear, if she snuck off with Thomas to have sex, I’m never talking to her again.”
I sighed. “At least one of us is having sex.”
Palmer huffed. “Right? At this point, I’m ready to pull that hot waiter over there into a closet and have my way with him.”
I giggled.
Palmer turned to face me. “What did Dad want, by the way?”
“He wanted to make sure I was okay. Thanks for not telling him and Mom that Jack is back in town. I was hoping to keep it on the down low until after today. I want them to focus on Addie.”
“I can’t believe he emptied your bank account, Sutton.”
After Jack showed up at the store, I’d broken down and told Palmer about the money he stole. It felt good to talk to someone other than Brody and my lawyer about it. I’d also gotten good news—the judge had ordered Jack to replace the money, plus the lost interest, which honestly was next to nothing. “He has until Monday to put it back or risk going to jail.”
Palmer sipped her wine while we both looked around the room. As Addie had requested, the party was being held in the large space above The Maine Bakery. It was a cool and convenient event space to have in the middle of downtown. My folks had catered the food, and they’d let Ruby, their longtime employee, take care of all the planning, included managing the serving staff. I had to hand it to her, she was a natural. No wonder my parents loved her so much.
“I don’t even know half of these people,” Palmer said. “I honestly didn’t think so many people would show up with such short notice.”
I let out a laugh. “Please. They all want the free food and the gossip.”
“True that.”
We both sighed at the same time, then chuckled.