Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 70574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Damn, I could still hear his laughter or see the mischief gleaming in his beautiful jade eyes. There was no doubt in my mind, I’d hear them echoing in my lonely mind for the rest of my life, always reminding me of what I’d lost.
I looked around my lonely suite. I’d packed a few boxes of clothes and personal belongings but planned on selling everything else, along with the penthouse. I didn’t intend to return. Ever. It would be too painful. Every piece of furniture, furry rug, or decoration had been selected with Ari in mind. Well, almost everything. The playroom, which now sat empty, had been decorated with my own enjoyment in mind, never once considering what made me happy might not be the same for Ari. Sure, I’d fantasized often about what we would do in our playroom, but it looked like fantasies was all it would ever be.
My doorbell rang and a blast of hope skyrocketed through my body. As far as I knew, only Ari and Sam knew the security code to get into my apartment. Maybe McKenzie, but he’d already had the shipment loaded and left to return to Tennessee, so it wouldn’t be him. Wishing I’d taken more time with my appearance, I raced to the door and flung it open. Instead of finding the man I loved, I was greeted with Seth, Baker, and Samantha, who didn’t look happy at all.
Sam frowned and pointed at Seth and Baker. “I only let them up because they both threatened to quit and while that might seem like a fabulous idea at the moment, with you leaving, Landon on assignment, and Ari acting like a hermit, I couldn’t really afford to lose them as well.” She eyed both of them. “That, of course, doesn’t mean they won’t be gone at the nearest opportunity.” Both of them rolled their eyes as she looked at her watch in irritation. “My date to party will be here in seven minutes and it takes a good fifteen to cover this body with leather!” She started to turn away but looked back and said, “I’ve called for the company limousine, so we can all ride together.”
Party? They were insane if they thought I was going to any party with them! Since my plane didn’t leave before ten o’clock in the morning, I still had plenty of time to stare at the walls, rehash all the things I’d done wrong, and feel sorry for myself. I’d be damned if I let them interrupt me…plus there was a snowball’s chance in hell that Ari might show up at the last minute.
I started to slam the door in their faces, but Seth was too quick. His boot blocked the opening before I could get it closed.
“Forget it, assholes. I’m not going to any party with you all. Not tonight, especially. Forget about it and leave me alone.”
Baker frowned. “But it’s your party, Eli. It’s your going-away party. You can’t miss that. It would just be weird if we had a party for you and you didn’t show up. The entire office is already there, waiting on the man of honor to make an appearance.”
“Fuck off.”
I couldn’t believe how callous the two of them were being regarding my feelings. The three of them, especially my sister, knew damn well I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate any fucking thing. Ever again, if I was being honest with myself. “Not gonna happen, guys. The party will be much better without me there anyway. For some strange reason, it appears that I’m not in the partying mood,” I added sarcastically.
Seth crossed his arms over his chest, as if that would intimidate me, and growled, “It’s your party Eli. Don’t be an ass about this. Make an appearance, stay for fifteen minutes, and come back home and mope until it’s time for you to skip town with your tail tucked between your legs. You were welcomed by not only Baker and me, but the entire team. It’s bullshit for you to not take a few minutes of your time to show your appreciation.”
I shrugged. “Talk about what an asshole I am after I’m gone, Seth. I’m not going, regardless of what the right or wrong thing is in this situation. Hell guys, talk about me tonight at the party. I couldn’t honestly care less what anybody in this town thinks about me.” That was a lie. I cared what Seth, Baker, and Sam thought. More than anything, I cared what Ari thought.
The problem was, I knew what Ari thought about me. He hated me.
I loved him.
Baker stepped up. “Ari has promised to stop by for ten minutes as long as you don’t try to confront him over what happened. Surely you want to see him at least one more time, right?”