Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“Any ideas what Lily could’ve sent?” I smirked as I placed the scissors on top of the box and snapped a photo with Peng still sniffing a corner.
Sending the pic to Lily, I typed.
Me: You didn’t have to send me anything. But thank you for being such a great bestie.
She called me almost instantly. “Hey, hey, how’s my little moonbeam doing today?”
I laughed and tucked my phone on my shoulder so I could talk while slicing through the tape on the box. “I’m doing better, actually.”
“You definitely sound better.” She clucked her tongue. “However, I can’t claim credit, because I didn’t send you anything.”
So it is from X…
Lily’s voice echoed in my ear. “Please tell me why there’s a manky-looking kitten on your table.”
I scratched Peng under his chin. “Don’t call my cat manky.”
“Hold up. Your cat?”
Opening the parcel but not retrieving the item inside, I put down the scissors and sat in one of the chairs. “He’s a rescue. Zander found him. He asked me to look after him when he had to go to work, and now…I’m thinking of adopting him.” I sighed with aching affection as Peng jumped off the table and plopped into my lap with a purr.
“We literally spoke yesterday morning, yet so much has happened.” A crunch sounded as if Lily bit into something. “Tell me everything. And don’t think I didn’t hear you call your hot-as-sin neighbour Zander. You’ve never done that before. It’s always been Alexander this and Alexander that. I always knew what you were doing.”
I frowned. “What was I doing?”
“Keeping your distance.”
“You’re right. I told him that too. Yesterday, when he came to collect Peng to take him to the shelter, I apologised for using a name that he doesn’t go by.”
“Wait…you told him that you actively tried keeping distance between you?”
“Yep. Like I told you…progress. I don’t want to live the way I have been anymore. I’m ready to heal. And it’s all thanks to this magical little kitten.”
“A kitten that you’ve called…what was it? Pang?”
“It’s technically Penguin, but it’s been shortened. He’s going to grow up to be the biggest, most beautiful ginger cat on the block.”
“Who are you and what did you do with my friend?”
“I’m the new and improved version.”
“I like all versions. But I’m warning you, you better not get any more cats. You’re single and live alone. I can see how this could escalate to you becoming the local weirdo with a million pussies.”
Another giggle escaped, feeling so free, so like the old me. “Noted. No more pussies.”
“You don’t need more. You barely use the one you have now.”
“Oh my God, Lily!” I burst out laughing, just like I used to when she made inappropriate jokes in class. “You can’t talk. I bet yours is covered in cobwebs and has a haunted sign.”
“Actually, it met someone with fixer-upper potential.”
“You met someone?!” I sat up straight, scaring Peng a little. “Tell me everything, and stop talking about your lady parts in the third person. Where did you meet him? How? When? What’s his name?”
“Jeez, hold the interrogation.” She chuckled. “His name is Aubrey. We met at an open home. He’s divorced and not looking for anything serious. But…he’s a builder by trade, and we got talking about my development, and he offered to help draw up the plans I need to lodge with council so…”
“Oh wow. I feel like I’m about to be replaced as number one in your life.”
“Never!” She giggled. “Never ever. You’re stuck with me. Now, seeing as I didn’t send you a gift, I’m curious. What is it? Who’s it from? Have you opened it yet?”
Standing, I placed Peng back on the table and dragged the box a little closer. “Not yet. Should I see what’s inside?”
“Tell me. Tell me.”
My smile fell as common sense came rushing back.
If it is from X, do you really want her to know?
I couldn’t tell her. He was the only thing I’d ever kept secret from her. If she asked me point-blank if I still talked to him, I’d fail at lying.
“Eh, you know what? I might open it later.”
“You what?” she screeched dramatically. “No way. How can you wait to open a present? You truly are a weirdo. Open it. Maybe it’s from your sexy neighbour. He might have been waiting this entire time for you to call him by his real name to finally ask you out.”
I shivered. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Zander’s glowing green eyes shot to mind. The way he’d stiffened as he’d looked at the box in my arms. His sudden wariness followed by a smile that said so much and so little.
“If you don’t open it, I’m going over there and doing it myself.”
“Fine. Fine.” I sighed heavily, hating that I’d backed myself into a corner. “Hang on.” Pulling out layers of bubble wrap, I found a sleek black box at the bottom. Snagging it, I placed it on the tabletop, then fumbled one-handedly with the bronze clasp.