Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
It looks like I’m going to listen again.
I’m thankful the sidewalks are mostly clear of snow and ice, because getting Zane back to my place is enough of a challenge. He’s a big guy, standing at six foot five. I’m not short by any means, but he easily has eight inches on me.
Get your mind out of the gutter.
When we get back to my place, I’m not a stickler about him taking off his boots or his jacket. I’m more concerned with him getting upstairs without falling. Thankfully, he has enough wherewithal to use the railing.
Having him in my place—again—is a huge mistake. I don’t want him here. Mostly because I don’t trust myself around him. I can easily tell everyone I’m not in love with him, but the truth of the matter is, the moment I saw him at my family farm, looking like the boy-turned-man I had fallen in love with many, many years ago, those feelings rushed back. Tenfold. I’ve never been so eager for the holidays to be over, because then he’ll be back in New York and I’ll be here, living my life, like I have every year since he left.
While Zane uses the bathroom, I make him a bed on my couch and put a bucket next to where he’ll sleep. I have very little experience with drunk people, but I’m guessing he may need to throw up later. When he meanders out of the bathroom, I hand him some aspirin and a bottle of water.
“I made you a bed on the couch, and I plugged your phone into the charger.”
“Did she call?” he asks. My heart sinks even when it shouldn’t. We’re nothing to each other, just people who used to date. Caryn’s going to be his wife. They live together. I’m merely a blimp on his dating map.
“I’m assuming you mean Caryn, and I don’t know. Come on.” I don’t want to deal with him or hear about Caryn. “I’ll leave the bathroom light on so you can see where you’re going and there’s a bucket on the floor. Just in case.”
“Eve,” he draws my shortened name out, like he used to do when we were together. I used to love it. His voice would make me weak in my knees. Now, I have to fight the urge to go to him. “Come lie on the couch with me.”
He pats the blankets a few times and it takes every ounce of self-respect and control to keep my feet planted. “No, Zane. Go to sleep.”
I go into my room, wishing I had a door to shut and suddenly hate my loft-style home. The open concept, and lack of walls and privacy has never been an issue until now. Now, I want to hide behind a locked door and feel sorry for myself. Even when I save him, he’s thinking about her. As he should be. But even so, a bit of gratitude would go a long way right now. I suppose I could’ve dropped him off at the inn they’re staying in, but who the hell wants to drive out of town in the middle of the night?
Zane grumbles in his sleep. It’s enough to keep me awake for most of the night. When I finally fall into slumber, it’s almost morning, and I’m already dreading daylight.
The clanking of my radiator stirs me. I refuse to open my eyes. There’s zero need to face the day, or Zane for that matter. Surely, he’ll be embarrassed, and right now, I need more sleep. I snuggle deeper under my blankets, the cocoon of them keeping me warm.
Until something heavy tugs at me. My eyes fly open and my heart races. I don’t know what’s going on, but there’s someone in my bed. The offender nuzzles my hair and says my name softly, as if they’re dreaming.
The me of years ago would’ve welcomed this, but the me of now does not. I spring out of bed and yank the blankets away from a sleeping Zane.
“What are you doing in my bed?” My voice screeches and I cover myself with the blanket, even though I’m in my flannel Santa pants and matching shirt.
Zane rolls onto his back and rubs his hand over his face. “Sleeping,” he says groggily.
“This is my bed. I left you on the couch.”
“I got cold.”
“So, you what? Thought it would be okay to crawl into bed with me?”
He groans again. “What’s the big deal, Evangeline? We used to sleep in the same bed all the time.”
“When we were together,” I seethe. “You have a fiancée and I . . .”
“I don’t know if I do.”
“Wh-what?”
Zane sits up. I’m thankful he has a shirt on, but he’s missing his pants, and I don’t need to look there.
“Caryn gave me an ultimatum last night.”
“Is that how you ended up drunk at the Marching Soldier?”