Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
She gasps. “Winnie! Are you serious?”
“Why not? It’s not like there was a man around to help take it off.”
“Well, no. But where are you? No, wait, don’t tell me…” She pauses dramatically. “I should have a little plausible deniability. I didn’t think you’d actually pick up.”
“So they’ve been hounding you about me? I’m sure they have.”
“Yeah, only about five million times. I’m guessing your dad knows you’re still alive. I’m pretty sure he would’ve sent every State Trooper on payroll after you if he didn’t. They’re kinda furious.”
I wince.
My stomach gurgles, angry because it isn’t full of meatballs and marinara, but I’m a little relieved that’s not the case.
“Tell me something I don’t know, Lyssie.”
“I’ve been worried sick, Win. They’ve been hitting me up about you constantly, which is the only reason why I haven’t called more. I kept hitting you with texts, figuring you’d answer at your own pace. But would it have been so terrible to reply? You still have thumbs, right?”
“How do you know? Maybe that’s why I fled,” I deadpan.
“Pssh, like you’d give up your opposable thumbs. How would you ever deal with bees? Thumbs are the best body parts.”
My nose scrunches.
“Wouldn’t be easy. And the best, huh? Hmm, I don’t know, I can think of a few other—”
“Okay, okay! So we have a few other goodies, but I stand by my claim that opposable thumbs are our greatest asset, and in this case, you could have used them to message me. Just once, a friendly ‘hey, I’m not dead’ message. Just so I knew you weren’t rotting in a ditch somewhere.”
I exhale slowly through my teeth, closing my eyes.
My head dips forward until it touches the table—only to find I’ve put my forehead in a patch of tomato sauce. Beautiful.
I jerk up again.
“I’m sorry. How are things back home?”
“You wanna know the truth?”
That can’t mean anything good.
“Um, yes? I think so… No, maybe not. If you’re talking about Dad cussing me out behind my back, I already guessed that.”
“Oh, no. Publicly, he’s been making all sorts of excuses, surprisingly.” Lyssie’s voice is dry. Of everyone I know, she’s basically the only person who understands how I felt about the wedding and Holden and the entire gross situation.
“And privately?”
“Well, I heard from my mom that your parentals have been seeing Holden every day. Apparently—and take this with a grain of salt—Holden has vowed to hunt you down and bring you home.”
“Holden? What the hell? I can’t imagine that man hunting anything.” I snort and shake my head. “Also, I’m not some sort of deer. But if he wants to come at me with a rifle, I guess I get it.”
My bitter laughter hurts.
Honestly, I didn’t mean to leave him holding the bag in a public humiliation ritual, even if I don’t love him and barely tolerate his existence.
But a big, nasty confrontation with my lame ex feels like the last thing I need to worry about. Holden hasn’t ever shown much passion for anything besides his crypto portfolio or his dad’s mixer events with the rich and famous.
“Well, I imagine he’s bringing his ego, which could be just as dangerous. No one gets why you left, by the way. Like, I think I do, but”—her voice turns deeply sarcastic—“who wouldn’t want to sign away their life to a catch like the glorious Holden Corban?”
“You’ve got me.”
“Anyway,” Lyssie says, and I can hear a microwave ding in the background that makes me smile. She has this gorgeous apartment with a fabulous kitchen, but she prefers instant meals and junk food over real cooking. “Tell me everything that’s happened since you’ve been gone. At least tell me you found a cool hideout?”
Unfortunately, like it’s done a thousand times since he left, my mind jumps back to Archer and the way he pinned me to the wall and kissed my soul out. My toes scrunch up.
“The hideout is really nice. Just a little dull since I haven’t been out much. What makes you think much has happened?”
“Um, your choice. Spill it, girl. Do you already have a rebound dude? Is he hot?”
Oh, God.
“What? No!” Unless Archer Rory decides he wants to be my secret lover. I don’t think I’d mind rebounding with him one bit. “I didn’t run away from the wedding because I’m in love with someone else or dying to hook up with randos, Lyssie.”
“Okay, good. I would’ve been so pissed if you hadn’t told me first.” Her lips smack between words as she chews. Knowing her, it’s probably one of the instant pho cups she heats up or a giant frozen burrito, her usual obsessions. “So what’s going on with you? No rebound man?”
“I’m not that lucky. Things are… kinda complicated.” That’s true enough. “Dad cut me off from my trusts, so it isn’t peachy on the money front.”