Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Time to get the fuck out of here.
I run a hand through my hair before I head back to the bar to close out my tab.
I knew it wasn’t a good idea to come here in the first place, and after witnessing Norah get cozy with Farmer Tad before kissing her—again—near the fucking bathrooms, it’s even worse than before.
Clearly, I can’t be trusted around her right now. And there’s no way I can get her warm brown eyes and wild hair out of my mind if I’m staring at them.
Clay approaches from the other side of the bar and stops directly in front of me. “So…quick question…” He pauses, and I don’t like the sly smile on his lips one bit. “Anything interesting happen back there?”
On a sigh, I look down the bar and find Sheila standing by Marty. The instant we make eye contact, her eyes snap away from me like a kid who just got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I should’ve known.
Eyes back to Clay, I see him offer one amused shrug of his shoulder. “Small-town news travels faster than diarrhea leaving a clenched asshole.”
Ain’t that the truth.
“So…” he continues, waggling his eyebrows like a fucking fool. “Is small-town news correct?”
“Don’t start with me, man,” I say, refusing to have the conversation the nosy prick would love to have right now. “I’m heading out.” I lay a hundred-dollar bill down on the bar to cover my tab.
“Nope.” He shakes his head and pushes it back toward me. “This one’s on me. I got this bottle just for us, and I owe you for a million and one favors anyway.”
“Thanks, Clay.”
I turn to leave, but the sound of his voice and his hand on my elbow stop me.
“Do you… Have you ever heard anyone talk about Jezzy?”
“Who?” I ask, wondering what the fuck Clay is on about and why he feels the need to get it off his chest now, when I very clearly need to get the hell out of here.
“Jezzy Ellis. Josie and Norah’s baby sister.”
I should be pissed at him for trying to keep the one woman I’m trying not to think about front and center in my mind, but instead, I’m too intrigued not to respond. “They’ve got another one?”
“Nah. She died when they were kids.” Clay shakes his head and purses his lips. “Legend is, their mama left her in the bathtub by herself while their daddy was out of town.”
“The fuck? You’ve gotta be shitting me.”
“Well, the thing is, it’s only legend. Autopsy was inconclusive and their mother was never charged, but I know from Josie tellin’ it, that’s probably what happened. They left town when their dad Danny died because there was no more shield against her being a town pariah.”
“Damn. No wonder Josie cut ties with that woman as soon as she could.”
“Tell me about it,” he comments with a frown. “The point of me telling you this is because Norah didn’t cut ties with their mother, not back then anyway. And the way I hear it, no one knows the whole story now. Not even Norah.”
“Okay?”
“Ben, I can see you’re struggling here because it’s complicated. But fuck, we’re all more complicated than anyone knows. That’s the point. You’ve got a past, and so does she. Letting her in? Seeing where it goes? What’s the worst that could happen? You and Summer fall in love with her?”
“We’ve both got pasts, but you’re forgetting she’s also got a present, Clay,” I comment on a sigh. “A fuckwad ex-fiancé with a fancy car and even fancier lawyers. There’s a lot more to this than falling in love with her. Plus, if she ever found out the truth about what happened to her sister, I’d be more worried about her falling in love with us—with Summer. It’ll end her.”
Clay purses his lips. “Falling in love with Summer is what’s gonna end all of us, Ben. But I guarantee you, it’ll be worth it, even then.”
25
Norah
Monday, August 23rd
One thing I loved about New York was Central Park. Every morning, no matter what day of the week, you could find a bustle of runners, joggers, bikers, walkers, dogs and dog owners, enjoying the small slice of nature within the otherwise overcrowded, congested city.
And most days, I was in that group. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not some avid runner training for a marathon. Not even close. I’m more of a “I’m going to move my legs in a running motion until my legs don’t feel like doing that, and then I’ll just walk” kind of gal.
Rain or shine, snow or summer heat, I put on a pair of sneakers and let my feet hit the pavement for thirty minutes or so. I let my lungs inhale the fresh air and my eyes take in the sight of my fellow city dwellers trying to get a little morning exercise.