Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 117177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Jesus.
George gawked at me and then Hallie as if he’d never seen her before.
“Well, we have reservations.” Hallie nudged me toward the restaurant. “See you around.”
While I was trained to compartmentalize and stay calm in any situation, the thought of this guy thinking he’d somehow been better than Hallie just stuck in my craw. I stopped and called back to George.
He stopped midturn and gazed back at me, looking like a petulant child who’d lost a game. “What?”
I sneered at his snippy tone. “You belittled Hallie, and I would never make a mistake like that. She’s amazing. She’s kind; she’s smart, loyal, creative, funny. Man, you were lucky Hallie even talked to you, let alone touched you.”
Hallie choked at my side as George turned purple with indignation.
“Well, as Hallie said, we have reservations. Enjoy your evening.” With my arm still around Hallie’s waist, I guided her away toward the restaurant entrance.
She didn’t say a word.
My reaction to George had been instinctual. I hadn’t thought beyond putting him in his place. Hoping I hadn’t embarrassed her, I glanced down and gave her waist a little squeeze. “Did I cross the line?”
Hallie looked over her shoulder to make sure George was gone and then turned to me. Laughter lit her eyes as we stopped at the restaurant door, and her body shook against me as she gave into her amusement.
Relieved, I grinned, holding her closer to me. I wanted to kiss the laughter off her lips.
She rested a palm on my chest, and I wondered if she could feel my heart pounding beneath it. With her free hand, she wiped tears of amusement from the corners of her eyes. “Seriously, that felt good to see him put in his place.” Her expression changed, softening to something I liked a whole fucking lot. “Also those were the nicest things anyone has ever said about me.”
I’m going to kiss her. “I wish that weren’t true,” I murmured, eyes dropping to her mouth. “You deserve people to say nice things about you all the time.”
“Chris . . .”
Her sad tone brought my gaze back to her eyes.
She stared up at me, looking guilty and worried. “I hope you don’t judge me for dating him. He wasn’t like that at first. His superiority kind of got worse over time. I thought it was just about me, but the way he looked at you when he asked about your name . . .” Anger flashed in her eyes. “I think I was so wrapped up in my own stuff while I dated him that I didn’t really see him. That’s not an excuse, I know. But I want you to know, I plan to do better in the future. To make better choices. To treat myself with more respect and surround myself with people I can respect too. Like you.”
This was it. I needed to tell her. “Hallie—”
The jarring burst of joy that was “Mr. Blue Sky” by ELO shattered the moment between us, and Hallie stepped away from me with a muttered curse. “That’s me, sorry.” She rummaged in her purse for her cell.
She’d had a different ringtone every week that I’d known her. I smiled at how loud this one was, despite being irritated it had interrupted us.
“It’s my mom.” Hallie chewed her bottom lip.
“Ignore it.”
“She’s called me eight times today. It isn’t like her.”
Shit. “Then answer it.”
We moved away from the restaurant entrance as Hallie held her phone to her ear and covered her other so she could hear better. “Hey, Mom, is everything okay?”
I observed her face as she frowned.
“Mom . . . Slow down. . . . Mom . . . Where are you? . . . Okay, good. . . . How much have you had to drink?”
Oh hell. I ran a hand through my hair as Hallie’s lips trembled. I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I know, Mom. . . . Okay, just stay there, I’m coming. . . . I know, I know. . . . I’m coming. I’ll be there soon.” She hung up, tears in her eyes. “My mom is wasted and sobbing hysterically about this mess with my dad. I need to go to her.”
“Of course. Do you want me to come?”
“I appreciate it, Chris, but I don’t think she’d like anyone else seeing her like this.”
I hated feeling useless. “Let me at least walk you to the station.”
She nodded, already miles away in New Jersey with her mom. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, and she relaxed into me. “She’ll be okay.”
We walked, arms around each other, in silence to Penn Station.
“You sure you don’t want me to come?” I asked when we reached the entrance.
Hallie turned, breaking our physical contact. “I might need you, but my mom just needs me.”
I hated this.
I hated seeing her this upset and not being able to do anything about it.