Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
I thought about those showers way too often.
“They seem to be taking off over there,” Halley said, breaking open the balloons.
I started on the box that held the mini tank of helium. “They are. They’re booked at least four days a week and taking reservations out to spring break.”
“That’s incredible.”
“He’s working really hard,” I said with more than a touch of pride as we sat in the living room and positioned everything to blow up the balloons.
Halley stared at me as I smiled wistfully. When Weston had moved in, I’d imagined him at the bar like most single guys our age, or out on dates, but he came home every single night. It was all so…domestic.
“Oh. My. God.” Her brows hit the roof.
“What?” I snapped my attention back to her and killed the lever on the tank so I could tie off the balloon.
“Something happened with him.” Her eyes narrowed.
“There is absolutely no reason to think that,” I sputtered, losing my grip on the balloon. It flew out of my hand like a rocket, bouncing off every wall as it deflated with an indignant screech.
“Uh huh,” she said, arching a single brow. “Your hair is all shiny. New conditioning treatment?”
I grabbed at my tresses. “My ends were breaking.”
“And the cute little outfit you’re wearing?” She gestured to my jeans and top. “The Callie I know would have met me in a hoodie and messy bun.”
“I’m allowed to wear actual clothes to have breakfast with you!” I argued, but I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. Stupid pale skin with my stupid obvious blushing.
“And that whole dreamy look in your eyes when you talk about him?” She leveled me with a single look. “Don’t you dare lie to me, Callie Thorne.”
I opened my mouth, then shut it again.
“That’s what I thought.” A huge smile broke across her face. “What happened? You have to tell me. Please God, tell me, because I’m dying to live vicariously!”
I laughed, my cheeks flaming as I took the balloon she handed me. “We…kissed. It was nothing. We agreed it was nothing.” The balloon stretched around the nozzle, and I inflated it. “I mean, we had an in-depth discussion about why it should be nothing and wouldn’t happen again, and sure, he said there was no chance he’d forget it…” I turned the lever and managed to get this one tied before handing it to her for a ribbon.
“He said you were unforgettable?” She sagged back against the couch. “Total swoon.”
“He didn’t say that.” I grabbed another balloon and started on it.
“Honey, if he said there was no chance of forgetting it, then it’s pretty much the same thing.” She tied an extra-long ribbon and let the neon green balloon drift to the ceiling.
“It’s not the same thing.” I waved her off and handed her the next balloon. “And besides, we’re not in high school. If he meant something, he’d say it.” I fell back against the cushions beside her. “Ugh. This feels like high school, though. I can’t ever remember dissecting every word out of a guy’s mouth before.”
“You like him!” She tied another ribbon and let the balloon loose.
“I…” Crap. “I like him. Damn it, this is high school.” I reached for the next balloon, grabbing a purple one and inflating it. “Except I live with him, so it’s not like I’m waiting to see him in the hallways. Instead, I’m holding my breath for the stupid front door to open.” I was so over my head. “And it’s all his fault.” I passed her the filled balloon.
“Right. He’s just too sexy, damn him,” she teased, tying the ribbon.
“It’s not just that.” Another balloon, more helium. I had this down to a pattern now. “He’s a good guy, Halley. He’s so patient with Sutton, and he’s even teaching her how to backcountry ski. He bought her skins last week so she could learn how to climb up the slope herself.” I sighed. “And he’s a great cook too. He’s neat. He’s considerate. He picks up groceries. And the way he kisses? Ugh.” I ripped the balloon off the nozzle and tied.
“That good, huh?” She grinned.
“I don’t even have words,” I admitted. “Scrumptious? Delicious? No. Decadent. He is pure decadence.”
She tied the string to the balloon and added it to the ones streaming above us. “You’re crushing on him.”
Crap, we really were in high school, because that word described exactly how I felt. “This is a disaster.”
“Oh yes, Callie,” she teased. “Crushing on the single, hot, good-with-your-kid, considerate guy who kisses decadently is such a disaster. Need I remind you of the liftie you went out with a few years ago.”
I grimaced. “He was cute. And that was like…five years ago.”
“He was also a womanizing airhead who thought dude was a complete sentence. Crushing on Weston isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a whole other class. Let yourself enjoy it.”