Total pages in book: 296
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
“Nat!” I say as soon as she answers, my excitement building.
“What? Is everything okay?” she asks, and I can tell she’s walking.
“Yes, it’s great. I have so much to tell you.” I sit on the edge of the bed. “Alex wants me to move to Texas.”
“Oh, my fucking gosh! That’s so great, River! See, I told you! Sorry if I’m breathing heavily; I’m climbing the stairs to my apartment because the elevator line was too long.”
“So his brother is a doctor…” I add.
“No fucking way. A hot doctor?” she asks, her tone rising in pitch.
“I am not answering that, soon-to-be Mrs. Adam Mathews. Anyway, he says he can help get me a job at the hospital on their children’s ward. This shouldn’t be this easy, right? Like I’m starting to second-guess everything.”
She laughs. “I was wondering if old skeptical River was going to come out and play.”
“Ha-ha.” I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. “Actually, it’s not been that easy. I met his mother yesterday, and I don’t think she’s too fond of me. She was nice, but the way she looked at me, I just got the feeling she wouldn’t blink twice if I caught on fire.”
I hear Natalie unlock a door then I hear it click closed. “Mothers don’t like any girlfriends. Do you think Adam’s mother loved me when we first met? Hell no, she didn’t. She thought I was the devil who was taking away her only son. Just gotta kill her with kindness, and you’ll grow on her. Remember you’re always the second woman. Trust me on that.” Natalie laughs, and I remember some of the stories she’d told me when they first started dating, and it helps me relax slightly about my situation. It’s been so long since I’ve been in any sort of real relationship that I forget these types of things are normal.
“Thanks, Nat. Oh, don’t forget to pick me up from the airport around five tonight.”
“Yeah, babe. I know. I’ll be there. Just hope you don’t get delayed. The snow won’t fucking stop. I feel like I’m in a frozen winter hell.”
I can’t help but smile. “Don’t jinx me, dammit! I’ll text you as soon as the plane lands or if I get delayed beforehand. I’d better go pack because I have to get going soon if I’m going to make it there on time.” I look at the clock and realize I have to leave in an hour.
Natalie squeals. “Can’t wait to see you!”
We say our goodbyes, and I start packing my suitcase. I grab all my toiletries from the bathroom and make sure I don’t leave anything behind, even though I’ll be back soon. Just as I glance over, I see the Styrofoam box that Alex set on the dresser last night. My keys are sitting right next to the fork. I open the box and see it’s a giant piece of chocolate cake. Smiling, I decide I’m taking it to the airport with me and eating it while I wait for my plane.
After everything is packed, I roll my suitcase down to the car. The airport is a little over an hour away, and I should leave soon, but this time, I’m not going anywhere without telling Alex goodbye. Once my foot hits the bottom step, I see John rushing toward me. He grabs my suitcase and carries it to the car for me like a perfect gentleman.
“You coulda called me. I would’ve been happy to help you with this.”
“I know, I know. I’m just used to doing most things by myself and forget to ask. Thank you so much, though,” I tell him as he loads the suitcase in the trunk before shutting it.
Just as I turn around, I see Alex walking and looking straight at me.
“Safe travels, River. We’ll see you real soon,” John says then walks back inside, giving Alex and me some privacy.
“Hey you,” Alex says. His clothes are dirty, and he even has dirt on his face and hat.
“What the hell?” I look him up and down, lingering a little too long on his package. Those tight pants are giving away his secrets, and I can’t help but glance down.
He lifts his hat and scrubs a hand over his face and hair. “The cowboy life is rough.” A sexy smirk plays on his lips as he notices where I was looking. His hair is disheveled, and he looks so damn sexy as he stands in front of me.
“I knew you’d be leaving soon, so I wanted to give you a proper goodbye and get your number; something I shoulda done a long ass time ago,” he says, pulling out his phone and unlocking it. I grab it and program my number into his contacts, then text myself so I’ve got his too.