Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“Damn, baby girl.” He pulls away first, and I mourn the loss. “I’m leaving now before I walk you to the back room and let you finish giving me one hell of a welcome home.”
“Okay, I’ll see you at home.”
“Fuck yeah, you will.” I’m left in a lust-induced fog courtesy of the man I’m falling for, and I’m finding I like that, a lot.
24
STORMY
While everything seems good on the surface after Griff is home, there’s something I have yet to tell him. Between my nap and the self-care Sunday, Aunt Catherine called saying she needed to stop by. Of course, I told her to come on over. The news she delivered wasn’t what I wanted to hear. For most of the wedding stuff, the deposits covered the potential cancellation of the wedding. Minus the venue, the most expensive part of the stupid farce I didn’t want anyways. Who gets married at a country club when you’re not even a part of it, but your future husband and his family are? This could have all been avoided if I had put my foot down, telling them both no, instead of putting it on my credit card, which is now maxed out. Zach said he’d help pay for it. I should have known. Aunt Catherine being the woman she is tried to work around paying for the ceremony at a reduced rate. When that didn’t work, she went to Laura, asking if there was a way she could talk to the country club. That’s probably why she made her appearance today. Instead of being an adult and talking to me or even my aunt, she does this instead. And yes, I’m aware my mom and aunt have put out a lot of fires that the adult in me should have done. I still kept my mouth shut, licked my wounds, and left everyone alone.
At least Mom only helped pay the deposit instead of the whole damn thing. Ten thousand dollars. I don’t even have the full amount in my savings account. I’m going to have to come clean and tell Griff eventually. For the time being, I’m going to pay my mom back first. She deserves that money, it’s hers, and it was my sheer stupidity to ask for help when I knew I couldn’t afford it completely.
Fucking Zach and his empty promises. I shouldn’t have believed him. He was all, ‘We’ll pay it off once we’re married. Just put it on your card.’ Why didn’t I make Laura foot the bill since that’s where she wanted it in the first place? I guess the good news is, everything else is being refunded minus the deposits. Those are long gone, but hey, at least I was only paying for the ceremony. Zach’s family was in charge of the reception, which was even more money. I swear to God if she tries to nail me with that bill, I’ll find the most expensive attorney, go into even more debt in order not to. Twenty-five-thousand dollars for a reception, fully catered with wait staff, open bar, and flowers out the wazoo.
“There you go, looking as beautiful as ever.” I finished Marie up while in my head. She talked while I listened with half an ear and responded, and for the first time in my career, my heart wasn’t in it. It’s a good thing I can do this in my sleep.
“It looks great, thank you so much.” I take the cape off her, then move her hair in a manner so she can see the cut and style.
“You’re welcome. I’m sorry you got a show while you were here.” Marie would never hold what happened with Laura against me. I still feel like I should apologize.
“There’s nothing for you to worry about. She should be ashamed of herself, not you. Keep your chin up and enjoy that hunk of a man who clearly loves you.” Marie stands up, hugs me, goes through the motions of paying me, and leaves me with a tip I wasn’t expecting. And it wasn’t the monetary kind either. I already knew I was falling for Griff, quicker than what society deems is normal. Especially after being the runaway bride in a jilted kind of way. The truth of the matter is, I am falling, hard and fast. If I keep thinking about all this, I’m going to lose my mind. I may as well clean up my area and the floors while I wait for my next client. The broom is already near my station, so I grab it and get to work. My area is done first. Marie only wanted a trim, so it was an easy cleanup. The rest of the ladies still have clients in their seats.
“You okay, honey?” Kitty asks when I move near her.
“I am. Upset that Griff is hurt and he had to fight my battle, but I’m also really freaking happy all the same.” For the first time today, I don’t think about the mountain of debt or how this is putting me off track in my savings account. If Kitty decides to sell, there are other ways around purchasing the salon besides putting a wad of cash on the table.