Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“Meh.” I shrugged. “I think she can handle him.”
“Good luck to her, then.” Deke’s body moved a bit, and he stood so close to me I could feel the heat of it again. “Will you walk with me? I wanna show you something.”
THIRTY-FOUR
DAVINA
I followed Deke out of Chester’s condo, and he led the way to the elevators.
“Where are you going?” I asked, glancing back at the door before looking at him.
“You’ll see.” The elevator chimed, the doors parted, and Deke disappeared inside.
After shooting off a quick text to my sister to let her know I would be back, I rounded the corner to get into the elevator with him. Deke pressed the button to go up, and when the doors pulled together, I drew in a breath, realizing we were alone. Again.
He shifted closer to me, and the back of his hand brushed mine. It was the faintest feeling, yet it sent goose bumps up my arms. I cleared my throat, relieved that the elevator had stopped to let us off.
Deke stepped out first, pushed a door open, and led the way outside. My heels clicked on the cement as I followed his lead, and suddenly he was bathed in blue light.
We were on the rooftop, where a turquoise pool radiated its light on every surface. White lounge chairs were lined neatly around it, with buttoned gray-and-white umbrellas between them. Three canopied cabanas were on the opposite side of the pool, along with a vacant bar only steps away.
Deke drained his drink and set the glass down on a nearby table before walking toward the canopies. I brought my drink close to my chest, taking careful steps after him.
I watched as he pushed one of the curtains of the canopy away to reveal a cushioned bed inside. When he pinned the curtain back, he asked, “Wanna sit?”
I fought a smile, finished my drink, set the glass down, then kicked out of my heels. I sat on the edge of the canopy bed, letting my feet rest on the step below. Deke followed suit and kicked out of his shoes before sitting next to me.
He tipped his chin, looking toward the gold-lit skyscrapers and the dark, endless ocean ahead. Chester’s condo was in the heart of the city. I heard cars driving on the street below and the ocean roaring in the distance. Paired with the drink I had, the sounds were a soothing combination.
“This is nice,” I sighed.
“Yeah?” He glanced at me. “Figured you’d like it.”
“I do. But I’m still mad at you for setting me up to come here in the first place,” I told him, fighting a grin.
He released a belly-deep laugh, then ran his tongue over his bottom lip. “How else was I going to see you again?”
I faltered when his eyes fell to my lips before slowly dragging back up to connect with mine. “You’d have seen me again one day,” I managed to say. “We work together, remember?”
“Yeah, well, tonight feels better. One day could’ve been months from now.” He faced forward again, the skin around his eyes softening. “So be real with me, D. Why did sending my number make you wanna stop talking to me?”
I swallowed and lowered my line of vision to the ground. “I told you. I got really busy with work.” The lie slipped straight through my teeth.
As if he sensed that lie, he said, “I don’t believe you.”
“Why not? You aren’t the only person with a crazy schedule, Deke.” I dared myself to look up at him, and his face was serious. The rippling waters reflected off his warm eyes like jewels, and my breath caught a bit. His jawline was defined beneath the scruff, his lips supple and freshly damp from his tongue.
“No bullshit, remember?” His voice was lower, breathier.
I dropped my head again, staring at my hands now. I rubbed the wedding band and the cushion-cut ring that still occupied my finger.
“Okay. You’re right. No bullshit.”
He sat up taller, waiting for me to speak again.
“It’s just . . . I was talking to Tish, and she mentioned a few things about how you treat me and the attention you’ve shown me recently, and I tried to think nothing of it, because I was okay with us being friends and staying in touch. But then you sent your number, and to me, that felt like a step above friends, if that makes sense. Because we would’ve been talking even more, and texts would’ve transitioned to calls, and I don’t want you having the wrong idea, Deke. I mean, I really like talking to you. You’re a great human with a great heart, and any woman would kill to have that, but I don’t want you pouring all your attention into a woman who is in fucking shambles. It’d be a waste of your time, and you deserve better than to be someone else’s leftovers.” I paused. “Plus, I’m not looking to be with anyone else right now . . . in a serious way. I just don’t think it would be a smart move for me.”