Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
A smart woman would have walked away then. She would have lit a match and set fire to the entire clusterfuck that was this situation. But I was never a smart woman, and if you didn’t believe me, all you had to do was ask my mother.
Chapter Fourteen
When I got home that night, I found Nicole sitting at the breakfast bar. She was staring at a bouquet of Morning Glories and an expensive bottle of red wine that sat untouched in front of her. A quick glance at the label revealed it was a 2009 blend from the south of France.
“What’s this?” I teased. “Do you have another secret admirer I don’t know about?”
She glanced up at me, and I immediately regretted my lighthearted joke. Her eyes were red and puffy.
“Nicole, are you okay?”
I moved around the breakfast bar to hug her, but she retreated backwards, holding her hands up in a placating gesture.
“I’m fine,” she croaked. “Sorry, but it’s been a long day. Would you mind… getting rid of that stuff while I take a shower?”
“Sure.” I nodded in confusion. “Do you want me to put it somewhere?”
“Just get it out of the apartment,” she whispered. “So I don’t have to look at it again.”
I picked up the flowers while Nicole padded to her room. The blooms were already drooping in the evening light of the apartment, and I found it a strange selection for someone to send Nicole. I wasn’t a flower connoisseur, but I thought I once read that these were a symbol of mortality or something along those lines.
When I stepped into the elevator, I bumped right into Ryland and nearly dropped everything in my arms. His lips tilted up at the corners as he helped me to regain my balance.
“Are you going to be popping up like this all the time now?”
The irritation in my voice was clear, but I couldn’t control it. I was still in shock from the big reveal, and the more I thought about it, the more questions I had.
He didn’t seem fazed though because he was too busy staring at the flowers in my arms.
“What are you doing with those?”
“I’m taking them to the trash. I think some creep sent them to Nicole, and she doesn’t want them.”
His gaze narrowed, and I wondered if he thought I was lying to him. Or perhaps he was upset someone had sent Nicole flowers. I still couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on between them, and it irritated me further to even think about it.
“What’s the deal with you two?” I questioned.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean is there something going on between you and Nicole? Or anyone else for that matter?”
His expression softened as he took a step closer and tilted my chin up to meet his gaze.
“Would it bother you if there were?”
“Of course it would bother me,” I snapped. “I don’t know who else you’re playing these sick games with, and I think it’s only fair I know if I need to protect myself. You haven’t used a condom once since we’ve been together, and…”
“Brighton.” He smiled, completely derailing my train of thought. “Do you really think I’ve waited this long for you only to have someone else come along and distract me?”
“I don’t know.” I frowned. “I didn’t know that you had waited for this to happen. You acted like I didn’t even exist that first day you saw me again…”
Something occurred to me then. Something I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of before. “How did you know I would come to San Francisco?”
“I arranged the apprenticeship,” he said. “I had no doubts you would take it, but even if you didn’t, you’d be here regardless.”
“So this whole time, you’ve been testing me?” I accused. “With Stacey and with… who else is in on this?”
He opened his mouth, but I didn’t give him a chance to answer.
“Oh God, was that thing with Tom at the bar a test too?”
His jaw tightened, and it was answer enough. “I had to be sure you weren’t like your family.”
“You mean like Norma-Jean?” I snapped. “Because I’m nothing like her. And neither is Brayden. He’s a good person, and I thought you were his friend. I don’t understand why you’re doing this to him!”
The elevator doors drew open, and he shook his head in clear warning. I knew what I asked was against the agreement, but I had too many questions, so recklessly, I persisted.
“Tell me why,” I demanded. “Tell me what happened between you two. Why were you at our house that night? Is that why you brought me into this?”
He didn’t answer, and it was infuriating me. So I kept peppering him with whatever questions I could think of.
“What about those initials you put on my back?” I asked. “They aren’t even yours. Are they someone else’s? A womans?”