Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
There were two relevant search results, and Tilly's brows furrowed at the rather deceptive difference between the two. One website was named Heart's Match and then another one was called Hearts' Match.
Hmm.
If she ended up sending a message to the wrong company, she also risked exposing sensitive information about the couple, which was what she was trying to prevent in the first place.
Plan B then.
After creating a new Facebook account, Tilly sent an anonymous message to Harry and crossed her fingers after hitting Send. Hopefully, the other woman would see it in time and nip Caryn's plans in the bud.
Tilly's younger sister already had their dinner heated and ready on the table by the time she got back home. "Mm. Smells good."
"It should, since you're the one who made it." A thoughtful expression flitted over Billie's face as she watched her sister kick her clogs off and wriggle her toes with a blissful sigh.
"Let me guess," Billie said knowingly. "Caryn bullied you again, didn't you?"
"Because I'm your older sister and I must set a good example, I'm going to lie and tell you, no, she did not bully me, and if she ever tried to do so, I absolutely would not stand for it."
Billie smirked. "But if you weren't my sister?"
"Then you'd be absolutely correct." Tilly made a face when her younger sister snickered. "You're supposed to feel sympathetic, you ungrateful brat. I'm only biting my tongue around her for you."
"Nuh uh. I told you I didn't have to go to school---"
Tilly let out a gasp of horror. "Mary Billie Jean! Are you saying you don't trust me to see you through until college?"
Billie rolled her eyes. "Quit the theatrics, sis."
"Then stop saying you're okay to quit school." She paused to feed herself a spoonful of mac & cheese before adding for good measure, "Ungrateful brat."
"Just saying."
"Anyway..." She briskly changed the subject. "Any good thing that happened in school today?"
"We're tackling Romeo & Juliet in Lit."
"Ooooh. Leo and Claire Danes. I love that movie."
Billie tried not to grin, but it was impossible. "Most people would think of Shakespeare first."
Tilly gazed at her sister in confusion. "Shake what?"
Billie laughed. "You're crazy, Tilly. You really are."
Only for you, Tilly thought even as she glowered and feigned outrage. She might not be able to give her sister the prettiest clothes or the coolest gadgets, but things she could afford, like love, care, and laughter, she made sure Billie had in abundance.
"...Tilly?"
She quickly refocused on her sister. "Sorry, what was that?"
"Is it okay if I sleep over at Mitch's tomorrow? We've got this project to finish by Monday."
"What's it about?"
"Capitalism."
"Wow. Back when I was in high school, capitalism was what Washington, D.C. was to America. Or - wait - is it New York now?"
"Will you please be serious?" Billie begged between giggles.
"I am being---" The sudden ringing of her phone cut Tilly off, and a groan escaped her when she saw the name that flashed on its screen.
"Who is it---" Billie took a peek at the caller's name and scowled. "Doesn't Caryn know you don't work for them 24/7?"
"She knows," Tilly answered with a sigh. "But she also knows I can't afford to say no. And it's not like I don't get paid for overtime."
"Doesn't matter," Billie grumbled. "I wish you were the one who married Mr. Hodge instead---"
"I don't think so." Tilly couldn't help cringing at the very idea.
"If you had---"
"I never would. For starters, he's totally not my type."
"So? It's not like he's Caryn's type either."
"He...could be." But as soon as the words were out, Tilly sent a prayer to the winds, hoping the heavens wouldn't strike her down for such a colossal lie.
Billie's gaze bored through hers. "He's decades older than her, Tilly."
Apparently, she had just sinned for nothing.
Tilly lifted her chin. "So? Numbers are nothing when you're in love."
"I respectfully disagree," Billie said loftily. "To women like Caryn, numbers are everything when they're the kind written on checks and bank balances."
"Mary Billie Jean!" Tilly shot her sister a look of reproof. "There's no pride to be found in being a jaded little smart-butt!"
Billie rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to turn into dust if you say the A-word, Tilly."
Tilly ignored this, saying, "You're thirteen, not eighty."
Billie opened her mouth to argue this, but when she saw Tilly glaring at her, the younger girl backed down with a sigh. "You win, big sis, but only because I don't want you to go back to work in a bad mood."
Tilly wasn't satisfied. "And?"
"And I promise---" To pretend, Billie coughed under her breath. "I still believe in unicorns, Santa Claus, and true love."
Tilly huffed in indignation. "I know you're making fun of me, but when you get older, you'll see," she grumbled. "The day will come you'll realize I was right: it's always better to lie to one's self. How do you think Caryn's able to sleep next to---oh dear. What am I saying?"