Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
“Impressive, isn’t it?” The voice startled me, and I was even more surprised to see it was Kayla. So taken aback that I couldn’t even think of words. She smiled, seemingly amused by my reaction.
“What are you doing here?”
“Picking up some things I left at someone’s house.” She lifted the Le Bleu duffel bag in her hand for me to focus on. “Has Ben taken you to his place? Probably not, right?”
“That’s none of your business.” My ears were ringing.
I wondered where Amir was. We hadn’t yet filed a restraining order against Kayla, but seeing her here made me want to. We still hadn’t gotten proof of what had happened with the accident. The car had been taken to the pound and logged as a total loss with the insurance company.
“I can’t say I blame him for not taking you,” she said. “He likes to keep things hidden from the women he dates.”
“I don’t know what the point of all of this is. If it’s to scare me away from Ben, it won’t work. We’re adults, and we do as we please.”
“Of course.” She shrugged. “You’re probably only looking for a casual relationship.”
But I wasn’t, was I? I hated the way her words seemed to seep into my brain and marinate. And stew they would. I knew, and she seemed to know it as well.
“Don’t you have a book to write?” I asked. “Your claim to fame.”
“I never said I was going to write one. I said I could write one with all the things I know about him. The papers twisted my words.”
“I’m sure they did.” I stared at her.
She was really pretty, in an unassuming, fresh-faced way that might have made me feel slightly uncomfortable had it not been for the fact that I knew Ben didn’t want her.
“So, I’ll get out of your hair now,” she said, smiling. “Tell Ben I’ll see him when he’s finished exploring this…whatever he thinks this thing is with you. As if a princess would ever truly fall for a man from the other side of the tracks.”
“It doesn’t matter what side of the tracks he’s from. It matters what side he’s on now, and last time I checked, he was on mine.” I flashed her a smile. “But if you want to wait for him to go back to yours, be my guest.”
“Tell yourself whatever you want, Princess. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s not me or you he’ll choose. The two of us are distractions. I just happen to be a long-term one. But I know my place, and soon, you’ll know yours.” She walked away without another word, and I was left wondering what she meant by all of that.
“Is everything okay?” Amir asked from behind me. I jumped and turned to him. “I was here the whole time. I just didn’t want to overstep. You seemed like you had it handled.”
“Until she threw that last curveball.” I gnawed my bottom lip for a second before taking a deep breath and reminding myself of who I was and where I was. “But yes, I’m okay. Do we still not have news on the tires?”
“Not yet.” He looked at me. “I know you don’t want to make a big deal out of this because you think she’ll run to the papers if you place a restraining order against her, but I think it’s necessary. It’s getting out of hand.”
“I think you’re right.”
We started walking toward the entrance of the arena. Amir turned to me. “So, what does that saying mean? Threw a curveball? Is that an American thing?”
“I have no idea. Adeline says it all the time, and now I can’t seem to get rid of it.” I frowned, thinking about it. “I think it has to do with baseball.”
“Baseball? Who watches baseball?”
“Americans.” I felt myself smile. “And Adeline.”
“Interesting.”
We walked through the gates and into the section of the stadium where the lockers and suites were. The security guard escorting us pointed at things as we walked, giving us a tour of sorts. I tried really hard to pay attention, but I was too amazed at being here and walking these halls to wrap my head around any of the fun facts. He took us to the locker rooms, which were empty since the guys were on the field, but he couldn’t let us go inside because of that. We saw the suites, the dining hall, and the seating areas that only people with connections to the team and the media were allowed in. I knew my brothers had been in here with their friends, but of course I’d never been invited. It wasn’t like I’d ever asked to come. If I had, they would have brought me along. As we walked out toward the field, I felt the adrenaline pumping through me as if I were the one who was about to run out onto the pitch.