Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“Excellent,” Cassie said, beaming. “We’ll get started on the paperwork. I have a friend at the bank who can expedite the purchasing process.”
Lark threw her arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re buying a place. It feels so permanent.”
“Don’t try to scare a girl away.”
She laughed. “I know you don’t like anything permanent, but you’re here to stay. None of us want you to leave ever again.”
And neither did I.
6
WHITLEY
Three weeks later, I moved into my new apartment. Katherine insisted on throwing a welcome party. Having all of my friends in my new place was magic. Katherine certainly knew how to throw a party, and there was enough charcuterie and finger food for me to munch on for the rest of the week after everyone left.
That night, Gavin had been as friendly as he’d been in text. Nothing out of place. Not any more or less flirtatious than normal. He was doing an incredible job of pretending like nothing had ever happened between us.
I was confused by it all, but I couldn’t deny that it made me relax. There had been this undercurrent of fear in every interaction before this. That every moment was being watched and judged and filed away for later about what Gavin and I were going to do. Even my friends had been waiting.
Once they saw that nothing was different, they’d all backed off. They still wanted us to get together. But the excitement of will they, won’t they was gone.
We were friends. Just friends.
The Monday after I had my housewarming party, a knock sounded at my door. I’d just finished blowing out my hair and thrown on something for work.
I yanked open the door to find Gavin King standing there with two cups of coffee. “Hey, neighbor.”
I blinked. “Hey.”
“Got you coffee before heading to the office.”
“Oh, thank you.” I took the cup in my hand and blew on the top. I took a sip and glanced up at him in surprise. “This is delicious.”
“Yeah, I told you, you have to go around the block to get the good stuff.”
“Well, you were right.”
“As per usual,” he said with a smile. “You headed out?”
“I have to finish my makeup, and then yeah. You have to go?”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I have to be in at seven thirty. Try to leave a half hour ahead of time with the car service.” He trailed off as he saw me eyeing him. “What?”
“Car service? In this city? What a pain. Just take the subway.”
He looked at me for a minute, as if he’d never considered the possibility.
I laughed at him. “Go to work, King. Thanks for the coffee.”
I closed the door on him and finished my makeup. Work was grueling. Dr. Varma was already trying to lay on more responsibilities. I’d only been there a few weeks, and I could see that he was itching to take the entire summer off to visit family in Pakistan.
I didn’t have any plans until English’s wedding. I’d left all my wedding invites and party plans and the rest of my life back in LA. As long as I kept my weekends for my sanity, I’d be fine.
The next four days, Gavin appeared with coffee at my door promptly at seven in the morning. On the fifth day, when it didn’t appear, I peeked through my door in confusion. Maybe I’d gotten used to him bringing me my morning fix.
I worked on my makeup and grabbed a light jacket and my purse before heading down the elevator. I left earlier than normal so that I could find this coffee shop that he’d proven was the best.
But when I stepped off the elevator, Gavin was standing there with two cups of coffee in his hands.
He laughed when he saw me. “Sorry, running late.”
“You don’t have to do this every morning.” Even if I liked it. “I can get my own coffee, you know?”
“Sure,” he said, handing me my coffee. “But if I’m going anyway …”
“Then, you can take your car service straight to your office instead of walking all the way back up to my apartment.”
He grinned. “What do you have against my car service? I could drive you?”
“Or you could take the subway with me.”
“I’ll stick with being above ground, thank you.”
I snorted as we passed through the front doors. A sleek black car waited out front.
“Well, that’s me,” he said with a grin. “Until Monday.”
“You really don’t have to get me coffee,” I said, holding the cup in my hand protectively.
“Ah, but then I wouldn’t get to see you in the morning.”
I rolled my eyes. “Such a flirt, King.”
“You’re the one who moved into my building, Bowen. These are the consequences.”
Then, he hopped into his car and disappeared into the New York City traffic.
What an infuriating man. Yet I couldn’t stop smiling.
Coffee continued for another week. I’d make sure I was finished getting dressed by the time that he brought it, so we could take the elevator downstairs together. He’d hop into his little black car and drive away while I traipsed to the subway to get to work. Showing up a half hour early wasn’t a problem. In fact, it was almost necessary with paperwork stacking up in my office. I had client meetings all day and surgeries the rest of the week. Though it was a tremendous amount of work, I never regretted a minute of it. I loved it. I loved it more than my work in LA.