Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Not now. Please.
“Yes?” Ethan leaned his head to the side and called out to him. “I didn’t ask for anyone to bring anything out here.”
Saying nothing, the waiter slowly raised his hand.
What’s in his hand? Oh no!
A gun gleamed in the moonlight.
Not again.
My heart plummeted.
What is going on?
“No! What are you doing?!” Ethan rose and jumped in front of me, making sure to block any harm directed my way.
Fast, the waiter lowered the gun and raced away.
Oh my God!
Ethan’s voice grew shaky. “I don’t know who the hell that is, but I will get him.”
Shivering, I stood. “He’s trying to kill me.”
“What?”
“Yes.” My hands shook at my side. “I don’t know what I did, but this isn’t the first time—”
“Not the first time?”
“No.”
“Well, no one is taking you from me. This ends tonight.” Ethan ran off. “Stay there!”
“What? Wait!” I held my hands out. “But! Shit. Be careful!”
Like a maniac, Ethan sped off, rounded the corner, and disappeared.
God, no.
I didn’t think Ethan should have done that. Of course he was a gentleman for trying to protect me. However, the waiter had a gun. Ethan had nothing.
Can he fight?
Another twig cracked. I quickly looked around, but saw nothing.
Fuck. I can’t stay here, but where do I go? Back inside?
Suddenly, the waiter appeared at the end of the path again.
No. How?
Did he hide in the shadows and let Ethan speed by? Or was this some sort of magical being sent to constantly kill me and keep me down?
I screamed, “What did I do to you?!”
Fast, he raised the gun.
Then, shots ripped through the air.
No!
I dove for the ground, but it was too late. A bullet hit me in the arm, splintering bone. A shockwave of pain exploded. Another got me in the neck.
Slowly, I choked on blood as my vision darkened.
Chapter 8
No Ass At All
The first thing I heard was the melodic beginning of Remember the Time.
I’m not dead.
I fluttered my eyes opened and gasped.
Everyone jammed to the beat.
But. . .am I cursed?
“Yes. I love M.J.” Claire clapped her hands.
So. . .I’m okay. . .like before. And in this moment. . .like before.
I touched my neck and arm. No marks or scars. Not only was time rewound to the beginning, but my healthy body returned too, just like before.
I’m cursed.
M.J. began singing.
I considered the killer in the maze. He had to be the same person who gave me champagne in the other moment. I guessed that it held poison, but. . .I didn’t realize the poison had been intended only for me to drink.
This crazy person wanted me dead, not Ethan. I was the target, but why?
Still clapping, Claire chuckled. “Maya?”
I looked up.
She pointed to her green purse. “I have a special something in here to relax you this evening. Just let me know at the Gala when you want to go out and have a break.”
“I kind of want it now, but. . .” I glanced at Ryan.
Ryan rolled his eyes at me.
I pointed at him. “I am not having sex with your husband, so get it out of your mind.”
“Eh!” Horace raised his hands. “Where the hell did that come from?!”
“Ryan has tons of panties in his purse, thinking they are mine.” I shook my head. “They are not.”
Ryan glared and gripped the champagne glass until his knuckles turned pale white. “If the panties aren’t yours, then how do you know they are in there?”
“Because last time you slung them all over the place.”
Ryan eyed me. “Last time?!”
“Hey, guys!” Horace waved his hands. “What are we doing? What is this?”
“Those panties are yours!” Ryan slung the glass to the floor and dug into his purse. “You have shitty taste and these show it!”
“Oh, here we go.” I shook my head.
Ryan yanked all the panties out and began slinging them at me. “You ruined my marriage!”
Shocked, Horace held the sides of his head. “Ryan!”
“You know what?” I picked up the green pair and began to put them on under my purple gown. “I’ll show you.”
“Maya, no.” Claire widened her eyes in horror.
“I bet they don’t even fit.” I climbed into them. “Then, maybe you will see it isn’t me.”
“How did this happen?” Horace touched his chest like he was having a heart attack. “We were just. . .laughing and. . .”
I yanked the panties up, under my gown, and bent over, almost bumping into Shi.
Then, I lifted the bottom of my dress up. “See. They’re hanging in the back because I have no ass! No ass at all!!”
Shi’s mask went sideways. Perhaps because her mouth had dropped open.
Claire gasped.
Bernard turned the other way.
Horace began hyperventilating.
But, at least Ryan leaned his head to the side. “They don’t fit.”
“I told you.” I dropped the dress, slid my hands under the fabric, and yanked the panties off. “I have no ass at all, so sometimes I still get panties in the teen section.”