Total pages in book: 191
Estimated words: 182070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
My neighbor nodded, and in the time it took me to reach for the handle to Boogie’s car and open it, the gate into the complex was opening and the window to his car was up. Ducking into the sedan, I closed the door and smoothed my skirt down my thighs—at least as far down my thighs as it would go—and turned to the two men in the front.
Leaning over, I wrapped a forearm around Boogie’s neck, pretending to choke him at the same time, and he squeezed my forearm. Then, because I was an adult and because I wasn’t going to flip out that Zac was in the car, I only hesitated for about a millisecond before patting him on the shoulder, totally not noticing how muscular that part of his body was.
Or how he smelled like some subtle, expensive cologne.
“Hey. I wasn’t expecting both of you.” I shot my cousin a look, but he was facing forward, putting the car into Drive while I put my seat belt on.
He could’ve given me a warning, and we both knew it, but okay.
Zac turned in the seat enough to give me a good view of that blondish brown stubble along his jawline and the sliver of the smile he had aimed at me—this pretty, friendly thing that was about as second nature to him as breathing probably was. He was just being himself. And it wasn’t like there was some invisible person beside me that he was happy to see, as surprising as it was that he was here in the first place. “Boog said you wouldn’t mind me taggin’ along,” he stated.
Something that wasn’t exactly guilt settled right inside my chest, and I remembered, and reminded myself just in case, that this was no big deal. We’d seen each other not long ago, and that it had been fine. We were both adults now, so going to eat was nothing either. Just two friends catching up. A two-for-one kind of deal—seeing his best friend that he didn’t see enough of and being forced to see me too since we were all in the same city and I already had plans with said best friend.
Right. Moving forward. No moving back.
And that helped me. It made it not so hard to say, “I don’t mind. It’s nice to see you again.”
That sounded forced as hell to my own ears. Probably to Boogie’s too since I used the same voice every time I talked to his girlfriend.
Zac smiled even wider though, oblivious to my half lie and how iffy I sounded, and Boog glanced back at me for a second, his own tiny smile on his face.
It was fine. It was good. No big deal. I was sure it had to be a relief for my cousin after so long of existing in the middle between us.
“I was just surprised. I thought you were some random stranger about to ask if I wanted some candy.” Apparently, I decided to try and joke, but there was still a little hesitation in my voice. Could I joke with him? Should I joke with him? Damn it, this was complicated. It didn’t need to be.
Everything was fine.
Zac faced forward again, giving me only the smallest view of his ear and the back of his head. “No candy, but I’ve got some beef jerky in my bag up here,” he said in return.
“I’m good,” I told him, cringing. I folded my hands in my lap and stared at the side of Boogie’s head, debating whether or not to kick his ass later. Technically I was fine, so he didn’t deserve an ass kicking.
But he still could’ve warned me so I could’ve mentally prepared myself.
“Did you get everything done that you wanted to today?” my cousin asked, like he could read my mind.
I was still staring at his profile. “Yeah. It went fast.” Glancing at Zac’s head again, I changed the subject. We didn’t need to bring that up in front of him. “Your meetings went okay? Did you have to deal with that guy you don’t like?”
Boogie nodded, attention still forward. “No, it was my lucky day. He called in sick. I got one more tomorrow morning, and then I drive home in the afternoon.”
The sound of my cell ringing had me sighing.
MAIO HOUSE
I hadn’t gotten around to altering its name to MAIO HOUSE SUCKS NOW, but I would.
“Sorry. Hold on a sec,” I muttered to Boogie, before saying, “Fuck,” under my breath as I hit the answer icon.
He nodded just as my boss’s voice answered with “Hello?”
I shouldn’t have answered; I knew I shouldn’t have. No smart person answered their phones when work called on a day off. I was hourly, not on salary. That’s what I told myself at least to justify not being a “team player.”