Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Should I fill one out too?” Halley had asked, and I had laughed out loud.
“No, your dad owns like half of Hollywood. You won’t qualify.”
Half of Hollywood, an apartment in Paris that Halley and I had stayed in last summer, a ski chalet that they called a cabin in Aspen, and this beautiful place.
Halley was still grinning when I reached her, a glint of mischief in her dark eyes. I couldn’t help smiling back, even though I didn’t trust that look. It had gotten us into more trouble than I wanted to remember right now.
“What’s up?” I asked, my mind already racing ahead to guess what it might be. She was going to try to talk me into swimming with sharks or cliff diving, or she’d gotten it in her head that we should go to that nudist beach after all.
“Oh nothing,” she said in a way that assured me it was definitely something.
I raised my eyebrows at her and waited, a half-smile on my lips even as I began constructing my arguments.
I don’t like heights or swimming with creatures that can eat me. I’ll take the pictures.
I’ll go to the nudist beach, but I’m not going fully nude. No, not even if you buy me unlimited tequila shots.
“Okay, it is something,” she said, glee squeezing around her attempt to sound nonchalant. She bounced up on her toes as we began walking back toward the house.
“Something you’re going to tell me?” I prodded. Halley didn’t usually draw out the suspense like this. She preferred the kamikaze-style attack where she threw everything she had at you so fast your head began spinning and you forgot that no was an option. I braced myself for the onslaught of reasons why I had to go base jumping or whitewater rafting or whatever dangerous activity she’d set her heart on.
To my surprise, Halley drew in a deep breath and darted me a quick, sideways glance. The glint had dimmed, replaced by a flicker of wariness. She rolled her lower lip beneath her teeth, the way she only did when she was nervous.
I slowed, genuine concern flaring up. I was used to that expression during finals–Halley was a last-minute studier–but never on vacation. “What is it?”
Halley kept walking another few paces, the bounce going out of her step. She knotted her hands in the hem of her gauzy dress, pulling it against her thigh. My concern was edging into worry, but when she turned around, she had a bright smile pasted across her face.
“I’ve just solved all your problems.”
Her voice was bright, but her words landed like darts on the thin skin of my pride. I tried not to flinch. “What problems?” I asked lightly.
She tilted her head in an exasperated, oh come on way.
I crossed my arms, hating the sympathy she was trying to conceal.
Halley blew out her breath again. “Lils, I know how stressed out you are about having to defer for a year. I know you’re still trying to figure out what you’re going to do. I know you almost bailed on this trip because you didn’t know if you could afford the airfare. And you know I’d do anything for you, right?”
“Right,” I said stiffly. “But you know I’d never ask you, so I’m not sure–”
“And you should know you don’t even have to ask me,” Halley said, a smile sneaking back across her face. She rocked from her heels to her toes and let go of the hem of her dress, brushing out the wrinkles.
My trepidation built. What had she done? “Halley–” I started.
“It’s perfect.” Her words rushed over mine. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before.”
“What’s perfect?”
“You need to make money for law school, right? And you’re interested in entertainment law, right?”
Her voice had hardened with determination, and she was firing the questions like I was on the stand, and she was cross examining the witness.
“I mean I’ve never said anything about entertainment law, but I’m not opposed to it,” I agreed. “But I don’t see how that…”
“And you need somewhere to live that isn’t going to eat up all the money you’re making, right?”
Part of me wanted to laugh, but I was too worried about where this line of questioning was leading. I didn’t bother answering, just tilted my head and waited for her to get to the point.
“So, what if I told you I knew exactly where you could get a decent paying job for as long as you need it and live for free?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but she did it for me.
“You’d say, ‘no, Halley. I couldn’t possibly.’” She lowered her voice gravely. “And I’d say, oh come on, Lily, what’s the big deal?” She went back into her imitation of my voice again. “And you’d say–”
“Halley!” I cried in exasperation, finally running out of patience. “Get to the point! What can’t you believe you didn’t think of before?”