Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
He frowned. “Well, that’s pretty fucked up.”
I looked down at his red handprint on my skin. My traitorous nipples went hard at the sight, which was so twisted I wouldn’t even try to analyze it.
I cleared my throat. “I hate spiders. I would’ve freaked out if I’d known it was crawling on me. So thank you.” Brushing my fingertips along the spot, which still burned a little, I added, “Although, I’m surprised you didn’t just leave it there for your own pleasure.”
He arched a brow, seeming less than amused. “Why would I get pleasure out of that?”
First and foremost, because I had proof he didn’t like me. And I’d never understood why. I hadn’t done anything to deserve it. I’d also never had the opportunity to ask him why he felt that way. This had been a long day for both of us, so maybe I should’ve stopped myself, but I didn’t.
“Why do I think you’d derive pleasure from seeing a spider on me?” I asked, still rubbing the spot he’d smacked. “Because we both know you don’t like me. And based on that, I have to say…I’m surprised you’re okay with this living arrangement.”
His eyes narrowed. “Who said I don’t like you?”
“Actually…you did.” I swallowed, my heartbeat accelerating.
His jaw tightened. “I never said that.”
“Not to my face.”
“Explain.”
I’d held it inside for so long. Never even told Brad that I knew—because I was too ashamed and didn’t want to start a war between him and his oldest friend. I loved Brad that much.
I decided to just spit it out. “I accidentally saw a text you sent Brad when he and I first started dating.”
Josh’s Adam’s apple moved. “Okay…”
“His phone was on the counter while he was in the shower. He’d sent you a photo of us. You responded and said…” I paused, cringing at the memory. “That there was something about my face that bothered you.”
He blinked and looked away for a moment. “Well, obviously you weren’t meant to see that.”
“Obviously,” I muttered, feeling bitterness at the back of my throat.
“Look…” He sighed. “I didn’t know anything about you. If I’d known you and he would end up getting engaged, I might not have—”
“Shared your true feelings?” I crossed my arms, although I really wanted to punch him.
“It was a dumb thing to say.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I didn’t mean it literally.”
“You didn’t mean it literally?” I lowered my voice, realizing I’d just shouted and didn’t want to wake up Scottie. “How else can you not like a face…if not literally?”
Josh remained silent as he looked down at the floor.
I’d really caught him off guard. Good. He deserved it.
“I never told Brad I saw it,” I admitted. “As much as I hated you for that text, I didn’t want to cause a rift. I knew how much you meant to him—for some godforsaken reason.”
Josh finally looked me straight in the eyes. “I should’ve never said that, and I apologize. Truly. And as much as you don’t seem to believe me, that text really meant nothing.” He blew out a long breath and softened a bit. “I guess this explains why you were never my biggest fan. Brad told me you didn’t like it when he came to visit because you didn’t trust me. I figured it was because you thought I was a bad influence. Now I know there was more to it.”
“I did worry when he was with you.”
“You shouldn’t have. Brad’s a grown man with a mind of his own.” He paused. “Was a grown man.” He shook his head. “I still have a hard time thinking about him in the past tense.”
My throat felt heavy. “Well, that’s one thing we have in common.”
Josh looked down at his shoes and slipped his hands into his pockets. Then he turned toward the living room. “I guess I should find a blanket or something to sleep with.”
“Let me see if there’s something in Wayne’s closet,” I said, still feeling a little bitter.
Josh followed me to the room where I’d be sleeping, just off the kitchen.
When I opened the closet, it was filled from floor to ceiling. All of Wayne’s clothes were still hanging there. It smelled a bit musty, so I made a mental note to clean it out as soon as I had a second to breathe.
“I guess this was Wayne’s solution to the lack of storage space in this house,” I said as I rummaged through. “Just pack everything in here?”
Josh turned on a lamp in the corner of the room. “Brad kept offering to buy him a bigger place, but Wayne never wanted to leave this cabin. This is where he had all his memories with Yvonne, where they started their family.”
“I can understand that.” I turned to face him. “They lost her so young.”