Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
It seems to get a squeal of delight from all the women of her family. We move around the room, and Tara stops suddenly when we are standing in front of a young woman that is around the same age as Tara. I can feel Tara’s body tense next to me. I look around the room, and from the glint in the eye of the woman standing in front of me she is the cause of the sudden frigid air around us.
“Tara. Looks like you’ll win the ugly sweater contest this year. Definitely the ugliest.”
“Hey!” I start, but Tara puts a hand to my chest.
“Baker, this is my cousin Hilda. Hilda, this is my b…”
“Boyfriend,” I say, interrupting her, pulling her close into my side and kissing her on the forehead. I don’t even look at Hilda because I can already tell I don’t like her.
Hilda looks between the two of us and grins mischievously. “Right! I don’t believe it.”
Tara seems to deflate on the spot. And it gets even worse when Hilda puts her hand on my chest. I’ve never wanted to harm a woman in my life, but right now I’d like to.
“So, Baker, when you get tired of playing games with her, how about you call me up?” She pats me on the chest and walks away.
Stunned, I stand there like a lump on a log. I’ve never dealt with anyone so arrogant and just a plain asshole. At least not a woman. “Tara—” I turn to her, but I realize it’s too late.
Tara’s face is white. So white she looks like she may pass out. “Are you okay?” I reach for her, but she holds her hands up, evading my hold. “I just need a minute.”
She tries to smile at me, but it’s right in the middle of a sob that she takes off running from the room.
I look around the room, wondering what I should do. Tara obviously doesn’t want to talk to me right now, but I can’t just leave her upset like that. I look to see if anyone else noticed it when a small man walks toward me. “Looks like my Hilda struck again.”
“Your Hilda? You’re married to that woman?”
He looks sad about it when he answers me. “Yep, I am.”
“Wow!” is all I say. Poor guy. She’s definitely not nice, and she seems to flirt with men even if she’s married.
“She’s always had it out for Tara. It got worse when I finally agreed to go on a date with her.”
Confused, I look at him in question. “Why’s that?”
He shakes his head and smiles. “Sorry. Let me introduce myself. I’m Cameron. I dated Tara in high school and up until she left for college. I would have stayed with her too, but she broke it off before she went.”
“So you married her cousin?”
“Yeah. Trust me, I should have waited for Tara and begged her to take me back,” he says, his voice full of regret.
My hands clench at my sides. I look around at all the people laughing and having a good time. Tara and I should be doing that. Not letting Hilda and now Cameron ruin this for us.
“Well, it was nice to meet you, Cameron,” I tell him, even though it’s a lie. I start to walk away and stop, feeling like I need to say more. “She’s mine. Tara’s mine now,” I tell him, wanting him to know without a doubt he doesn’t have a chance of getting her back.
I go in search of Tara all around the upstairs and then back to the main floor. Against Janet’s advice, I grab a glass of eggnog and down it in one swig. Christmas music is blasting in the backyard, so I go to the front. And there is where I find Tara. She’s sitting on the porch, her knees are pulled up to her chest, and she’s so deep in thought she doesn’t even lift her head up until I sit down next to her on the stoop.
“What are you doing out here by yourself?” I ask her.
She lifts her red-rimmed eyes to me. “Can I talk to you?”
“Yes.”
“Hilda is married,” she starts.
“I don’t care…” I try to butt in, but she holds her hand up to stop me.
I reach for her, but she shakes her head. “No. I can’t do this touching you. Let me just get this out. Okay?”
I nod my head because I can feel this is important, and I don’t want to mess it up for her. But the fact she won’t let me touch her doesn’t sound like this is going to go in my favor.
“I haven’t been very honest with you, and I hate that, because I’m usually a very honest person.”
She looks at me, but I just stare back at her and wait patiently.