Total pages in book: 190
Estimated words: 185785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 185785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
“Okay,” I say, not feeling so sure and having more questions. But before I can ask them, he sits down beside me and gestures toward the closet door.
“Now, should we assess your dress situation?”
I rise, wiping my clammy hands on my jeans and head into the closet. I sift through what I’ve hung on the rack until I find two dresses that might work. I want to ask him what’ll happen to Ray if he doesn’t pay, but I don’t know if that’s wise, so I decide to let it lie for now.
I step out with hangers dangling from both of my index fingers.
He eyes them and I can’t get a read on his expression. He stares for what feels like a long moment before finally speaking.
“Been a while since you’ve had a new dress?”
I nod. Are these that bad? I look at the one in my left hand, then my eyes bounce to the one in my right.
“Those are both gorgeous. You’d look great on any red carpet in either dress. But, I need to ask you to allow me to buy you a dress. I want you to feel confident walking in there and I’d like to buy you a new dress as a little thank you for attending the opening with me tomorrow night.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
He flexes his jaw and draws in breath for what seems like a long moment before he answers. “You’re being cooperative about this marker business. It’s making my life easier. And I’ve got no reason to be not-nice to you.”
I stare at him for a moment. He waits patiently for my answer.
“Okay,” I concede.
“Good. Let’s go make dinner. I’m starving.” He rises.
“Okay. I’ll just – can I make a call first?”
“Of course you can. I’ll go get the groceries unpacked and start chopping some vegetables. You want me to pour you a glass of wine?”
“Oh, no thanks. I’m a little fuzzy from the two glasses I had already. I don’t drink that often. I might ruin dinner if I have more wine.”
He smiles. “Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
But maybe I need a little more liquid courage in order to spend more time with him tonight.
I’m feeling all sorts of nervous. My hands are clammy. My knees are wobbly. And I’m definitely feeling my nerves.
I head into the closet to hang the two dresses back up and then step back out and take it in again. This bedroom is absolutely stunning.
The bed is a pretty shade of blue, but the quilt is multicolored with raggedy ruffles in diamond-shaped patterns in rust, several colored ginghams, plaids, and solid colors. There’s a bouquet of flowers that’s just as whimsical and colorful. Country cottage or farmhouse chic style, which is in contrast to the rest of the apartment’s décor, but I love it.
The desk looks like something I’d have created myself with one of my upcycling projects. The drawers are all painted different colors and each drawer pull is different.
Above the bed is a beautiful wood palette-style art piece in grey distressed wood with a black dandelion sketch gone to seed. In pretty cursive script, it says, ‘Close your eyes and make a wish’.
“I always made wishes on dandelions,” I say aloud. “Until Ray broke me.” I shake my head and whisper, “I’m gonna start making wishes again.”
I look at the art and close my eyes and then I blow lightly into the air toward the painting, as if blowing seeds off that dandelion, wishing that I could somehow always feel as safe as I do right now, right here in Killian’s penthouse.
I open my eyes. He’s in the doorway, eyeing me curiously.
I jerk in surprise.
“What was that? Meditating?”
“Not exactly.”
He watches me for a long moment and eyes the painting.
“You like that art?”
“I love it. It’s like you know me or something.”
His expression goes tense.
“Or your decorator, I guess.”
He smiles. And then he says, “Problem. I forgot chow mein noodles.”
“Do you have rice? Or even regular pasta will work.”
“Maybe. I’ll look. Come see what we’ve got to work with?”
“Sure.”
“Did you make your call?”
“No.” I wave. “I’ll text her though and tell her I’ll catch up with her later.”
“The bank teller?”
“Yeah. She wanted me to check in. She wants to make sure I’m okay.”
“She seems to care about you.”
I nod and feel melancholy about how much time I’ve lost with my best friend. How many things she’s been through in the past two years that I haven’t been there for. The minute I finally call her, she drops everything to be there for me. I won’t let her down again. I plan to tell her that, too.
“She’s amazing. We’ve been out of touch, but it’s been good to reconnect.”
“She called me today,” Killian says as I follow him to the kitchen.
And I’m shocked.
“She did?” I tuck my phone into my pocket.