Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“We can go to therapy.”
“I mean, you should go to therapy,” I agree with him.
“Where are you going to stay?” he asks like he’s suddenly worried about me.
“I can tell you where I’m not going to stay, and that is at our house.” Even saying the words makes my skin crawl. “I never, ever want to step foot in that place again.” I look around. “But for now, I’ll be there tomorrow. Then I guess we need to put the house on the market unless you want to buy me out so you can use it to keep fucking Sarah?” I don’t even give him a chance to say anything. “Goodbye, Daniel.”
4
ZARA
I toss the phone in the chair I was sitting in before turning back and grabbing the glass from Gabriella and taking a sip. “I need a shower,” I admit to the room, then look over at Zoey, who nods, “and some clothes.”
“I’ll get you something,” Zoey says, grabbing my hand. “Are you hungry?”
“I’ll order some food,” Ryleigh offers, pulling up her phone.
“I will…” Sofia looks at me. “I don’t know what I’m going to do because I’m literally in shock.” She takes a sip of the glass being passed around.
“I’m going to say something that I don’t know if any of you know,” Gabriella starts, “and I swear if anyone looks at me differently, I will cut a bitch.”
We stand here. “I know,” Ryleigh says, “and you can’t compare.”
“Romeo cheated on me,” she confesses, and my eyes go wide. “Not like Daniel cheating on you. He kissed a girl. Daniel had a girl naked on him,” Ryleigh adds, “but Romeo definitely didn’t do that.” She points at the phone. “And I forgave him.” She smiles. “I love him with everything I have.”
“He kissed another girl,” I tell her. “This guy was balls deep in someone else, in my bed.” I try to make her not feel bad. “AND has been for the past three years.”
“I know,” Gabriella says, “but it’s okay if you forgive him.” She tries to be kind. “No one is going to judge you.”
“I will.” Zoey holds up a hand. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t a kiss. This is an affair. He had an affair, and he might even, perhaps, have children.” Her eyebrows go up. “Plural.”
“I know,” Gabriella concedes, “I was just saying that it’s okay if she wants to forgive him.”
“Thank you for telling me.” I walk to her and give her a hug. “I’m sure it wasn’t easy.”
“I will say,” Gabriella goes on, “I am sorry, but I would have not forgiven all of that.” She lets me go. “A onetime thing is one thing, but that was…” She shakes her head. “That was insane… three years.”
“Why don’t we get her in the shower,” Nash suggests, “and then you can have all the heart-to-heart talk.”
“I’m going to have to tell my mother,” I finally say, “and then my father.”
“I’m going to have to restrain Matty,” Sofia adds, making us all laugh. “He already thought, and I quote, ‘The guy is a tool.’”
I snort. “What is it with the men and that saying?”
“I have no idea,” Zoey replies, and I follow her into her bathroom. “Are you going to be okay in here?”
“Are you asking me if I’m going to sob in your shower?” I ask, peeling my shirt off. “The answer might be yes. But I think I’ll be okay.”
“Do you want me to stay with you?” She sits on the toilet, and I know she wants to stay with me to make sure I’m okay, so I nod.
“Three years,” I mumble, getting into the shower until the water rains over my face. “Three fucking years.”
“That’s crazy,” she says to me. I don’t cry in the shower, which is surprising, and when I slip into a pair of pj’s, I feel a bit more human than I did thirty minutes ago.
We walk back to the living room, where the girls have now made themselves at home. “We have pizza, sushi, cookies, some Bundt cakes, and tequila.” Ryleigh holds up the bottle in her hand from her side of the couch.
“Where is Nash?” Zoey looks around for him.
“He said that he’s going to give you space, and if you need him, he’s in the office,” Sofia informs us. “And he said, under no circumstances are we to leave here to go and hurt him.” I walk over to the couch and slide into the corner, sitting with my knees to my chest. “How are you feeling?”
“Pretty much numb.” I look over at Gabriella. “How did you feel?”
“I went back to my place, packed up my shit, and left without saying a word to him.” I gasp. “He had no idea I was even there until he called me the next day.”
“What a douchebag,” Ryleigh snaps, making us all laugh. “Like, he’s my brother, but what a douchebag.”