Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
After I inhale deeply, the sitter calls my name and tells me the car is here. I put my hand on my stomach before I grab my purse and walk out of the room. When I get to the bottom, I ask to zip me up the rest of the way before I lean down and kiss the girls. “I shouldn’t be late,” I tell the sitter, who waves with the girls at the door.
My stomach is in knots as I make my way over to the hotel where the event takes place. Looking out the window, I try not to talk myself out of turning back and going home.
I don’t have a chance to do anything because my door is opened by the doorman of the hotel. I smile at him before getting out and walking into the building. A big sign on the side of the staircase indicates where to go.
I walk up the staircase with a lump in my throat and my stomach feeling like it’s going to come out of my feet. I spot him right away; he’s dressed in a black suit that I’ve seen him wear before, but now it feels like it’s different on him. He stands with the guys talking but stops midsentence when he sees me. His eyes are on mine as if he doesn’t really believe I’m here. I hold up my hand to him, and he leaves the guys to come my way. “What are you doing here?” he asks when he stops in front of me. “You look amazing.” His voice is breathless and tight. “I would have picked you up.”
“It was a last-minute decision,” I tell him, trying to smile but feeling the tears. “I might leave in an hour or ten minutes. The jury is still out.”
He just shakes his head. “You say the word, and we’ll get out of here.” He motions with his head. “But first, you have to say hello.”
“Yeah, I was afraid of that,” I mumble as he puts his hand on my lower back. I spot a couple of the players who used to play with Benji. They are all super nice to me and friendly, and I’ve learned that even though they might have known he was on drugs, Benji was responsible for himself. At the end of the day, he was the one who had to look out for me and the girls, not them.
“Hi,” Andreas greets me, bending his head and kissing my cheek. “I’m happy you come here,” he says with his thick accent.
“Thank you.” I smile, taking his affection.
“You alone?” He looks around me to see if I have maybe a friend or a date.
“I’m alone.” I hold my purse in both hands to stop them from shaking.
“Good, good.” He chuckles.
“Go away,” Christopher says from beside me, and when I look over, I see him glaring at Andreas, who just laughs silently.
“What?” He shrugs before he walks away.
“That guy is a tool,” Christopher mumbles. “Do you want something to drink?”
“I think I am going to have something to drink.” I turn to him, not realizing how close I am to him. When I do turn, I also forget his arm is at my lower back so now I’m tucked into his side. I look into his soft eyes. “I am definitely getting a drink,” I whisper.
“I’ll go get you one,” Christopher offers but doesn’t move from beside me.
“In order to do that, one must move.” I giggle like a schoolgirl.
“Yeah.” He looks into my eyes and then down at my lips. My heart skips a beat as he moves his hand to my hip, squeezing it a second before he lets me go and walks over to the bar. I try not to watch, but I fail. I also remember that I never told him what I wanted to drink, but whatever it is he gets for me, I’m going to drink it.
I didn’t even look around at the event space. It looks like an enchanted forest. The lights are dim, so it shows the fake trees that look like they are all white with blue and pink lights. Black tablecloths are over every table with white picket chairs. “Here,” Christopher says to me, handing me a glass of white wine.
“Who said I wanted white wine?” I try to keep a straight face when I see his eyes go big as he looks at me and then the glass in his hand.
“You always drink white wine.” He holds up the glass. “But I can go and get you something else.”
“I’m just playing with you.” I smile at him as I take the glass from him. Our fingers graze at the handoff, making my hand tingle from the tips of my fingernails to my elbow. “Thank you,” I say, holding up the glass and taking a sip.