Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
It takes me a moment to realize we aren’t talking about Christian.
Me: Wait. Archer? Charming is not the word I’d use.
Daphne: I just expected him to be… awkward and weird.
Me: Don’t worry, he has a slew of other negative qualities.
Curt.
Annoying.
Aggravating.
And okay, fine, also sometimes kind of funny. And kind.
But mostly annoying.
Daphne: Did I tell you one of the MoMA volunteers I work with is close with his ex? That actress Willow. She called it off just weeks before the wedding.
I sit up, a little more intrigued than I want to be. I read that. Lots of speculation about cheating or incompatible schedules, but neither of them has said a word about it.
Daphne: Look at you keeping up on your celeb gossip! And not even A-list!
Me: Can I tell Archer you said he isn’t A-list? Actually, never mind, he’ll for sure take that as a compliment.
Daphne: Maybe that’s why they called things off? He didn’t like the public lifestyle?
Me: Your MoMA friend doesn’t know?
Daphne: GASP. Dr. Miranda Reed. Are you… fishing for deets on your neighbor?
Me: No! Merely curious about what makes him so grumpy. So back to Christian…
SCORPIO SEASON
With the Moon in Cancer, don’t be surprised to find yourself in a domestic kind of mood today, dear Gemini. You may even discover previously untapped maternal or paternal urges. Explore them, but use caution: the Sun in Neptune opposition may make it difficult to discern fact from fiction.
That was super good, Dr. Reed. Thank you,” Kylee says, pushing her plate away with a contented sigh.
The fact that her plate is scraped clean slightly soothes the memory of earlier this afternoon, when several near disasters in the kitchen had me worrying if I was destined for a lifetime of cooking for one.
Or two, if you count Archer’s continued dedication to clearing out my leftovers.
“It was super good,” Christian says, smiling at me across the table. Like Kylee, his plate is clean, though unlike Kylee, he’s managed to keep the majority of the penne alla vodka sauce off his shirt.
“I’m glad you liked it. I admit, I had a bit of a last-minute scramble with the meal plan,” I say, finally relaxing enough to enjoy a bit of my wine. “My original plan was a roast chicken, mashed potatoes, that whole deal. But then I remembered that Thanksgiving is next week. The meals seemed a bit similar.”
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving, Dr. Reed?” Kylee asks politely.
“Just a quiet day at home,” I reply. “My parents are headed to Arizona to visit my grandmother, one brother decided to go to London, and the other is with his wife’s family.”
“That’s sad. All alone.”
“Kylee!” Christian chides.
“Oh, believe me, I’m good with it,” I say, smiling. “I like my own company, and I’ll get to see everyone at Christmas. Plus, traveling is such a pain next weekend. You two are braver than me.”
“When you meet my mother you’ll understand that you have it backward,” Christian says with a smile. “Saying no to her summons would have been the braver option.”
When you meet my mother. Not if.
Isn’t that… fast?
Though this—tonight’s dinner—had felt fast, too. Christian and I have been dating, casually, for all of a month, and here I am cooking for him.
And his daughter.
Still, this one had been easier to get on board with, because it had been Kylee’s idea, and even though it had been a pretty blatant attempt at maneuvering her father and me closer together, I hadn’t had the heart to say no.
And tonight has been fun. It has.
But meeting Christian’s parents?
That’s next level. I haven’t even slept with the guy yet. It’s been hard to explain, but as much as I like him, I just haven’t felt ready. Perhaps it’s because I like him? Because our charts indicate Christian and I are perfectly compatible, and thus everything seems to matter just a little bit more…
Kylee looks pointedly back and forth between her father and me and apparently decides she’s bored with us. “May I be excused to go stargaze?”
“Stargaze?” Christian repeats, startled.
“Dr. Reed does it from her roof. Right?”
I nod, but Christian is unconvinced. “I don’t know how I feel about you up on the roof, Ky.”
“Please? I’ll be really careful.”
“It’s a clear night, which means my neighbor will be up there. He can keep an eye on her.” I say it a little hesitantly, because it feels way too soon to be weighing in in any way on parental decisions. But I’ve also gotten to know Kylee quite well during our tutoring sessions and know she’s neither clumsy nor reckless.
Christian blinks. “Your neighbor stargazes on the roof, too?”
“Eh, not really. He mostly draws.” I wave a hand. “It’s a whole thing.”
“Huh. Alright, let me go see what we’re dealing with, and then I’ll decide,” Christian says, pushing back his chair. He looks at me. “If that’s okay?”