Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“Do those people go to Hell?”
Nana doesn’t answer me.
“Do they, Nana?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes I hope that they do, and other times I hope that they don’t.”
“Why do you change your mind?”
“Because human beings aren’t perfect, Tessa. Sometimes I feel more forgiving than other times.”
“But Saint Rita forgave her husband. And she forgave others.”
“And that’s why she’s a saint and I’m not.” Nana lifts me up off her lap and sets me down on the floor. “Run along, little one. I hear your mother calling for lunch.”
…
Present Day…
Seriously, I named Rita after the cocktail, but now, as I stroke her soft head, I feel like she’s my own little guardian angel. My own saint helping me with my own desperate situation. She’s my safe space, since Nana is no longer here.
Why would anyone hurt me?
No one will, as long as your nana’s alive. And even the day that I’m no longer with you, your mommy and da will protect you.
I believed Nana that day. I continued to believe her, even as I grew up and left Catholicism behind me. I believed her even after she passed away.
But now, I no longer believe her.
My therapist helped me get Rita designated as my emotional support animal, and I swear the little pup is somehow able to get inside my head. She’s there whenever I need her. And right now? I need her badly.
I stroke her soft head. “Such a good puppy. What would I do without you, Rita?”
I continue perusing the website for the private resort Braden Black booked for his and Skye’s bachelor and bachelorette parties when my phone buzzes next to my laptop. I pick it up. Unknown number. Though I’m tempted to let it go to voicemail, Skye told me to expect a call from Braden’s brother and best man, Benjamin Black. He’s coordinating the bachelor party, and apparently, he and I need to chat.
A couple months ago, I would have been thrilled about this. Ben Black is one of the most eligible bachelors in Boston. Hell, in the country. He has dark hair, dark eyes, and he’s model-level handsome. He’s moved up a notch since his brother is now off the market. Any other time, any other place, I’d want to be first in line.
Funny how things can change in the blink of an eye.
“Hello?” I say into the phone.
“Tessa?”
“Yes, this is she.”
“This is Ben Black.” His voice is rich and low. “I’m sorry we haven’t met yet. In fact, I can’t really believe we haven’t, considering my brother is marrying your best friend.”
I could tell him why. Because I’ve closed myself up like a hermit for the past several months. I only leave my apartment when I have to. I’ve been working at home as much as I can since I got out of the hospital. I’m an accountant, so most of my work can be done remotely. The few times I’ve met with Skye to talk about the wedding and the bachelor and bachelorette parties, it’s either been by phone or just the two of us alone here at my place.
“Yeah. I’ve been pretty busy,” I say instead, keeping it simple.
“Would you be able to meet me for a drink tonight?” he asks. “I feel like we should meet in person to go over everything. We should at the very least be able to pick each other out of a lineup.”
That’s a laugh. Every woman in the free world can pick Ben Black out of a lineup. His face is splashed all over the gossip rags and social media feeds.
“Like I said,” I emphasize, “I’ve been busy at work, and I still am. Maybe we could just chat over the phone?”
“I’m more of an in-person kind of guy. Can you meet me at The Stargazer tonight? Around seven thirty?”
I hold back a sigh. I really don’t want to go out, but this is Skye Manning—my best friend in the whole world since we met freshman year of college. In fact, I’m the one who encouraged Skye to let her hair down when Braden Black first began to pursue her. To say Skye is a control freak is the ultimate understatement. She is a classic type A. But she and Braden seem to fit together like two puzzle pieces, and I’ve never seen Skye happier.
I was horribly jealous at first. I felt like I was losing my best friend. But I didn’t lose Skye. In fact, I gained a friend in Betsy Davis, who I met through Skye. Of course, I haven’t seen much of Betsy lately, either. I’ve blown her off when she’s tried to make plans because I didn’t want to go out anywhere with anyone, but I can’t keep doing that. She’s one of Skye’s bridesmaids, so I need to get in touch with her and the others and sort things out for the wedding.