Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
“Have you gotten any interviews yet?” Tessa asks. She knows I’ve been submitting applications right and left.
“Nope. Nothing yet.”
“Hang in there. I’m sure your dream job is right around the corner.”
God, I hope she’s right. As excited as I am to spend some quality time with Tessa and her family, I can’t wait to get back to my old life and put this entire chapter of my life behind me.
“Have you eaten yet?” Tessa asks. “If not, let’s have lunch.”
“Awesome. I woke up crazy-early to drive the last leg and didn’t stop to eat. I didn’t even stop to pee, so I’d better get to a bathroom or we’re going to need a mop.”
Tessa chuckles. “I’ll grab us a table.”
I gallop toward the restrooms, while Tessa heads in the other direction toward the table area. When I emerge a few minutes later, Tessa’s sitting at a table in the back. As I walk toward her, I look around nervously for a certain someone I’d rather not run into today. To be clear, I don’t want to run into Brody the Bouncer ever again, but if I must, I don’t want it to be when I’m sleep-deprived, makeup-less, and dressed in sweats. If ever I see that ghosting motherfucker again, I want to be looking fine-as-fuck and fuck-you-fierce.
Why, oh, why did I drunkenly send Brody that stupid text a few weeks ago telling him I’d been laid off and was coming to live in Seattle for a few months? By then, he’d already ghosted me, quite effectively, so why’d I think he’d care about me coming to his city? I swear, if that moron thinks I bought my condo to temporarily live near him, rather than my lifelong best friend, I’ll die of humiliation.
“Crisis averted,” I say, as I slide into a chair across from Tessa. “I made it to the toilet, like a big girl.”
Tessa snickers. “There’s no need to look around the place like a bank robber casing a joint, babe. Hans is working tonight. Not Brody.”
“Thank God.”
“No, thank me. I made the schedule, in anticipation of your arrival today.”
I laugh. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Tessa knows all about my regrettable, short-lived fling with Brody, one of the bouncers at Captain’s. I met Brody when I flew in for Tessa’s thirty-third birthday bash several months ago, and then came back to see him three consecutive weekends thereafter. Why’d I do that? Because I was bored and Brody was available, and I’m a sucker for highly mediocre sex, I guess. Because that’s all it ever was with Brody, unfortunately. Talk about a snoozefest.
When I got laid off and couldn’t fly for free anymore, Brody immediately went dark on me, confirming he’d only ever been in it for the easy, mediocre sex, too.
Tessa holds up a laminated menu card. “Do you need to look at this or do you want your usual?”
“My usual would be great. Thank you.” Tessa always generously supplies me with unlimited food and drinks for free when I come into her bar, and I’m always grateful for it. Especially now, though, when I’m unemployed, dead-ass broke, and questioning all my life choices.
As Tessa flags down a server, I let my gaze drift around the bar until it lands on a pair of stunning blue eyes trained directly on me. The owner of the blue eyeballs is a handsome, fit dude sitting at the bar. Light brown hair. Athletic frame. When our gazes meet, he maintains eye contact, so I do the same. Mostly, because I’m fascinated by the intensity of his stare. It’s like the man is memorizing my face for a portrait he’s planning to paint later on. His intensity would be kind of creepy, actually, if only he didn’t look so damned harmless and wholesome. The man looks like a former Disney channel star. A model in a toothpaste commercial. Or, no, a former boy bander. The one who went solo after the boy band took off. How long ago was he in this boy band? Frankly, it could be anywhere from five to fifteen years. He could be anywhere from twenty to thirty with a face that boyishly handsome. Which means he’s the antithesis of my type. Yes, he’s fit and handsome and cute. Also, his eyes are objectively gorgeous. But I like my men to be more rugged than that. Preferably, much uglier, too.
Aw, fuck.
I’ve maintained eye contact for a beat too long. I know this because Mr. Blue Eyes Boy Bander is now flashing me a wide, brilliant smile that, not surprisingly, reveals white, straight teeth.
I look away from his dazzling smile and return to Tessa, but she’s busy chatting with a server.
When our server walks away, Tessa smiles at me and says, “So, when can you get into the condo?”
“Tomorrow. I can pick up the keys any time after two.”