Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 98134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
One week, and Andi already feels like she’s integrating with the town more than Sarah ever did after all our time together.
It’s a scary thought, considering Sarah’s inability to make a home here was always a point of contention between us.
I’ve also apparently managed to put out the signal that Andi is mine to pursue. The guys have been careful to stay platonic, and I know at least a few of them would have taken their shot by now otherwise–Jake’s murderous intent or not. The only explanation is they think I’ve laid some kind of claim over Andi.
I’ve thought about correcting their assumption. I should correct it. If I wasn’t full of shit, I’d sit them down and tell them in plain terms: I’m not interested in Andi that way. The fact that days keep ticking by and I haven’t had that conversation with anyone tells me everything I need to know. Of course, I’m still pretending I don’t see the writing on the wall.
Why?
Because I’m a coward and an asshole, apparently. I know I have nothing to offer Andi besides a chance at one day earning the fragments of my screwed up heart and heaps of casual, meaningless sex along the way.
I’m in a foul mood as I keep circling those same thoughts. I push open the door to Caroline’s place and find her behind the counter finishing up a check-in.
I spot Mia on what must be her lunch break. She’s still wearing her serving apron and a t-shirt that reads “Paulie’s Perogies and Such”. After a freak injury, Mia gave up figure skating and settled down into the kind of small town life most people around here cherish. She waits tables at Paulie’s and still slips her skates on when she gets the chance. She has her red hair pulled into a ponytail and smiles when she sees me.
“Jesse! Hey! You conveniently didn’t tell me about your new love interest the other day. I thought there were no secrets between us.”
I shoot a glare towards Caroline, who suddenly and mysteriously gets very busy behind her desk.
“She’s not a love interest,” I say. “She’s Jake’s little sister.”
“Mhm,” she says, and it’s now clear to me that Caroline has talked with Mia already. A lot. “The little sister Jake Summers didn’t tell anybody about until she showed up in a torn wedding dress after running away from her own wedding.” Mia is counting cash–her tips from the morning shift, I assume. She finishes and stuffs the few bills in the front pocket of her apron.
“He didn’t want the guys chasing after her. And he’s not exactly thrilled to have her staying in the cabin with us. We’re all trying to be respectful to him and not… well, you know.”
One of her dark red eyebrows lifts. “Not what?”
I sigh. “Nobody wants to tell Jake they have the hots for his sister.”
“But they all do, right?”
I’m not a good liar, so I decide to change the subject instead of trying. “It was nice to run into you, Mia. I need to see if Caroline needs–” I groan when Caroline practically sprints into the back room before I’ve finished my sentence.
“Looks like she’s fine,” Mia says, smiling wide. “Guess you’re stuck answering my questions.”
“I don’t think Andi is even going to stay in Frosty Harbor. So whether anybody has the ‘hots’ for her or not is kind of a moot point. She’s going to be history sooner or later. The girl ran away on the morning of her wedding. I don’t know if that’s exactly a recipe for stability.”
“I see.” Mia lifts a to-go cup and sips something pink through the clear straw. “So this girl is definitely girlfriend material, but she’s so great that you can’t bring yourself to admit it because you’re scared she’ll leave?”
“That’s not at all what I said.”
“Okay.”
I sigh, frustrated, and look toward the back door. “Caroline?” I call out.
Mia’s grinning again. “I saw Andi in here earlier. She’s really cute. Kind of got that rogue, Disney princess vibe to her. I was half expecting songbirds to come fluttering through the window and land on her shoulder, or flowers to sprout in her wake or something. Honestly, I sort of wanted to hate her for a second. But she’s not really easy to hate. Sweet girl. Don’t you agree?” Mia takes another sip, eyes locked on me.
“What’s your goal, here, exactly?”
Mia’s lips curve up around her straw. “You know everybody hated to see you get hurt when things ended with Sarah. I know you don’t talk about it or whatever, but everybody just wants to see you happy again. Maybe I’m inclined to think the best medicine for a broken heart is to start trying to use it again.”
“You shouldn’t use things that are broken.” My voice is more flat and harsh than I intend, but Mia knows by now that Sarah is a touchy subject with me.