Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Looking down at my own dress, straight from Amazon, I can’t help but feel inferior in every way. And I hate that. I’m not a jealous girl. I’m not someone who begrudges others for their success. I’m the girl who fixes crowns and cheers on my fellow women.
Apparently, not tonight. Here I am, hating her—a stranger—for simply being good enough for a man I’ve seen once in my life from across a crowded room. She’ll get swept up in him tonight while I head back to my meager apartment alone.
It’s pathetic.
“Hey, can I talk to you?” Lily asks, pulling me from my inner pouting.
She shifts on her feet unsteadily, alerting me to the fact she’s clearly drunk and all her inhibitions are loose. I have no doubt in my mind that she wants to talk about Asher.
“Of course. What’s up?” I say, ushering her forward as the line moves.
“Well . . .” she starts and seems unable to finish.
“It’s about Asher, isn’t it?” I ask, hoping to help her along in the right direction.
She nods. “Yeah. But not just that. It’s about you and Asher.” My head cocks back in incredulity.
“There’s no me and Asher, Lil.”
She sighs, and I want to shake her. “Would you ever want there to be?” she asks timidly.
An unladylike snort rips through me, and the two women in front of us turn, wearing matching looks of revulsion. I smirk, only managing to infuriate the pair more, before turning toward Lily.
“Are you crazy? No way. He’s like my brother.” My nose scrunches up in mild disgust at the thought. “I know you think he likes me, but it’s only because we’ve known each other for so long. Trust me, nothing is going on between us, and there never will be.” She blows out a breath in relief, and I smile.
“I know.” She leans in and hugs me tight. “Thanks, Raven. You’re my friend, and I wouldn’t have done anything to get in the way if I wasn’t sure you weren’t into him like that.”
I smile. “Talk to me about this anytime, okay? I promise you—Asher is permanently friend-zoned.”
The line moves again, and the raven-haired girl of the evil pair in front of us drops her clutch. I lean down without thinking and retrieve it for the woman who can’t even be bothered to offer thanks.
Money does not equate to class.
Lily leans in and whispers. “Uh . . . Raven, do you know that guy?”
I follow Lily’s gaze toward the men’s restroom.
The handsome man from the VIP room is directly ahead and looking straight at me.
He’s even more devastating up close. A healthy dose of scruff, trimmed to look tidy but sexy as hell, gives him an air of brutish authority. A shiver runs down my spine, and my cheeks warm as I peruse every inch of the man unapologetically. A grin spreads across his face, which only manages to make him more roguish.
I quickly avert my gaze.
“No. I’ve never seen him before in my life.” I’m not sure why I lie. I haven’t actually seen him for more than a minute here in the club, but there had been a moment. At least on my end.
Only your end, Raven.
“Well, he obviously has his eye on you.”
My head shakes back and forth. “No, he doesn’t,” I say and feel the color rush to my face again. “He’s with her.” I motion toward the bathroom where the two girls have disappeared. The man was long gone.
“Who?” she asks, looking around, face scrunched in confusion. “Are you blushing? You never blush.”
“I’m not blushing. It’s just warm in here,” I say, fanning my face with my hand.
She chuckles. “Whatever you say, girl. Not that I’d blame you. That man was oozing sex.”
My eyes close of their own volition. The image of the guy seared into my mind like a dream I’m not ready to let go of. I internally groan at how ridiculous I’m acting.
He’s a handsome man, but I’m in New York City. A place that’s crawling with attractive, successful guys at every corner. My reaction to him is nothing more than my body's way of rebelling against my self-imposed drought.
I’ve kept myself free of distractions, determined to focus on finishing up my degree and landing the job of my dreams in a competitive landscape full of impressive applicants. I’ve worked my ass off to graduate from Columbia Business School with my MBA, and I did it.
Men complicate things. Sex complicates it even more. So, for the past few years, I’ve avoided both.
“This is taking so damn long,” someone barks from behind.
My eyes snap open to see that the line is still over ten people deep.
This is ridiculous. I let out of huff. “I can wait. You?”
“Yeah. Maybe the line will be shorter in a bit.”
“Probably not. But we’ll probably be drunker and not care as much.” I laugh.