Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“Are you at the lodge?” She asks, interrupting my thoughts. I know she’s trying to distract herself from her nerves. She’s sitting at the airport in Asheville waiting to meet her future husband. She signed up to become a mail order bride a few months ago. She’s marrying a man she’s never even met or seen the face of.
Trying to ease her nerves, I figure I can tell her about the latest episode of my shit show. But first, I glance in the rearview mirror to make sure he’s not paying any attention to me. Of course, he’s not. He’s busy staring down at his phone. “Almost. First though, I stopped to moon the local sheriff. I’m so humiliated! He was hot, Val, like really hot.”
“On the Jackman scale?” She demands.
Hugh Jackman is our mutual crush, and we rate every man’s attractiveness according to our favorite movies of his.
I sigh deeply, letting myself imagine the moment all over again. “Wolverine. Sexy beard, tousled hair. I didn’t see a six-pack but I’m sure it was underneath the uniform. And I made a complete fool of myself in front of him.”
Wolverine level is the definitive rating on the scale which means he’s the hottest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
When I spot the sheriff leave his vehicle, I switch the conversation to how my drive was up to Lake Tahoe.
He knocks on the window, looking annoyed. He passes me my driver’s license.
“Is everything fine?” I mouth at him, pretending that I’m listening to Valentine who’s gone silent on the other end. As it is, I can barely look the man in the eye.
He’s the hottest man I’ve ever seen, and he saw my ass before he saw my face. So typical of me. Meet a hot guy and make a fool of myself in front of him immediately. This is why I don’t date. Fictional guys just think you’re cute when you’re quirky. Real life guys think you’re a weirdo.
He grunts.
“Then I’ll go,” I tell him, pushing my window up. I don’t look back as I drive away. If I’m lucky, I’ll never see the sheriff again. Maybe I can even convince the girls to hold our retreat at a different location next year. Yeah, that sounds like a good plan.
3
ZOEY
There’s something about the Big Bear Lodge that calms me the moment I spot it. It’s probably the way the lodge is set against the sheer cliff-side. Cozy cabins and towering trees surround it, making it feel as if this place is truly a retreat from the rest of the world.
My phone dings with a message as I haul my things inside. Woofer instantly begins exploring, sniffing the furniture and rolling around on the rug in front of the fireplace. For a moment I wonder what it would be like to have a man here with me. Not just any man. The sheriff.
I roll my eyes at the silly thought and set up my laptop at the wooden desk in front of the window. I have a perfect view of the snowy mountain from here. Since the other girls won’t be here for a while, I’ll try to get some words written. My latest manuscript is giving me trouble, but I don’t know why.
I put my candle warmer on the nearby counter, letting the familiar scent of apples and cinnamon comfort me.
Then I remember my phone and dig through my bag for it. My shoulders slump when I see it’s a message from my twin sister. She was the beauty queen, loved by my late parents.
I was the geek hidden away out of sight. Unlike her, I never quite grew into my looks. I’m too curvy and too awkward to ever be featured in a pageant, much less win one. It was my mom’s greatest disappointment that I couldn’t follow in Zola’s footsteps.
Because apparently I’m in the mood to torture myself, I listen to the message. “Hey sis! Read your latest little book. So adorable. I didn’t even realize there was an audience for chunky girls. Guess there’s someone for everyone. Call me when you get this, but I may not answer. I’m about to get on the plane to Milan to celebrate Nathan’s birthday with him. He’s amazing. I’ll tell you all about it when you call. Ciao!”
“The sheriff would have asked you out,” I grumble. Boys always asked my sister out. Only one ever noticed me.
I was still wearing braces in senior year. I thought Colin liked me. Then Zola decided she wanted him and that was it. She couldn’t even let me have one boy. Maybe I should be angry at her, but I know it’s not what my parents would have wanted. They would have wanted me to forgive her, to be the older sister and set an example.