Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Soon, it’s time for Elliot to be seen. I’m touched when he says he wants me to join them.
Later, past midnight, Cleo, Lily, and I are on what we sometimes call a ‘slumber party’ group call. We used to have sleepovers all the time when we were kids, but less so now.
I lie in bed, my body still aching from the beach even though it’s been several hours.
“You need to tell him how you feel,” Lily says.
“And how does she feel?” Cleo demands.
“Haven’t you been listening?” Lily replies with some sass of her own.
I’ve just finished giving them the lowdown on everything: the security, the date, the hospital visit.
“She cares about him,” Lily says. “Sorry, Tori. I don’t mean to refer to you in the third person. But you obviously care about him. And I know you’ll call it superstitious or whatever, but I think you were fated to meet that night.”
“Oh, jeez,” Cleo mutters.
“You’re going to hate me, Cleo,” I say. “But when we were on the beach together earlier, I actually started to think the same thing…”
“Not you, too,” Cleo says.
“I don’t know how to explain this feeling. It’s like I’ve been shot with a freaking Cupid’s arrow.”
“Oh. My. Gawd.” Cleo makes a puking sound. “Am I going to be the only maneater left in this entire city? What is happening?”
Lily and I laugh.
“But just because I’m having these crazy thoughts and feelings,” I say, “doesn’t mean I’m going to automatically follow them, you know? I still need to be careful.”
“Careful of what?” Lily says angrily. “Careful you don’t fall in love with a man you clearly already care about? Be careful you don’t get a cute little boy to care for in the process. Don’t you want a chance at being happy?”
“A chance,” Cleo says. “That’s it right there, Lils. There’s a chance she’s happy, sure. There’s also a chance she should’ve listened to me and kept her head on straight.”
“Life or death,” Lily begins.
“Easy, Lils…” Cleo laughs.
But Lily isn’t playing. “Humor me, Tori. Life or death, if you had to bet on it, would you say that you’ve got a better chance of being happy with Alex or without him?”
I swallow. It’s a poignant question that cuts right to the heart of the issue.
“I think I’d say with him,” I murmur. “I think.”
“Well, there’s your answer… and your problem.”
“My problem?”
“You think way too much,” Lily says.
Once the call ends, I think about what she said. Perhaps she has a point. Maybe I’m in danger of overthinking my way out of my chance at real happiness.
I go to the window and look at the street and the security cars watching over Mom and me. Then I turn around and look at the wall, at the framed photo of me at the poetry slam.
I look so confident in that picture. I wish I felt that way right now.
CHAPTER 24
ALEX
Iopen Elliot’s door, looking in on him as he sleeps on his side. His forearm has a small bandage with a splint, but it didn’t require a cast. He breathes softly. I smile, thinking about how he led the way with the fun in the hospital, how brave he was, and how much closer he brought me to my girl.
Something magical happens, too. As I stand here, it’s like I can let go of the unfair resentment I’ve clung to since the crash, since the affair, since all that pain. I’m able to be a proud uncle-slash-guardian-slash-father figure.
Closing the door softly, I go to the front window. The security car flashes its lights at me, letting me know everything is as it should be. I’m restless and pacing despite the day’s events, knowing that I should probably try to get some sleep before work tomorrow.
My shift starts at ten. It’s already one thirty. But I can’t sleep as I think about last night, the date, the dinner, my woman in her mouthwateringly stunning dress.
When we said goodbye this evening, I felt her clinging to me as though she wanted to stay, as if she didn’t want to let me go. But then she pushed herself away like she was forcing herself.
Does she still think we have any chance of being distant and casual?
When my phone buzzes, I grab it up quickly, feeling like an overeager teenager. But screw it. I’m done pretending her texts don’t mean a lot to me. They make my day.
Tori: I know you won’t get this until tomorrow morning, but I just wanted to say, Alex, that last night meant something to me. The date was incredible, the beach after is something I’ll never forget, and, as weird as it sounds, even the hospital was nice.
Alex: That doesn’t sound weird at all. Pretending to be Elliot’s parents was funny and touching.
Tori: Do you ever sleep?
I smirk, walking to the back door and onto the porch, looking out at the ocean. About twenty feet away is the rock formation where Elliot often leaves his bike. I’ve got no cameras that far out, but the fact that the wheel was loose has my hackles raised.