Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87181 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87181 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Alec
Mom told me Barry broke up with you.
I sighed as I saw my brother’s text message on my phone. I knew I’d hear from him the second Mom left our lunch date. I stared at the message for a second before placing my phone back beside my computer. I didn’t have time to talk to my brother about my failed dating life. I was more interested in trying to write the chapter I’d been chasing for the past five months.
My phone dinged again.
I grumbled to myself as I lifted it.
Alec
Want to talk about it?
Absolutely not, Alec.
Before I could reply, he texted me again.
Alec
I was talking to MJ about your dating life. Mom told you about him, right? He’s outstanding. I was telling him we need to set you up with someone.
Holly
I’m not being set up, Alec. And please don’t talk to your new boyfriend about me.
Alec
He says he knows some good people. I can show him your pictures if you want.
Holly
I’m bringing someone for Christmas.
Alec
Bullshit.
Holly
I am. It’s new, and I wasn’t ready to tell Mom about him, but it’s happening.
Alec
Well, I can’t wait to meet him. This is exciting. I’ve never met an invisible person before.
I placed my phone on silent and set it facedown.
I couldn’t wait to meet him either.
I knew I couldn’t have my brother thinking he needed to set me up with someone. It was somewhat annoying how he acted like the know-it-all regarding relationships when he’d only been dating MJ for the shortest period. Plus, I was pretty sure MJ was Alec’s first-ever relationship. He’d always seemed too busy with work even to consider dating.
Instead of writing the chapter in my book, I picked my phone up and went back to swiping right and left on the apps, hoping I’d be able to find a connection before Christmas.
KAI
The week passed quickly, and the opening night of Mano’s was finally upon us. Granted, I was in a decent mood from the excitement of the opening, but a big part of me was stressed out, hoping everything would run as smoothly as possible.
“Relax your shoulders. You’re going to get a migraine,” Ayumu said as he moved behind me with his goofy grin of excitement. I wondered what it was like in a head that didn’t deal with anxiety. That sounded relaxing.
Just as I was about to shoot Ayumu a sarcastic remark, the restaurant's front door opened, and in walked my newfound nemesis. Olive Oyl.
She walked in, of course, with a novel pushed in her face and that goofy grin on her lips as she smiled down at the pages. I watched her movements as she somehow managed to dodge every obstacle that came her way.
If only she had been that talented a few days before.
Olive Oyl looked up from her pages long enough to dart her eyes around the restaurant, stepped into the line at the hostess booth, and then nodded as she looked back down at the novel.
When it came time for her to be seated, Jane, the hostess, led her to the bar with two place settings at the end.
“Here you go,” Jane said, gesturing. “Once your guest arrives, I’ll have him brought over.”
Olive Oyl thanked Jane before she took a seat, wiggled her butt in the chair, and placed her book back into her purse. She checked her phone quickly before shooting off a text message with a smirk. Then she set it facedown on the counter. She combed her curly hair behind her ears, exposing her large gold hoop earrings, and crossed her legs.
Her black dress hugged her body in all the right places, leaving little to the imagination, but I still daydreamed about what was under that fabric. Even though I didn’t care for the woman, I realized how beautiful she was.
She looked in my direction, and she gasped when we locked eyes. “You!” She pointed at me dramatically.
“Me,” I dryly replied. The last thing I wanted to do was serve her a drink, but my bartenders were busy tending to other customers.
I walked over and placed a napkin beside her and one in front of the other emptied seat. “What do you want?” I asked.
“What are you doing here?” she questioned.
She wasn’t quick on picking up what a person looked like when they were at work. “Working.”
“You work here?” she edged, shocked by that reveal.
“I own here,” I corrected. “It’s my restaurant with my business partner, Ayumu.”
“Oh no.” She shook her head in disapproval. “You can’t own here. I don’t like you.”
“That seems more like a you problem than a me issue. You are more than welcome to take your business elsewhere.”
“You don’t understand. This place has been in my game plan for the past few days since I live two blocks away. I was hoping it would become my Cheers.”
“Come again?”
“My Cheers,” she repeated as if that meant something to me. The bewilderment on my face must’ve annoyed her because her nostrils began to flare. “Come on! Cheers! Cheers!”