Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“If you need to define things, sure,” I mutter. “So?”
His brow furrows with thought. “If the tables were turned, what would you say to me?”
“I would tell you that age is just a number, and if you want to ask Abuela out, you should do it.”
He barks out a laugh. “Can you, for once, just give me a straight, serious answer? No fucking around.”
“None?”
“None.”
“Fine! I would tell you … I would tell you …” My eyes rake over Dean as I try to fit him into my size six women’s shoe. “That your ex is the biggest idiot for cheating on you because you are amazing. But something ten times better has come along, and if you let this guy go—I mean, woman—if you let her go, you will regret it for the rest of your life.”
“See? Was that so hard?” He shakes his head. “Now take your own advice.”
“I can’t.” I shrug. “What can I say? Bill did a number on me. I’m not ready to go through that again. But I’ll be fine. It’s no big deal. Garrett was my rebound. A really good one.”
Dean scratches his chin. “What are you going to do about the wedding?”
“I don’t know. Eat some more bad sushi.” Though that didn’t help me last time either. I traded one problem for another.
“Meera asked me to go with her, but I can bail if you need me to be your plus-one.”
“That’s sweet of you to offer, but don’t do that.” Who else is there to take, though?
A thought strikes me. “Oh my god, what if he brings Mindy?” Not only will I have to deal with Bill and Isabelle, but Garrett and “we had a thing in the past, but now we’re just friends” Mindy, all at a table together?
My bottom lip begins to wobble.
Dean’s seen the signs of my impending meltdowns before. “Just a rebound, huh?” He pulls me into his arms.
I poke my head into the office. “Hey, I’m going to run down the street to grab a sandwich from Vinnie’s.” I desperately miss having Todd’s next door. All that’s left are bare metal shelves and empty refrigerators. The new place won’t be open until next week. “You want something?”
Ned looks up from his crossword to wave me away. “I brought my peanut butter sandwich. Go on. I’ll hold down the fort.”
I’m veering toward the hall that leads to the back when I hear a man call out, “Hello?”
I frown, searching out the owner of that voice. “Hi, I’m sorry, we didn’t hear the door chime.” I’m startled to discover Richard Harrington inspecting the inside of the retro refrigerator at the front of the store. He’s dressed in his typical business attire. A quick peek outside shows the Town Car waiting to whisk him back to his offices.
His mustache lifts with his smile as he taps the fridge door. “What’s old is new again?”
“Don’t tell the mayor.” I mock wink as if we have a secret. “What are you doing at Murphy’s? Shopping for your new place?”
“It’ll be awhile before that’s ready for appliances. No, I was in town doing some site visits and I thought I’d stop in.” He studies the store’s interior as Garrett did that first day. “Good bones here. Lots of potential. I can see why my nephew wanted to invest in it.”
“Don’t tell me you’re coming to make an offer now.” This is déjà vu.
“No, my focus is on larger projects, like the ones across town. Besides, next door is already causing enough headaches for HG.”
I raise my hands. “I have hung up my anarchist’s badge. I am no longer the poster child for the movement. You will have no resistance from me at next week’s town meeting.”
His laugh is soft but jovial. Genuine. “That’s welcome news. You’re quite the adversary.”
“That’s not me. That’s Shirley.” Who likely isn’t backing down.
“I don’t know about that. It’s not Shirley my nephew has been talking nonstop about for months now.”
“Only good things, I’m sure.” I smile slyly, even as my heart races. Have I been on his mind that much? “You should know, he has been working really hard to win people over and get the project moving.” It’s the least I can do, put in a good word with the man who Garrett clearly idolizes.
“Hmm, yes, that was evident when he came to tell me that we’ve added a costly town park remodel to our budget.”
“He went all out. He even brought in pastries for the residents at Bonny Acres.”
Richard’s eyebrow arches. “My future home?”
“That’s the one.”
“Did it work?”
“I don’t know. Shirley thinks I’ve crossed enemy lines. I’m excommunicado.”
“But you haven’t?” There’s something in his tone that hints he knows more than he’s letting on.
How do I answer that without going into sordid details that I’m sure a man like Richard doesn’t care to hear about? “Let’s say I straddled it for a while.” A lewd memory of what I’ve been straddling pops in my mind, and I usher it away.