Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 572(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 572(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
“That makes two of us.” She leans against the counter in front of me. “This isn’t good.”
“I know,” I tell her. “It’s fucking insane,” I whisper. “He’s so emotionally out there it’s crazy.”
“You need to walk away, Zoe,” she tells me. I know she’s right, but it hurts, and I don’t want it to hurt. “Before you get so far in that you can’t go back.”
“I’m trying,” I tell her honestly. “But it’s just …”
“A pull,” she answers me. “You’re pulled to him, and you don’t know why. You can’t explain it.”
“Yes,” I tell her, nodding. “That all that …” She’s about to say something when there is another knock on the door. “Is this a meeting?”
She opens the door, and Evan comes in holding a bottle of water and looking at her and then at me. “What’s wrong?” His eyes go big. “Are you okay?” he asks, his hand going to her belly.
“I’m fine.” She smiles and turns to me. “I was trying to get the baby to kick so Zoe can feel it.”
“When are we finding out what it is?” I ask her, and she shrugs.
“We want to be surprised,” she finally says, “so we aren’t finding out.” I’m about to roll my eyes and yell at her when there is another knock on the bathroom door. Evan opens it, and I see it’s Matthew and Karrie.
“What’s wrong?” Matthew says, looking at us. “What happened?” He pushes into the bathroom, then sees me. “I didn’t know you would be here.”
“I’m his realtor,” I tell him, standing up and nodding to Karrie. “Now, can we go back out there before he thinks we’re crazy hiding out in his bathroom?” I say, walking out in time to see him open the door for Jeffrey.
“Welcome,” he says with a smile and moves out of the way for him to walk in with a beautiful woman. “You must be Becky,” Viktor says to her. “The better part of him.”
“Knock that shit off,” Jeffrey says, blocking his wife from Viktor’s outstretched hand, making us laugh. Jeffrey comes in and smiles when he sees me, and then Viktor introduces him to everyone.
The buzzer rings again, and this time, it’s the food. Two people come in and set up in the kitchen. “Can I get anyone anything to drink?” Viktor looks around. “Sorry, I’m new at this hosting gig,” he says nervously, and Jeffrey just slaps him on his shoulder.
“Relax,” Jeffrey says to Viktor. “Everyone here knows that it’s a big day for you,” he says, and I see Evan reach over and hug Zara, pulling her to him and kissing her head while her arms go around his waist. I look over at Matthew, who has Karrie in the same position. “It’s a day that you need to celebrate and acknowledge. I’m the first to know that it isn’t easy. Every single day is a struggle, and some days are easier than others, but as they say, it takes a village.” He looks at his wife and then looks at each of us. “Surround yourself with people who can help you up and who can carry you when you fall down. Not the ones who help keep you down.” Zara lets one hand fall from Evan’s as her hand reaches for mine, and I try to blink away the tears. “My sponsor said that to me on my six months sobriety, and looking around at the people who were there for me, I knew he was right.” Jeffrey looks at me. “Looks like you have a good village.”
“Damn straight,” Matthew says, and it has all of us chuckling. “We are here for anything you need.”
Becky walks over to Viktor and hugs him. “You can do it.”
“Dinner is ready to be served,” the guy in the kitchen says, and we walk to the table. I let everyone else take their seat and stand back with Viktor next to me.
“You can do this,” I tell him. He puts his arm around my shoulders and brings me close to him.
“I think I can,” he says. I don’t move from under his touch. I stand here for as long as I can. Feeling his touch is like a lightning bolt going through me.
“This looks delicious,” Zara says, looking down at the plate in front of her.
“Let’s go grab a seat,” he says, and his fingers grip mine and pull me to the table. I ignore the tingle that it leaves on my fingers. The meal is light with the guys telling stories from the road. I look over at Viktor who sits right beside me at his eight-person square table.
After the food is all eaten, the cake is served. When Karrie yawns, Matthew gets up, and I follow suit. “We are going to head out,” Matthew says, and I look over at him.