Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I laugh, too. I laugh harder than I have in a long time.
“Phil was dragging you down, Els.” She points at the pizza. “Eat up. You’re going to need to energy if you put on that mask and head to a party tonight.”
I take her advice and go for a slice, resting it on a plate. “Maybe I’ll stop by the venue tomorrow night and see if there’s a party. That’s a big maybe, though.”
It’s not a solid plan yet. It’s just an idea brewing in the deepest recesses of my mind.
“I’ll check back in on Saturday to see how sore you are.” She winks. “I’m talking sore in all the right places.”
I found courage in a few sips of a cosmopolitan the first, and only, time I went to Club Skyn. I’m not sure a half dozen shots of tequila would be enough to bury my inhibitions now, so I’d follow another man into a private room.
Penny taps my knee. “Before I forget, let’s sort out the payment for the dress.”
I want to wave it off to another time, but she’s offering right now, so I accept with a smile. “I’ll grab my phone and we can do it now.”
“Good.” She sighs. “My boss says it’s bad luck to plan too far ahead, but I know this dress is going to bring all the good things into my life. It already has. Just look at us. We’re friends. We’re good friends, right?”
It’s beginning to feel that way, so I nod. “We are.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Gaines
My craving for the ahi tuna at Atlas 22 has yet to be sated, so I’m back to scene of the crime, or more aptly, the cardiac event that occurred here two weeks ago.
The restaurant is packed. Servers are shuffling about balancing large trays with expensive entrees as guests try to gain their attention with a wave of their hands. One guy whistles in his effort to get service. It fails miserably.
One of the people working the checkout counter that doubles as a greeting station, plops a bag of food on it right in front of me.
“You, Dr. Morgan, eat for free.”
The people gathered behind, waiting to be seated or anxious to pick up their dinner, ooh and ahh. I can’t tell if that’s in awe or anger.
I’m tempted to pull out my wallet, but a dollar saved is never a bad thing, so I smile in appreciation. “Tell Tony I said thank you.”
“You can tell him yourself,” a blonde woman dressed in a black dress suggests. “He’s speaking with someone, but he’ll be over to say hi shortly.”
I look past her to see how far out Tony is. I’ve been standing in this spot before and watched the manager slowly snake his way past every table in the massive dining room, stopping often to speak to his patrons.
My gaze catches on the red hair of the woman at the table Tony is next to. I know her.
She knows me too because as soon as spots me, she’s up and out of her chair. “Dr. Morgan!”
Her dinner companion follows her lead and slides to his feet too. He’s more cautious with his movements, as he should be. I advised him to take it slow after his procedure.
Since he called me earlier this week to essentially ask my permission for this date, I can’t be pissed at him. He’s taking his recovery seriously, as he should.
Daxton told me he wanted to make up the lost dinner to Penny. It seems that tonight is the night for that.
Tony spins to face me, his expression morphing into a grin. He raises a hand in the air. “Over here, Doc!”
I glance at the bag containing my dinner. I’m not about to tempt fate, so I pick it up and carry it with me as I set out to greet the trio waiting for me.
Tony’s hand is outstretched before I’m within ten feet of him. I’ve got my hand in his for a quick shake as soon as I’m close enough.
Daxton lifts his right hand for a shake too. Good on him for remembering to rest his left arm until he gets the all clear. The device implanted in his chest needs time to heal, so no lifting or straining with his left arm if he wants the healing process to go smoothly.
“Dr. Morgan!” Penny’s greeting is much less subdued.
She goes in for a full-on hug. I do it gingerly, keeping my hand with the bag far enough out of reach that my dinner won’t be crushed.
Stepping back from our embrace, she laughs. “The gang’s all here.”
“Not all of us,” Daxton remarks with a chuckle. “Eloise isn’t here.”
“Or Philip.” Penny clucks her tongue. “Although he’ll never be anywhere Els is again since she dumped him.”
What now?
Fortunately, it seems Penny hasn’t shared the news with Daxton, because he asks the question I want to ask. “She dumped him? Why?”