Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“Please tell me it’s that actress we partied with in New York last season,” he said when I shoved him into a corner. “I know she’s married to that director, but the way she was hanging all over you that night in SoHo tells me he’s more of a speed bump than a roadblock.”
“I just don’t feel like going out tonight.”
“Sure,” he said, winking conspiratorially and elbowing me in the ribs.
I shoved him off. “Can you be fucking cool?”
“If you tell me who she is.”
I ground my teeth. Carter was like a brother to me, but fuck, I needed him to stop talking so I could take my shower and get home to my girl.
“I can’t,” I said.
His eyes widened. “Oh, shit. It is her, isn’t it? You homewrecking dog.” He shook his head on a click of his tongue. “I feel like I should give you some advice here, like tell you to be good or something. Cheating is wrong, man.” He wagged his finger at me with a mock stern expression, his eyebrows furrowing. But then he tapped his chin on a thought. “Then again, if it’s not technically you who’s doing the cheating…”
“It’s not her,” I gritted. “Look, I’ll tell you one day, alright? But right now, I need you to just nize it.”
He threw his hands up. “Alright, man. Calm down. I’ll let you off the hook for tonight. But you owe me,” he added with a finger to my chest. He watched me with a narrow gaze. “Why do you look so nervous about it?”
I swallowed, the reality that I was going to see her after two months apart eating at my chest. She had texted me. She wanted to see me, too. But in what capacity? Did she want to hang out as friends, shoot the shit, catch up and go our separate ways again?
Her text told me there was at least one part of that friend boundary she wanted to cross.
Did she want to be… fuck buddies?
My stomach tightened again at the realization that I wasn’t going to be able to differentiate. There was no way in hell I could just be a Tampa hookup for her. I was already too far gone.
“Let’s just say I’m playing with fire,” I admitted. “One that’s already burned me to the ground once before.”
Carter whistled through his teeth, then clamped a hand on my shoulder. “Well, here’s hoping you survive. But if you don’t — can I have your cars?”
• • •
I got to my house before she did, and I threw my car into park in the garage before kicking out of it like it was on fire. I didn’t even bother with my bags — just stood in the middle of my driveway with my eyes on the gate.
I knew the Tanevs well enough to know getting away wouldn’t be as easy as she thought. My bet was that her brother and Maven probably begged her to come back to their house. I could hear how Maven would offer a guest room and a whole bottle of Advil if it meant she could have Grace with her.
When ten minutes had passed, I thumbed out a text asking what her ETA was, but there was no response.
Finally, headlights slid over the landscaping in front of the gate. The car pulled to a stop, and I jogged down the drive as Grace climbed out of a taxi.
A fucking taxi?
I hadn’t seen anyone use a taxi in years, but that surprise was with me for only a moment before every thought turned to the fact that Grace was in my driveway.
Her long hair was even lighter where it fell straight over her shoulders, her legs a dark tan like she’d been soaking up the sun every day since I’d last seen her. She was still in Vince’s jersey, and it was bulky and far too big for her. It fell down to her knees, leaving me to assume she had on shorts underneath. I spotted the keychains on her crossbody bag, and a memory of the first time I touched her knocked my next breath from my chest.
That jog turned into a sprint.
The taxi was already pulling away as Grace hastily typed in the gate code, and the metal slid open just enough for me to squeeze through before I had her swept up in my arms.
Her scent enveloped me, arms wrapping around my neck, legs around my waist as I hauled her up and held her tightly to my chest. She smelled like citrus and sunshine just like always, but she also smelled like the Colorado Rockies, like Yellowstone and Banff, like loud music and the open road.
It was everything I loved and missed back within reach as I held her tight. It was the first sip of air that didn’t burn on the way down. It was a quick release on all the pressure mounting in my chest. It was familiar and comfortable and the source of the joy I hadn’t felt since the last time she was in my arms.