Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Feeling emboldened, I grab my phone and tap out a text to Alexander:
Me: I’m at dinner with friends. I’ll call you tonight when we’re done, at my earliest convenience.
Even before I’ve read my reply text to my friends, Alexander hits me back.
Alexander: Are you downtown, by any chance? If so, let’s meet for drinks after your dinner. What I need to say to you, I’d rather say to your face, anyway.
“Oh, jeez. What now, ladies?” I ask. I read my friends Alexander’s text, and they all encourage me to suggest a meeting at Captain’s, which is right down the street from us. “Only if you all come with me,” I say. “Even in a public place, I don’t want to be alone with that horrible man.”
“Of course, we’ll come,” Victoria says. “We’ll sit at a nearby table and watch you like hawks and rush over to take Mr. BDE down, if needed.”
“Thanks. I think being in his presence might be physically painful for me. But it’ll be worth it to get to tell him off for all the ways he’s mistreated Max.”
Everyone agrees with that assessment.
Jasmine says, “I’m excited to watch you rip him in a new one. When our beloved Fire really gets fired up, she’s a sight to see.”
As everyone agrees, Lucy says, “It’s too bad Captain’s doesn’t have popcorn on its snack menu. I have a feeling this is going to be a popcorn-worthy take-down. I, for one, can’t wait to see it.”
Laughing, Victoria says, “Not to mention, I can’t wait to finally get a look at the notorious Mr. BDE.”
31
MAX
I’m sitting at my desk at work, staring blankly at my law school diploma on the wall. I’ve spent my supposed last day at my firm’s Seattle office tying up loose ends and saying goodbye to colleagues. On Monday, I’m supposed to start my dream job—my new assignment as a member of Wayne Walters’ core legal team in Silicon Valley. But I’m having second thoughts about that—feeling guilty about the lies I told Mr. and Mrs. Walters at family camp. I need to come clean with Mr. Walters before stepping foot in his office. That’s the right thing to do. But since I haven’t told my boss, Scott, the embarrassing truth about Marnie and me—and I also know for a fact Scott would disembowel me if I tanked my relationship with the firm’s biggest client—I haven’t yet picked up the phone to do the right thing. It’s so unlike me to be dishonest. Totally out of character. And now, I’m feeling ravaged by guilt.
I’m also feeling ravaged by another feeling, too—something that can only be described as homesickness. I’ve tossed and turned every night this past week and a half, while telling myself that horrible ache in my heart isn’t real. Or if it is, it’ll pass soon. But with each sleepless night, it’s becoming harder to deny the truth: I miss my family, terribly. I want them back. It’s as simple as that. My brain knows they were my fake family, but my heart feels like they were as real as it gets. It makes no logical sense for me to miss them the way that I do. For fuck’s sake, I miss Marnie and Ripley so much, I feel like I’m on the cusp of tears at all times.
With a sigh, I pull Marnie’s fake diamond ring out of my pocket and stare at it with a heavy heart. Marnie told me to sell it, but I can’t do that. Instead, I’ve decided to keep it as a memento of the happiest week of my life. Why wouldn’t Marnie simply be rational and agree to a long-distance relationship with me?
My phone pings with a text, and I glance at my screen, hoping I’ll see Marnie’s name on it. Nope. It’s my brother texting me.
Auggie: Ashley and Dad are kaput!
Me: What? Since when?
Auggie: Since four days ago, when she left Dad for her horseback riding instructor because she found out she’s preggers with the instructor’s baby. Bwahahahaha. I’m with Mom at her place now sipping champagne in celebration.
Me: Are you sure the intel is accurate?
Auggie: Yep. I found out through the friend of mine whose sister is besties with Ashley.
Me: Ha! Ain’t karma a bitch, Dad? I wish I could have seen his face when Ashley told him the news and ditched his ass.
Auggie: Mom said the same thing. When she heard the news, she laughed so hard she peed her pants.
Me: Well, Mom pees when she sneezes, so that’s not saying much. Haha. Tell her big congrats from me.
Auggie: Come join us for champagne and tell her yourself. Henry is babysitting his granddaughter tonight, so Mom and I are hanging out at her place all night.
My heart stops.
If Henry is babysitting Ripley, then that means Marnie is out tonight.