Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
“It’s all good. Rough night?”
I shrug in an attempt to play it cool. “I’ve had worse.”
Holden’s expression turns amused. “Told you that guy’s a douchebag.”
“Most are. Want a cookie for being right?” I don’t know why I’m provoking him. He’s not the one who cheated on me.
“Are you offering yours?”
I scoff, annoyed that he doesn’t take the bait.
“Need a ride?”
“Nope.”
“You sure about that?” he asks, quirking a brow.
“The last thing I want to do right now is to be in an enclosed space with—”
Flashing yellow lights illuminate the cocky expression on his face and I break off mid-sentence, looking over my shoulder to see what’s caught his attention just in time to see my car…being towed.
“Hey!” I yell, throwing an arm in the air. But the tow truck driver is oblivious, already turning the corner. Super. Just fan-fucking-tastic. I squint at the parking space, seeing a sign partially obstructed by a tree branch that reads: Resident Parking Only. VIOLATORS WILL BE TOWED. When I turn back around, Holden looks smug.
“You couldn’t have warned me sooner?” I snap, pulling my phone out of my purse and attempt to re-download the ride share app I used exactly one other time. Could this night possibly get any worse?
“Last chance for a ride,” Holden says, dangling his keys.
“I’ll Uber.” I don’t even look up from my phone that’s loading at a snail’s pace. Holden just witnessed my humiliation. The sooner he leaves, the sooner I can pretend this night never happened.
“Suit yourself.”
To that, I don’t respond, and I hear him walk away while I enter my destination address into the app. Being a Saturday night, there’s no shortage of drivers in the area. But even the seven to ten-minute estimate feels like a century. I want to put as much distance between Liam and me as possible.
As if summoned by my thoughts, Liam jogs up from behind me, running his hand through his disheveled dirty blond hair.
Sex hair. From another girl.
His jeans are unbuttoned, and my stomach rolls at the sight. He says something—I know that because his lips are moving—but I don’t hear what he says. I study him, knowing I should feel jealous or territorial. I should be heartbroken. I’m disappointed. Disrespected, for damn sure. I try to summon any of the appropriate reactions, but as I take in his stricken expression as the excuses spill from those pretty lips, I come to the realization that he doesn’t feel like mine, and that’s why I can’t bring myself to care. He’s just another boy doing what boys do. And I’m the idiot who thought he was different.
“Holden!” I shout abruptly, cutting off Liam who looks about as surprised as I feel. I whirl around to face Holden. He’s standing in front of his Range Rover with a hard expression on his face. “Take me home?” The question sounds suggestive, and I don’t bother to correct myself. A mean smile spreads across his face before he jerks his chin in invitation.
“You’re not seriously leaving with him, are you?” Liam sneers at Holden in that condescending, arrogant way of his. It’s ironic, considering Holden belongs to the Ames family—as in AmesAir—who happens to have more money than Liam’s family could ever dream of. Money. Status. Power. It’s all any of these people care about. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy the finer things in life. Most would probably describe me as spoiled—and they’d be right. But my self-worth isn’t contingent on how much money Mommy and Daddy make. And it’s that sense of self-importance that pushes me right into the figurative arms of Holden Ames.
Desperate. Times.
“I’m sorry,” I say, my tone thick with sarcasm. “You lost the right to question me when you decided to stick your dick into another girl.”
I hurry over to Holden, who’s now sitting in the driver’s seat. Through the windshield, I see him stretch across the middle console to open the door. I hesitate, one hand on the door, and Holden raises an eyebrow in response. My eyes flit back to where Liam stands with his hands fisted at his side, as if he’s the one who’s been burned tonight. My temper flares at the audacity, and I climb up, stick my middle finger in the air, and flip him off over the top of the car before sliding into the passenger seat and shutting the door.
“Where to?” he asks, amusement lacing his tone, but he doesn’t comment.
“Anywhere but here.”
He steps on the gas as I stare straight ahead, refusing to look in Liam’s direction.
“You should see his face.” Holden laughs.
“If I ever see it again, it’ll be too soon,” I mutter.
“So, uh…are you…alri—” Holden starts, but I shake my head, cutting him off before he can finish his question.
“Let’s not speak.”
“Oh, thank fuck,” he says, the relief evident in his tone.