Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“It’s our weekly meeting,” she hisses. “Jesus, aren’t you a sharp one.”
Now, I’ve about had it, and my back goes straight and the little bit of maturity I have is about to go out the window. “I guess your weekly meetings just aren’t as important as you think they are since he didn’t even mention you coming over.”
She laughs now. “You don’t really believe that he likes you, right?” she asks me and doesn’t wait for me to answer. “I mean, it’s all about publicity. He is banking on the biggest contract, and well, you just make it that much sweeter.” I was wrong before. Those other words were nothing because these words gut me. I don’t have a chance to say anything because the door opens and closes, and Evan looks at the sight before him. The smile leaves his face when he sees that I’m not smiling. I’m about to throw something across the room.
“What the fuck is going on?” he asks, his eyes never leaving mine.
“I was just telling her—” Candace starts, but I’m done with this bullshit right now, so I cut her off.
“Yes, she was informing me that I’m not the smartest, that you always think with your dick, and let’s see, that this thing between us”—I point at him and then at myself—“is a publicity stunt.” I look at him and then look at Candace who just swallows now. “Am I missing anything?”
“Candace,” he hisses, and I shake my head.
“I’m going to just step outside,” I tell them, and she just rolls her eyes. I grab my phone and open the door and the dogs follow me outside. I walk to the couch in the middle of the yard, and I sit down, the lone tear rolling down my cheek. Lilo gets on the couch with me, putting her face on my legs, and Stitch sits in front of the couch looking at the door.
“Well, that was fun,” I say to myself because the dogs don’t understand anything. “You see, the old Zara would have told her to fuck off and kicked her out of the house.” She looks up at me. “But the mature one who loves him and doesn’t want his family to hate me just got kicked in the vagina.” She tilts her head to the side. “Yeah, I liked the old Zara also.” I smile at her and rub her head. “She’d have a plan B just in case,” I tell them, opening up my American Airlines app.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Evan
I slam the door behind me with a smile on my face, knowing in five seconds my lips will be on hers, and then I see the scene before me. She tells me what was being discussed and then turns on her heels. I watch her walk out of the house with the dogs behind her, and I count to ten before I turn on my sister. What started out as an amazing day is quickly going to shit. I turn to my sister, taking off the baseball hat I was wearing and throwing it on my couch.
“Candace,” I say her name between clenched teeth. “I really fucking hope that what she said isn’t true.”
“Oh, please,” Candace says. “You can’t tell me that this actually means something.”
“I’m going to forget you just said that,” I tell her and then finally turn my head away from the window and turn to stare at my sister. “You came into my house.” My voice starts going a touch louder as my patience snaps. “And you said the most vile things to a woman you don’t even fucking know.”
“Oh, I know her kind,” she says, and she must see my face because she stops talking.
“Her kind?” I repeat her words. “You mean a smart, independent woman?”
“I mean a puck bunny. God knows how many hockey guys she’s—”
I put my hand up. “I’m going to stop you there before I do something that will be very bad for both of us,” I yell at her. “If you ever disrespect her again …”
“Disrespect her,” she huffs.
“Don’t make me choose between you and her,” I tell her, shaking my head. “I called Mom today. Told her that she needs to come down this weekend to meet her.” She doesn’t say anything; she just lets her mouth hang open. “I love her, Can.” I tell her what I just told my mother. “It started out as a fluke, but fuck, I fell in love with her.”
“You can’t be serious,” she finally says.
“If it wasn’t crazy, I would ask her to marry me today,” I tell her. “If it wasn’t crazy, I would beg her to spend the rest of her life with me.” I finally take a deep breath. “I’m that serious, Candace.” I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was definitely not her turning and walking out the door, slamming my front door. I take my phone out and call my mother who answers on the first ring.