Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
My entire body joined my nipples in zinging to life.
Ford pulled his head back. He took one look at my face and a wicked grin spread across his. “The entire summer. I can’t wait.”
Chapter 9
* * *
Valentina
“I’m so happy that’s over.” I breathed out a long sigh of relief.
Mark and Allison were already outside waiting for Desiree and me to finish the test. They’d gotten done early, but I’d wanted to take every last available minute to review my answers a third time.
“What did you think?” Mark asked.
It was easier than I’d thought it would be, yet I was afraid to jinx myself and say that out loud. “I felt prepared.”
Desiree smiled. “Me, too. Although, I’m not sure I have the best judgment on how things are going. I also thought my ex, Travis, was going to propose the night he dumped me.”
We all laughed. “So what is everyone doing for the summer? It’s going to feel like we have a lot of free time without classes and studying,” Mark said.
“I’m going to Minneapolis for a few weeks to watch my nephew because my sister needs to have a hysterectomy,” Allison said.
“I’m sorry to hear that, but what a great sister you are to help out. I’m spending the summer in Montauk. We have a house out there. If you get back early, you should come out and relax a little.” I looked at all three of my study partners. “You all should.”
“We? You’re doing a summer share?” Allison asked.
I shook my head. “No. Sorry. We is me and my ex-husband. I have the house this summer, but we take turns. It’s been almost two years, yet I still slip up and say we sometimes. But we do own it together, so I guess, technically, it’s okay in this instance.”
“I’ve never been to Montauk,” Mark said.
“And you’ve lived in New Jersey your entire life?”
Mark laughed. “Yup. Born and raised right in Edgewater. I’ve never been to the Hamptons either. Guess I should rectify that sometime soon.”
“You really should. I personally could do without the Hamptons. In the summer it’s mostly just upscale shops and mobbed with polished people. Montauk is way more laid back, for the most part—an old fishing village and more casual. I love it out there.”
“Well, then, I’ll have to make a point of coming out this summer. Maybe you can give me a tour if I do.”
“Sure.” I looked at Allison and Desiree. “Really, guys. Let’s keep in touch. You’re all welcome if you come out.”
We hugged and promised to call soon, and then I headed to my car. I’d had to turn off my phone before the test started, so I powered it back on. As soon as the screen illuminated, Ford’s name popped up with a new text message.
Ford: Well, how’d it go? Don’t keep me hanging…
I smiled. Ford and I had been texting all week. Initially, the texts had been about Bella—he’d asked if I’d seen her and how things were going. But the last few days they’d had nothing to do with his sister. It felt like we were back to when we’d first started texting, before I knew Donovan620 was Ford—the boy next door.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy our communications. He was witty, and, though I shouldn’t have, I looked forward to hearing from him. I might’ve even been checking my phone like a teenage girl the last few days. I knew it was wrong, but I could justify it in my head as keeping in contact because of Bella. It was the right thing to do. And now, he was just being cordial—asking how my test had gone. That was it. He was being neighborly… I couldn’t not respond.
I sighed, knowing full well that I was full of shit, yet texted back anyway.
Valentina: I feel like I did okay.
He texted back immediately.
Ford: Excellent. We’ll need to celebrate this weekend.
I hated that I got a flutter in my belly reading that he’d be in Montauk again soon.
Valentina: You’ll be out this weekend?
Ford: Already here. Got back about an hour ago.
I masked how I really felt.
Valentina: Oh. That’s nice. I’m sure Bella must be happy with some company.
Ford: Forget her. Hoping you’ll be happy with some company, too…
I didn’t want to answer truthfully, so I decided against responding at all. The man made me flustered to begin with, and I needed to drive. I’d see him tomorrow. So I tossed my phone into my purse and started the car.
The man made me flustered.
Boy.
Think of him as a boy, Valentina.
I wanted to so badly.
But it was becoming harder and harder to remember his age.
***
“Hey,” I yelled over to Ford as I walked out onto my back deck. He blinked a few times and looked up from his laptop. I thought he’d seen me come out, but apparently he hadn’t.