Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Making my heart break. “Lexi. What happened?”
Finally, she gathers herself enough to tell me the story. The words come out fast and hard. “Yesterday afternoon I came home early from visiting Mom. I felt bad I’ve been spending so much time over there, so I was going to get home before he did. Bake him his favorite Triple Chocolate Cake. You know—that one I made him when he asked me to be his girlfriend? Anyway I don’t want to go into it, I can’t—it hurts too much—but let’s just say, he wasn’t alone.”
Tom? Cheated on my sister?
But Tom is… perfect. He’s the man I’ve measured all other friends’ fiancées and husbands to. He’s kind, loving, considerate. Always putting Lexi first.
Or so I thought.
“And the wedding?”
“Off. And it’s too late to get the deposits back. I’ve wasted all your money. Not to mention wasting the past two years of my life.” My stomach sinks as she goes on. “And… I gave up my job when he asked me to, so I don’t even have that anymore, for God’s sake. It’s his apartment I live in. His money I live off of. What am I going to do?”
I want to send someone to destroy that asshole. A dark thought pops into my mind… I’m sure Mr. Lord has men for that.
But even if he did, it’s out of the question. There’s only one answer that’s acceptable. “Come here. You’re going to come here.”
“But what about Mom? Gabriel just got her that great place and she’s had to move once… I hate to make her move again on my account.”
“She’ll have to adjust, but in the end it will be better. The three of us will be together. And that’s going to be what’s best for all of us.”
I can see her shaking her head in my mind. Biting her nails down to the quick. “I don’t know. I need to get out of here, but I have a life here, you know? And to move Mom…”
I’m losing her. She’s going down a spiral of despair and soon, she’ll try to get off the phone with me. I need to get her to commit to coming here. At least for a few days to clear her head. “Tell you what… Mom’s happy right now, right?”
“Yeah. She loves that place.”
“And you're miserable, right?”
She gives a dark laugh. “Never been worse.”
“Then why don’t you come here just for a few days. Just to catch your breath. To get away.”
“Like a vacation?”
“What if I told you that a car could pull up at your house in the morning. That it could take you to an airport where a private jet will be waiting for you. That you could fly in absolute luxury, and be here with me, in Vegas by lunchtime tomorrow? And be in Tori’s spin class together by afternoon. How would that feel?” It’s amazing, to be able to offer this to her, without even asking Gabriel first.
She takes a shuddering breath. “Fucking amazing.”
Ah. Yes. She’ll be here by noon. “Done. Pack your bag. Have a glass—or a bottle of wine—and set your alarm for nine a.m.”
“Tell you what—can you just have the car go to Mom’s old house? I think I’ll go there and crash again. I grabbed a bag of my stuff before I left yesterday, and I stayed at Mom’s last night. I don’t even want to go to the apartment. Ever.”
“Done. And don’t worry about the rest. I’ll take care of it.” I’m sure Shane could find a way to get my sister’s stuff packed up and sent here, or to my mom’s old house. Maybe Gabriel’s inside connections aren’t so creepy after all. They are actually turning out to be quite helpful.
I call her an Uber from the care home to Mom’s house. I don’t want her driving when she’s this upset. I shoot a quick text to Tom. You’ll be getting instructions on getting my sister’s stuff to her soon. I guess you were just too good to be true. Asshole.
I read the text before I hit send. Too good to be true. Isn’t that what I thought about Gabriel? But he turned out to be the real deal.
Right?
Is there even such a thing? Relationships can be such fuck ups and it makes me sad to find out Tom is one of those guys. The kind of man that’s kept me distanced from men. Focused on my business, seeing men as a means to an end, a paycheck. Nothing more.
Never. Fall. In. Love.
I’m brought out of my dark line of thought by a hand, smoothing over the back of my neck, pulling my hair to the side. A warm kiss caressing my skin. Teeth nipping at my shoulder.
Gabriel.
I turn, falling into his arms. He surrounds me with warmth and protection. His lips are on mine, his kisses telling me all will be well. He pulls away to speak, and I miss his mouth on mine.