Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
I didn’t know what was beneath the exterior, if he had a temper, if he lied to and used women he wanted—like me and Giselle—just to satisfy some black hole within himself that could never be filled. Not that I believed everything Giselle said, but still. There had to be some truth to it, no? You never really know a person, and with Deke, there was only one way to find out who he really was.
“You know you have to go, right?” Tish asked, carrying the face masks into the living room.
I dragged a hand down my cheek. “Why should I?”
Tish sat in the recliner again. “Because you like him, I can tell. And it’s been clear from the beginning that he likes your ass too. Y’all aren’t just fuck-buddies anymore. I sense something deeper.”
“Deeper how?” I asked to entertain her.
“Davina, be real. If you were only in it for the sex, you wouldn’t have been so upset about the Giselle thing. It wouldn’t have mattered what she said if you were only in it for the D.”
“I don’t believe that. There may be no strings attached, but I still expect a little respect. This is probably just a phase for him, Tish. Like he said, we can have this weekend to get it out of our systems and then we can move on.” I waved a dismissive hand. “No point in prolonging the inevitable.”
“And what, pray tell, is the inevitable?”
“What we have, Tish. This thing between me and Deke has only ever been physical. It’ll never reach a level deeper than that for us, and frankly, I’m fine with that because I don’t want more. Yes, I want to live my life, but settling down and falling for someone again is not in the plans. I just . . . I don’t think I can do that to myself again.”
Suddenly, all I could think about was Lewis. He had my all. I invested so much into our relationship and gave him every ounce of love I had.
I wasn’t sure I had it in me to give it to another . . . or maybe I was just too much of a chicken to find out if it was possible.
FORTY-EIGHT
DAVINA
I adjusted my visor mirror, catching the reflection of my eyes. They were rimmed with dark mascara and only a light swoop of black eyeliner.
My hair was in tight coils that shaped my face, my brows freshly plucked. The sky was thick with clouds, an attempt to block the sun’s radiant shine. Birds flew past, dipping and bobbing.
I glanced at the packed bag on my passenger seat, the bag I’d taken my time to pack that morning, ruminating between the idea of abandoning it or packing extra clothes just in case. The teal straps of one of my tank tops stuck out, and I tucked it into place before starting my car and pulling out of the driveway.
When Tish and I had discussed more about my weekend with Deke, I kept telling her how I needed to be working anyway and couldn’t go to the lake house. She wasn’t having it, though. She knew they were all excuses for me to not be with Deke.
“I’ll have all of that covered,” Tish had said as she replaced my tea with a glass of chardonnay. “If you don’t go, you might not get the chance again later.”
For some reason, her words struck fear in my heart, as if not getting to be solo with Deke again was a loss my body couldn’t handle. Those words stuck to me like glue as I lay in bed, restless, reading the email he’d sent with the address of the lake house.
I filled my gas tank, then took the freeway, chewing on the inside of my cheek until it was raw. I spotted the sign for Graham County, and my heart thundered in my chest as I made a turn onto an unmarked road and drove until I spotted a cottage in the distance.
The cottage was enveloped in sweet gum trees with saffron-and-gold leaves. A few pine trees and red maples blended in, the reds of the maples standing out boldly beneath the remaining sunlight.
It would be dark soon, and I was glad I left when I did, because the view was spectacular already. It screamed autumn, and I could feel a persuading breeze sneaking through my cracked window.
I turned into the driveway and killed the engine, staring at the oversize lake house ahead of me. The exterior was made of wood beams and panels, had a wraparound porch with cable railing, and was furnished with a combination of cushioned seats and rocking chairs.
I spotted the familiar black Ferrari parked close to the cottage and gleaming in the light. I closed my eyes for a second, taking a quick breath before opening them again and climbing out of my car, with my purse and overnight bag.