Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 151430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
“Just what I said. Forward it to Ward when I finish this drink.”
“You’re sure you want to help him after what he did to you?” Sabrina cringes.
“It’s not just for him. It’s for Beatrice, Nick, and everyone else who works at Brandt Ideas.”
“...you’re sure you aren’t hunting for a reason to talk to him? If you really need to get him the info, maybe I could have it delivered?”
Oof. She has a point.
“Brina, I’m big enough to talk to my ex-fake fiancé all by myself,” I say with mock-pride.
“Yeah, but you don’t have to. Talking to him might make you feel worse.”
I shake my head. “I’m just going to unblock his email, forward Riker’s message, and reblock. Easy-peasy drama-squeezy over for tonight.”
“Go for it,” she tells me.
I polish off my wine and pull out my laptop. I unblock Ward on my personal email and hit forward on Riker’s message.
Wardhole,
This should help settle matters with your parents. I don’t want to hear about how it turns out. If you ever contact me again, I’ll get a restraining order. -P
My fingers hurt when I even think about signing my name for him.
He won’t reply, though, not after I block his address. Threatening him with a restraining order was just bitter.
I close the laptop and sink into the couch.
“Who was worse—Ward or Austin? Can’t believe I fell for this crap again.”
But I don’t need Brina’s vote.
This is worse, hands down, because Ward wasn’t trying to be malicious.
Also, I fell for my bossman far deeper than I ever cared for Austin.
Ward never lied. He never said he loved me. He told me this was a hoax to woo a client and he paid me to go along with it. I shouldn’t have gotten sucked up in the emotional twister and carried far, far away from the Kansas of my boring little life.
“Tough call, honestly,” Brina says, curled up on the other end of the couch. “You heard him tell his brother he didn’t love you or anyone else, right? Did you talk to him about it?”
“Well...I may have locked them on the balcony, packed my stuff, and left with a lot of screaming when he touched me.” I look away with a quick shrug.
“So you!” Brina laughs again. “Uh, you trapped them on the balcony?”
“I figured I’d get out of the building with less drama if they were stuck. Didn’t work. He must have had a key on him. He managed to get back into the penthouse and raced down the hall in time to catch me before I got to the elevator.”
“What was his explanation?”
I curl my knees over my stomach and hug them, so I’m in a ball, deep in sad thought.
“He was honest. He made it crystal freaking clear he was done and insisted I keep his money. At least there’s that.”
“Seriously—get paid. But I’m confused, if he didn’t explain the crap he said earlier, then what was he honest about?”
“He just...he said he didn’t want things to end so messy and I should come back so we could finish the contract. I told him to go to hell and he said he’d pay me anyway.”
“Take. The. Money.” She claps her hands between words. “If you’re off the studio idea, go to Maui, find a hot pool boy, and send Wart lots of photos.”
“Wart,” I snort. “Like he needs more nicknames announcing how big of a dick he is? And you know me, I don’t go back on my word. I already told him I didn’t need his money and left.”
“Listen, Paige.” She fishes a water bottle out of her bag and takes a sip. “I’m a romance writer’s daughter. I always thought I was good at reading these things, but maybe I’ve been around Mom too long and see happy endings where there are just dead ends.”
“Like this one,” I say, rubbing another lump in my throat. It just doesn’t stop.
“It’s funny. At the charity thing that night, I had your bossman pegged for enchanted. Totally smitten with you. But apparently, I was wrong.” She sighs. “At least it’s over now. You never have to see his nasty heart-breaky face again.”
Oh, God, she’s...she’s right, isn’t she?
Never.
I burst into tears.
“Oh, Paige, I’m sorry! What did I say?” Brina flails her hands like something’s on fire—and that fiery mess is me.
“Nothing.” I wipe my eyes, but the tears won’t stop.
The thought of never seeing Ward again hollows me out. Mostly because it’s not even true.
I’ll see him every night when I close my eyes.
I’ll know I fell for his trap.
And yes, I’ll be distraught over every insufferable lie, every war of kisses, and every sexy memory.
What does that say about me?
Brina moves to the couch arm beside me, grabs me, and gives me a savage hug. “He’s not worth the tears. Mark my words, one day you’ll meet someone who makes you forget all about this jackass, and when you do, you’ll be glad things ended so you could find him.”