Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Morning,” he said sheepishly, scuffing his hand through his hair.
“Good morning,” I laughed. “I didn’t expect to see you until four.”
I made another plateful of waffles and ate standing up since Jake and Christi were on the only two barstools that fit at the counter.
“Sit down,” Jake kept trying to insist, but I didn’t want to break them apart. They both looked so content with their thighs pressed snugly together.
I half paid attention to their conversation; half daydreamed about what it would be like to see Dominic again. Would he be holding himself back, determined not to let anything slip in front of his family, his gaze distant and his smile formal? Or would there be a spark in his eye when he looked at me, and would he find ways to steal moments alone together?
I was so lost in the fantasy that when Jake said his name, I startled back into awareness, a blush creeping across my cheeks. “What?” I blurted out.
Christi shot me an amused glance, knowing perfectly well what had just happened. Jake looked confused though as he slowly repeated, “I said, I think she’ll really like my Uncle Nic. You like him, don’t you?”
“Loves him,” Christi said, straight-faced. “Won’t shut up about him.”
“Yeah, he’s great, right?” Jake said enthusiastically. “Some people don’t get him, but I knew you would, Selena.”
“Great,” I echoed, my heartbeat slowing back to normal.
“I’ve actually already met him,” Christi told Jake. “He stopped by Mrs. Kloss’s when Selena and I were there last weekend.”
“To make sure we were sticking to the budget for the Christmas ball,” I added quickly.
“He went all the way to her house for the budget?” Jake repeated. “That sounds more hands on than Uncle Nic usually is.”
“From what I hear, he’s been very hands on,” Christi said blandly. She smiled sweetly at Jake when he glanced over at her in confusion. He clearly didn’t know her well enough yet to spot the glint of mischief in her eye.
I did though, and I was going to kill her.
“He’s been very concerned,” I corrected. “Mrs. Kloss’s finances aren’t–” I trailed off, realizing how dangerously close I was to revealing confidential information.
“I get it,” Jake said. “I’m just surprised he went himself.”
I shrugged. “If you want something done right…” Then I saw the glint come back into Christi’s eyes and realized I’d given her the perfect set up to say something else subtly lecherous. I made a hasty excuse about needing a shower and hurried back to my room before she could.
“Is she okay?” I heard Jake ask Christi.
And I heard the laugh in her voice when she replied, “Who, Selena? She’s fantastic.”
I leaned back against my closed bedroom door and blew out a giddy, nervous breath. Just talking about Dominic was spinning me up. How on earth was I going to get through an entire evening with him?
Jake left a little after noon, and Christi and I spent the next few hours hanging out on the couch, curled up under blankets, watching another Hallmark Christmas movie. Normally we talked throughout, making fun of the plot or the acting or the absurd coincidences, but today, we both watched with an almost reverential silence. At one point, I thought I saw Christi wipe away a tear.
“Are you crying?” I asked in amazement. I hadn’t seen Christi cry in years. I knew she must have after her deadbeat boyfriend disappeared following her pregnancy announcement, but by the time she called me, her eyes were dry.
“No,” she said defensively. But a few minutes later she said, “Is it the pregnancy hormones talking, or is this movie actually good?”
“It’s not good, but there’s something about it,” I said slowly, trying to figure out why the same asinine, recycled plot we’d laughed at a hundred times was now creating a gooey, warm ball in my chest.
“Oh my God, are we in love?” Christi asked suddenly, pushing back the blanket and sitting up straight.
I laughed, but the sound stuck in my throat. “No. I’m not anyway. Maybe you are.”
Christi stared at me, wide eyed. “Maybe I am.”
She looked so stricken that I had to laugh again. “Don’t look so scared. You picked a good guy to fall in love with this time.” I’d always known Jake was a good one, but he was even better with Christi. He’d never looked at me the way he looked at her.
“Maybe the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Christi said. “I mean, if Dominic helped raise him, maybe deep down, he’s a good guy too.”
“Maybe,” I said. I’d never doubted that Dominic was good deep down inside. But there was a difference between being good and being good for someone. A difference I didn’t want to think about because I’d already made my decision. Good, bad, or otherwise, I wanted him.