Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Living with my mom and dad postdivorce was traumatic in many—mostly comedic—ways, but life in New York is an entirely different beast. And at forty-one years old, I still feel like a child who’s been left alone to start over and find my way.
“A glass of Chardonnay for the pretty lady,” the bartender announces magnanimously, setting the glass on the previously placed coaster. “That’ll be $11.43. Do you want to open a tab?”
“Thank you.” I try my best to replace the current discomfort on my face with a half smile as I dig fifteen dollars from my bag and slide it over to him. “No tab but keep the change for your tip.”
“That’s appreciated.” He grins and turns on his heel to cash out my drink at the register, and I stare down at the ice-cold wine in front of me, more than ready to see if it helps take the edge off. And I’ve almost swallowed an entire gulp of the liquid when the sound of my name catches me off guard.
“Sammy.”
I jerk to look over my shoulder, almost certain I’ve conjured the man with my imagination.
With a pint of beer in front of him, Noah sits at a table by himself behind and to the left of me, and an exuberant smile is planted on his handsome face. At the sight of him, some small part of me has to wonder exactly how blindly I chose to come here.
Was I hoping he would be here too? Or was it just comfortable because I’d been here before?
Beer in hand, he stands from his chair and moves to sit on the barstool beside mine. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise.” The depths of his blue eyes glimmer like stars in the sky. “What are you doing here?”
“Just stopped by for a drink, I guess.” I shrug, pointedly avoiding telling him any of the events leading up to that decision. “What about you?”
“Pretty much the same.” He runs a hand through his hair and offers a wry grin. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve kind of taken it upon myself to join you.”
“Of course not,” I say, and he reaches out with one hand to tug my barstool a little closer to his. It’s the second time tonight I’ve been relocated by a man, but for some reason, this feels different—safer.
“There.” He winks. “That’s much better.”
My stomach flutters.
“So, you’re kid-free for the night?” he asks, and I nod.
“The boys are sleeping over at Brooke’s.”
“Nice.” Noah grins at me over his pint of beer. “You deserve to have some nights to yourself. Probably doesn’t make it any easier to leave them, though, huh?”
My whole body sinks an inch into my stool. Why does it feel so good to finally have someone understand how torn I’m feeling?
“Mom guilt is a bitch.”
Noah grins. “Trust me. Not all moms feel guilty. It just means you’re a good one.”
“I’m so sorry, Noah!” a voice calls from behind us. “I hope you weren’t waiting long!”
We both turn around, and my stomach jolts when I come face-to-face with the pretty redhead who singlehandedly ruined the name Mary for me.
She looks slightly frazzled, but she’s still painfully attractive. And my stomach tries to migrate into my shoes at the realization that this is the third time I’m seeing them together.
There’s no way this is just a fling.
“Don’t worry about it, Mary,” Noah says through a chuckle, spinning on his barstool to accept her hug as she gives it. “Haven’t been here more than ten minutes.”
“Thank goodness,” she exclaims and kisses him on the cheek.
I feel like an uninvited voyeur, but this time, with the shift Noah made to my stool when he sat down, it feels like there’s nowhere for me to run.
“I don’t want to interrupt your night, guys,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual and taking the last swig of my wine in preparation for dismissal. “And I should probably be on my way anyway.”
“Sammy, no. Stay,” Noah states quickly and reaches out to gently grip my thigh.
“No, it’s okay. I really don’t want to interrupt. I—”
“No, seriously, stay,” Mary adds with a soft smile directed straight at me. “I’m just dropping keys off to Noah. I’m Mary, by the way.” She holds out her hand, and I swallow my pride and take it. I’m too old to play the hostile victim toward a woman who’s done me no conscious wrong.
“Sammy,” I reciprocate.
“So, you’re Sammy,” Mary states and glances over at Noah like she knows something I don’t. “It’s really nice to finally meet you.”
Finally meet me? As in, she’s been waiting for the opportunity?
“Mary is my sister’s home health nurse,” Noah unexpectedly explains, making my gaze jerk violently toward him.
He has a sister? Who requires a home health nurse?
“Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without her,” Noah adds with a genuine grin. “Mary has been taking care of my sister Kara for several years now. Most days, she’s my saving grace.”