Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
“He’s the manager of the bar.”
I jerk the phone from him and blow up the picture. I scroll around until I get to Ellie. That’s Ellie, but that’s not my Ellie. I squint as if that’s going to help me see clearer. Is she in a dress?
She’s sitting down, but I can see her long brown hair. I know it’s her, but this picture doesn’t give me nearly all the information I want. I want to see her face and know if she’s smiling and having a good time. I want to see the table she’s sitting at. I see Ally and Lilian, but they’re facing toward the camera. Is there someone sitting next to Ellie? I grip the phone tighter and try to move the picture around, taking it all in.
I don’t know how long I inspect the picture before Austin tries to take the phone from me. I hold it out of his reach. “Wait.”
I hit a few buttons and text myself the picture before handing his phone back to him.
I open the picture on my phone and lean against the kitchen counter, examining it.
“How long you going to stare at that thing?”
I pull my eyes off the screen. “How long have you had Malcolm spying for you?”
Austin chokes on the piece of pizza in his mouth. I’m about to slap him on the back when he finally clears his throat. “Malcolm’s not spying for me.”
I belly laugh at that. “Really? So I’m assuming you asked him about Ally and he sent you a picture of what she’s doing. That’s spying.”
He opens his mouth, closes it, and instead lifts his middle finger at me.
I just laugh harder. “Does Ally know you’re spying on her? Or is this you guys’ thing? Sort of like foreplay?”
“Fuck you. Does Elle know you’re in love with her?”
“I’m not—” I start, but I can’t bring myself to say it. Truth is, I’m fucking crazy for her. I want to be with her all the time. I want to talk to her, laugh with her, protect her. Fuck it. “Fuck. Yes, I’m in love with her and no, she doesn’t know it. Worse than that, she doesn’t feel the same way. At least I don’t think she does. She’s mentioned that she may have to leave Whiskey Run. I don’t think she’s looking for anything serious.”
Austin’s nodding his head. “And you want more?”
“Fuck yeah, I want more.”
Austin slams his beer down on the counter. “Then go get it.”
Chapter 20
Elle
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I tell myself to ignore it, but I know I won’t. There’s only one person that would text me, and that's the man I can’t stop thinking about. I pull my phone out and look at it. “Send me a picture of YOU, please?”
I’m smiling at the phone, and Ally leans over. “Okay, what’s the smile about?”
I try to pocket my phone. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”
Ally grabs for it, though. “Bullshit, nothing.” She reads the text and leans in. “Is this some of that freaky shit? You need to go to the ladies’ room to take a ‘picture’?” She does this thing with her eyebrows when she says picture, and I can’t help but laugh.
“No, it’s very innocent.” I scroll through them. “See, just normal pictures.”
She looks a little disappointed but then shrugs her shoulders. “Okay, so let’s send him a picture.”
She looks around the room and stops someone passing by. He has a cowboy hat on and smiles when Ally calls his name. “Jason, come here. Do me a favor, will you? Stand here next to Elle and let me get a picture.”
He looks at me and moves to my side. “How come I feel like you’re setting me up? Is a boyfriend or husband going to be coming to break my neck?”
Ally just laughs. “Nope, nothing like that. You’re safe. It’s an innocent picture. Just don’t touch her.”
I try to interrupt. “Ally, I don’t think—” I turn to Jason. “I’m sorry about this, but we don’t need a picture.”
It’s as I’m apologizing that Ally waves Jason off. “Thanks. I got it.”
My mouth drops, and I reach for my phone. “What did you do?”
I scan the text message she just sent. “Ally!”
She leans over my shoulder. “What? It’s a candid picture. You guys are talking to each other.”
It’s honestly not a bad picture, but why would I send Huddy a picture of me talking to some strange man? Geez.
Lilian leans in and looks at the picture. “Oh.” She looks surprised for just a minute and then smiles. “Yep, that will do.”
I look between her and Ally. “What will do? What are you talking about?”
Ally just laughs. “Look, he either needs to fish or cut bait.”
My eyes widen. What does that even mean? Lilian has filled Ally in on my Huddy drama, and obviously she has thoughts on it. She leans toward me. “Look, if he’s not here in say, uh, twenty minutes, then we’re finding you a new man.” She starts muttering something, and all I can make out is “these damn Blaze brothers.”