Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 155405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 777(@200wpm)___ 622(@250wpm)___ 518(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 777(@200wpm)___ 622(@250wpm)___ 518(@300wpm)
So does he, but it’s because he does. He’s wearing white trousers and a beige polo with a watch that probably cost more than my car. Classic old money, but then, he is.
I feel like the odd one out, because I am. Looking at the three of us, you can very easily guess I am the one who owns a pink yoga mat that says, “after this, we are so getting pizza.”
“Oh, sorry,” I say to Arden, pulling a fake grimace. “We have a strict no troublemakers allowed policy.”
He smirks, ignoring me to watch Hannah. “If there were two girls in Baymont I wouldn’t have expected to see here today, they would definitely be the maid and the upstart.”
Even Hannah gives him a cool look. “Hello, Arden.”
He takes her hand and kisses it because he is the biggest asshole in the known universe. “Cinderella,” he murmurs, expertly straddling the line between teasing and an outright taunt.
Her eyes narrow slightly and she takes back her hand.
Since we’re in public, he lets it go.
And since I just saw him in my driveway last night and Hannah doesn’t know about it, I am eager to get the hell away from him.
Well, I’m always eager to get the hell away from him because he’s the worst, but I am currently more motivated than usual.
“Anyway, we’re meeting my mom here, so…” I trail off in hopes that the mention of a parental figure will encourage him to fuck off.
“Yeah? Moms love me. Maybe I’ll hang around.”
“Mine won’t,” I assure him with a fake smile.
His smile widens, his eyes glinting knowingly. “Parker, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to get rid of me.”
“Do you know better?” I ask, cocking my head.
He’s not a guy accustomed to rejection, even from someone he doesn’t care about, so he smiles at me coolly and asks, “How’s Landon this morning? I thought you two might sleep in today.”
My heart sinks, but mercifully, before I have to respond, the hostess comes over and says, “Your table’s ready,” as she grabs menus and plasters on a polite smile. “If you’ll just follow me.”
Thank god for customer service workers.
Without another word to Satan: The Sequel, I grab Hannah’s hand and haul her with me to the table by the windows. We have a nice view of the ocean but also air conditioning since it’s getting hot outside. It’s the best of both worlds.
“What was he talking about?” Hannah asks as she takes her seat.
“Who knows? You know Arden, he loves to cause trouble.”
She frowns slightly, probably because that explanation doesn’t entirely make sense, but the universe must be on my side today because before she can press me, Mom comes walking over.
“Hey, girls,” she says warmly as she takes her seat at the table. “Sorry, Kara’s a talker.”
“No worries,” I say, flashing her a smile and grabbing my menu. Looking across at Hannah, I tell her, “I highly recommend the sunset lemonade if you’re looking for something delicious to drink.”
“They have a juice bar, too,” Mom adds. “So you can get juices. Even juice shots.”
“And a real bar in case you want to steal from it and maybe frame a valet.”
Hannah nods as if not at all thrown off as she looks over her menu. “It’s nice to have options.”
We look over the menu so we’ll be ready when the waitress comes over like you’re supposed to do as a considerate human being dining out.
All these underhanded thoughts of Landon that are trickling in bring my mind back to the thing I’ve been running from all day.
Hannah has been an excellent shield, so the fact that they’re getting in even with her and Mom sitting at the table worries me about what it will be like when she leaves.
And that encourages me to find a way to replicate these circumstances to the best of my ability using a method that isn’t Hannah-dependent, since I can’t use my best friend to avoid Landon forever.
By the time the waitress has brought our drinks around and taken our lunch order, I have a solid plan that I feel pretty good about.
“So, Mom.”
Mom looks at me, taking note of my business-like tone. “Yes?” she asks cautiously.
“You know how during the summer I sometimes help out at the dance studio for extra money?”
Mom nods.
“I’d like to start doing that again.” Anticipating reluctance, I make quick work of bolstering my argument before she can rule against it. “Hayden bought me this new car, and that’s amazing, but I’ll need to pay for insurance for it and keep gas in the tank. There will be maintenance costs, too.”
As I feared, Mom is already waving me off before I’ve finished. “Oh, honey, you don’t have to worry about all that. We’ll pay for any upkeep on the car.”