Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“He’s lucky I owed him a favor,” Teagan tells Jake. “It’s only a matter of time before my mother hears about this and calls me to ask about our wedding plans.”
“I hope you don’t think I’m putting out before the wedding,” I tell her, folding my arms. “I’m not that kind of boy.”
This draws a loud snort from Jake. “That was one hell of a nice donation you gave to the Shoe Bus. I had no idea firefighters made such good money.”
“It’s the money from those damn interviews.” I don’t accept them anymore, but right after the picture of me and the pup went viral, I let my chief talk me into doing a couple of TV appearances. I used the opportunity to spread the word about water safety. Turns out I hated it, and it only made my weird fifteen minutes of fame last longer. I don’t tell him that it feels wrong to keep the money. Or that I hate all this attention in the first place.
Jake’s eyes narrow on me, but he nods. “It’s just money, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Are you two drinking tonight?”
Teagan grins. “We didn’t stand in this line for water.”
Carter
Ten grand—that’s how much the bachelor auction brings in for the Shoe Bus, fifteen counting my donation. The guys from my station are going to be cocky sonsofbitches for weeks after how much money they each brought in, but that’s the least of my worries. Between the rest of the auction and dinner, something changes between me and Teagan. I get us more drinks between courses, but the easy laughter fades away the longer we sit at the table with everyone staring at us.
After our plates are cleared, Teagan finally looks at me. “Why’d you do it? Why not spend your night with one of the ladies who came to charm you?”
I’m sure it seems unreasonable. After all, I’m no stranger to beautiful women, and I’m not exactly shy. “I could see how the night was going to unfold. I’d have to recount the story and then have them sing my praises for something anyone would’ve done—anyone could’ve done.”
She cocks her head to the side and studies me. “Not anyone, Carter.”
I shrug. “I hate them acting like I’m a hero when in the scheme of things . . .” I grimace, unwilling to finish that sentence. In the scheme of things, I’m a fucked-up failure. In the scheme of things, I’m just lucky, and the real hero of the JHFD died in a warehouse fire in April.
“Well, it wasn’t so bad,” she says. “And now we’re even. Right?”
“Right.” I’m ready to tell her we can make excuses and get out of here, but the young women who were leering at me earlier descend on our table.
The first extends a hand to Teagan, flipping her straight honey hair over one shoulder. “Hi, I’m Jennifer. I wanted to meet the woman special enough to claim the heart of such an amazing guy.”
Teagan shakes the offered hand. “Nice to meet you.” She chases the words with a long pull from her martini that suggests otherwise.
“How do you two know each other?” Jennifer asks.
“We’ve been friends for a long time,” I say, watching Teagan, who’s staring at her martini so intently that I’m pretty sure she’s preparing to write an ode in its honor. “It took me a long time to find the courage to tell her how I feel.”
Jennifer presses her palm to her chest, her jaw dropping. “Oh. My. God. That is so sweet.” She looks at her friend and squeals. “They were friends. And he’s been into her forever, and just recently found the courage to do something about it.”
Wow. I didn’t know I needed a translator.
“Oh my God. So sweet,” the second woman says.
“You are so lucky,” the girls tell Teagan in unison.
Teagan coughs on a gulp of martini, then nods as she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “So lucky.”
“We’re disappointed, of course,” the first woman says. “We drove eight hours for a chance to bid on Carter.”
“Heartbroken, really.” The second one drags her gaze over me. I try not to squirm, but it’s an effort.
“But we love love, don’t we, Brit?”
“Totally,” Brit says. “Love is our favorite.”
“Right,” Teagan says. “I mean, who doesn’t?”
“Right?” Jennifer says.
I reach across the table for Teagan’s hand. I’m probably going to burn in hell for this, but it might be worth it to get that tortured we all know this is fake, would someone kill me now look off her face. “It turned out Teagan had been harboring feelings for me the whole time too.” Her gaze snaps up to meet mine. Good. At least she’s looking at something other than her drink. “I’ll never forget the day you showed me all those journals where you wrote me secret love notes.”