Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
“Hey, Autumn, did you want some more bananas?”
Her eyes widened as she glanced over at Frank. She’d kind of forgotten he was here. How, she didn’t know. She suddenly realized how much bigger than Brad he was. Taller and broader, his rugged good looks appealed to her far more.
Not that she was interested in Frank. But a girl could still look, right?
“Oh, yes, I, um, thank you.”
She glanced around for Laura. Where had she gone? Not that she wanted her to come over. That would just be the icing on this shit-cake.
“No worries.” Frank placed several overripe bananas in her basket, surprising her. She’d expected him to reach for a bunch of the better-looking ones.
“Why would you want overripe bananas?” Brad asked, wrinkling his nose. “You shouldn’t be eating bananas at all. They’re far too high in carbohydrates.”
Right. Like she was worried about that. How were bananas bad? They were a fruit, right? Not that she planned on eating them, she’d rather take her fruit in candy form.
“High in carbohydrates?” Frank asked.
Brad looked him up and down with narrowed eyes. “Yes. A high-carbohydrate diet will kill you. And have you piling on the weight.”
She’d lost thirty pounds since the kidnapping and she’d had to tie the waistband of her sweatpants with a rubber band so they didn’t slide right off her hips. And while she’d gained a bit of that back lately, she wasn’t overly concerned about her weight.
The only time she’d ever worried about her weight was when she was with Brad.
Huh, wouldn’t he be proud if he could see under her sweater?
“Really? Want some more, Autumn?” Frank asked.
He winked as she glanced up at him in surprise. She smiled. “Yes, please.”
Brad made a strange huffy noise that had her grin widening as Frank placed way more bananas than she needed in her basket.
“Who are you?” Brad demanded, glaring at Frank.
“I’m Frank.”
Brad scowled when he didn’t elaborate further.
“Well, I need to talk in private with Autumn, if you wouldn’t mind.” Brad reached out for her.
A wave of panic washed through her as he touched her arm. She threw herself backward. She likely would have fallen onto her ass if Frank hadn’t quickly caught her. Unlike Brad, his touch didn’t make her stomach roll with disgust.
Which was weird. She knew Brad. Sure, he could slice her to ribbons with his words, but he’d never harm her. Yet, the feel of him touching her had her fighting back the urge to vomit.
That was so odd. She knew she’d likely have some lingering issues after the kidnapping, but she’d had people touch her without any problems since. And she should trust Brad more than a stranger, right?
“What’s wrong with you?” Brad demanded.
“Obviously, she doesn’t want you touching her,” Frank snapped.
Oh, God. Now she’d gotten Frank involved in her issues.
“I’m not going to hurt her. I’m her boyfriend.”
“Ex-boyfriend.” Laura walked up on impossibly high heels, wrapping her arm around Brad’s.
He gave her an irritated look before quickly wiping it off his face. But Autumn knew that look well. He’d given it to her often enough.
“Autumn, darling, it’s been so long since we’ve talked,” Laura said with a fake smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Yes, because Laura had stopped answering her calls and texts. Although she had ended up changing her number after getting creepy phone calls from men who were strangely obsessed with her after her kidnapping.
But she doubted that Laura had tried to get in touch with her.
She just nodded at Laura, feeling sick at the way she was wrapped around Brad. How long had they waited until they’d gotten together after she and Brad had broken up? Laura’s gaze moved to Frank and widened.
“Well, hello. Who are you?” Laura held out her claw-tipped hand to Frank, who smiled back.
Autumn sighed, knowing that Frank wouldn’t pay her any more attention with Laura around. Laura was gorgeous and smart. Confident. Everything that Autumn wasn’t.
“I’m Frank. Sorry, I’m a germaphobe.”
Laura quickly dropped her hand, looking horrified. “I don’t have germs.”
Autumn had to snort. She sounded like a school kid, claiming she didn’t have cooties. Laura shot her a nasty look, then that fake smile was back. “Autumn, I’m so glad to see you out and about. Good on you for making an effort to, well, get back out there after everything that has happened. You poor thing, I can only imagine how traumatizing that was.”
Great. Thanks for mentioning the incident in front of a man she barely knew.
Although, it was likely Laura’s intention to humiliate her. To make her feel small. Why had she been friends with her? Why had she stayed with Brad for as long as she had?
They both deserved each other.
“I’m surprised to see you shopping here. It’s rather expensive. I thought it would be out of your price range.”
Right. Because she’d never had the sort of money that Laura had.