Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
This could be a good thing. It would keep Ben away from me—where he needs to be. The night I barged into his place, my anger took the wheel. You mean your hormones? I shouldn’t have been there at all. It was too much. Too wonderful, glorifying. Hot. Wrong.
“It’s cool you brought me, right?”
I pull onto the Matthews’ street. “Absolutely. They’re the sweetest people. Trust me.”
“Okay. Hopefully I’ll meet someone. Anyone you’d think I’d know?”
“I’m not sure. They know a lot of people.” I’m a horrible friend.
I find a spot on the street and park. We make our way up their walkway, and my stomach bottoms out at Ben’s Jeep in the driveway. “It’s going to be fine. You’re going to have a good time,” I say, not sure if I’m reassuring her or myself.
I knock on the door, and Mrs. Matthews greets us. “Makayla, how lovely to see you. I kept trying to get your attention at the wedding, but you girls and your wild dancing.”
I lean in for an infamous Matthews’ hug. “I know. My feet almost fell off by the end of the night. Thanks for having us. This is my friend, Jenny.”
Mrs. Matthews swipes Jenny’s hand away and goes in for the hug. “Come here. Any friend of Makayla’s is a friend of mine. Come on in. Food’s on the grill. All the kids are out back.” One of their aunts steals her attention. She waves us off, and we head on in.
“Cute house.”
“Yeah. Her mom has great taste.”
“Tell me about it. I feel like I just walked onto a page from Better Home and Gardens—no, a Martha Stewart catalog.”
I open the sliding glass door to the backyard and shield my eyes from the sun.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding. They do know how to throw a party.” The place is packed. Smoke barrels from the grill where Mr. Matthews is flipping burgers while he talks to a neighbor. The pool is at full capacity. I search the backyard in hopes of spotting Hannah, but no luck.
“Let’s grab a drink. Yeah?”
“You sure know the way to my heart.” We head toward the stack of coolers, and I fetch us two bottles of whatever’s on top. I notice a familiar face and wave to Kip in the distance. It’s then, not two feet away that I see Ben in my peripheral. He’s talking to a girl, his smile radiating. She reaches out, brushing the side of his bicep. A ping of jealousy heats my belly, and I force myself to turn away.
“Everything okay?”
“Huh?” I ask. “Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You look like you want to murder someone.”
I shake my head. Deep breaths, Makayla. You don’t want this. There’s no reason to get upset. “Sorry. Just thinking about something at work. I have a tough parent giving me some pushback. But never mind that. Let’s go have fun.” I grab her hand and pull her through the crowd. Thankfully, I find Hannah. She and Jenny hit it off right away, and we force her to spill the beans about her wedding night bliss.
“He didn’t!” Jenny yells.
“Well, he did. But it’s okay. He made up for it the next day—”
“Who made up for what?” Levi walks up behind her. Hannah’s cheeks blaze crimson, and I try to conceal my giggle.
“Oh, she was just going on about her—”
I throw my hand over her mouth. “Jenny, have you met Levi, Hannah’s husband?”
Her eyes go wide, and Hannah loses it. She bursts out laughing, and I follow.
Levi peers at each of us. “Uh, why am I getting the feeling I’m the one who was making up for something?” He looks down at his wife as she glimmers with guilt. “For the record, I didn’t mean to leave her in the elevator. I lost my balance and fell out. By the time I got up, the doors were shutting. If she had stopped laughing, she could have kept the doors from shutting.”
“But you had your pants down around your ankles.”
“You seduced me in the elevator!” His voice catches the attention of one of the aunts, and Levi waves her off. “I told you I was sorry. I was overserved. I asked for water the whole night. My friends are assholes.”
“Okay, tough guy. Blame it on your friends.”
“Who said friends?”
Goosebumps spread down my arms. I fight to maintain eye contact with Hannah and not look in his direction.
“Levi is basically blaming you for his intoxication at the wedding,” Hannah answers.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ben wrap his arm around Levi’s neck. “Nice try, pal. You did that on your own.” My cheeks flush under his penetrating stare. I pray he doesn’t make a scene. Call me out for the handcuffs in—
“Oh my God, it’s you.” Everyone turns to Jenny. Including Ben. “Ben, right? The firefighter from the parade. I’m Jenny. Jenny Swanson.” My eyes shoot to Ben, and I watch as he pieces it together. Yeah, you gave her the rose instead of me. He glances my way, then brings his attention back to Jenny.