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)
“I’m sure it’s fine. Makayla—”
“I’m not sure the warning label on her pills says it is. Does Ben know you’re leaving? I spoke to him a bit ago. He’s under the impression you’re here taking it easy. Didn’t even want me to stop by in case I woke you up. Seriously, that one is starting to lose his marbles.”
I bite my lower lip to suppress the smile attempting to form. “I mean, I didn’t really get a chance to tell him much. He was gone when I woke up.”
“So, then it’s fine. We can call on the way.” Jenny grabs my wrist. “It’s gonna be fun.”
“Yeah. . . ” I hesitate. Hannah has a point. The meds are making the pain in my hands tolerable. I can’t fathom not taking them or risking getting sick. “But Hannah has a point. I probably shouldn’t drink while I’m taking the meds.” Jenny’s smile falls, and for a second, I see anger. “I’m sorry. Raincheck?”
“Yeah, but I hope you’re not staying because it’s what Ben would want. If you want my opinion, as your friend, he doesn’t seem genuine. Some of the things he said at the bar. . . he was feeding me some pretty heavy pick-up lines.”
This catches me off guard. Even Hannah’s brows crease. “I don’t—what do you mean?”
“I mean, just watch out for him. I don’t get good vibes from him. And from what you told me, you don’t either. I’m just going to go. Call me soon, okay?” She leans in for a hug and walks out, not even acknowledging Hannah as she leaves.
I’m a bit stunned at what just happened.
“What’s her problem?” Hannah asks, just as confused.
“She knows everyone lied. She was upset about it.”
“Okay, I get that. But the whole single white female thing, grabbing your arm. . . she looked like she was about to hiss at me if I came any closer.”
I wave her off. “No, she’s fine. She’s going through a lot. And I kind of lied to her about the whole Ben thing. She liked him, and I played dumb. That’s on me.”
Hannah’s eyes light up. She claps her hands together. “So, you do like him. Tell me everything.”
“That never came out of my mouth.” I turn and head back toward the couch. “You heard what she said. He was flirting with her hardcore that night, only to show up at my door and fool me into sleeping with him. Again.” I look over at Hannah, who’s gone completely mute. Her jaw drops so far, you can practically hear it slamming against the floor. Shit. I single-handedly opened that can of worms. I sit down, groaning at the throb in my thigh.
“I’m sorry, what?”
Ugh! I brush my hands down my face. “I don’t want to get into it.”
“You just admitted you’ve had sex with Ben. The Ben. And you don’t want to get into it? Mak, this is huge news. Not sure if it’s good or bad news, but it’s huge. You two. . . well, you used to hate each other, and it got pretty ugly. Even as of late, you have been at each other’s throats. I mean, I won’t lie. The sexual tension has been so thick, we’re all choking on it, but I never realized you two went that far.” She throws herself into the seat next to me. “I may need a moment to process.”
“Don’t hurt yourself. It’s not worth it. Clearly, from what Jenny told us, he’s just playing me. I’ve had enough of those types of men.” Ben was so genuine when he showed up at my door that night. His confessions. I felt his truth. His fierceness. He knew what he wanted. And he made it out like that was me.
“You know. . . I don’t want to talk bad about your friend, but I’m not sure what she said about Ben is true.”
I turn to Hannah. “What do you mean?”
“Well, when you were at the bar, he barely looked her way. Unless she insisted. He was all about you. Even when he was scowling like a baby, he still had that look in his eyes. You know, the I’m mad and pouty but still want you look?”
I shake my head. “Give me a break.”
“I’m serious. I’ve been watching you two. Just observing. Trust me, I never would have agreed to let him take you in if I didn’t think he had good intentions. Anywho, her comment about him throwing pick-up lines at her. . . I just don’t see it happening. When you left, Ben looked murderous. Well, not murderous, but like someone took away his favorite toy. The wheels were spinning, then he popped up and said he was leaving. He had no plans on driving Jenny home, but she hooked herself to him, insisting. If Ben hadn’t been so worried about looking like a jerk, he would have left her there. My point is, she said he was hitting on her at the bar, and that’s not true. I can't vouch for what happened when he drove her home, but her story doesn’t seem right to me.”