Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106806 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106806 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
She wrinkles her nose. “You probably think I’m crazy, but I could see it in his eyes. Chuck hates losing anything. We can’t even play fucking Monopoly together because he turns into a dick any time I start to win. But tonight, I didn’t see that in his eyes. Tonight, losing made him believe he was winning. I saw it.”
“I don’t think you’re crazy.” I grab a slice of pizza from the box, lean my hip against the counter, and take a bite to keep myself from saying more.
She’s lost in her thoughts anyway, and despite her warnings about an intense reunion with carbs, I’m pretty sure she’s working on autopilot and not tasting a thing as she eats her pizza. “And now I have nowhere to live,” she mutters. “What a fucking mess.”
In the time it takes her to finish a slice, I’ve eaten three. “Another?” I ask, opening the box again.
“No, thank you.” She casts a longing glance toward the cookies but doesn’t touch them. “Sorry. I should be finding a place to stay.” She grabs a napkin to wipe her hands and then retrieves her phone from her purse. She frowns at it. “Shit.”
“No word?”
She shakes her head. “She must be asleep already. It’s okay, I’ll . . . I’ll call someone else.”
“Savvy?” I wait until she looks at me. “You know you can crash on my couch, right?”
“No, I couldn’t.”
I laugh. “Or I can take the couch and you could use the bedroom—if you’re worried I’m a creeper and you need a locked door between us.”
She rolls her eyes. “I already know you’re not a creeper.”
“Good. The couch or bed? Lady’s choice.”
“Couch is fine.” She glances around the living room and shakes her head slowly. “Thank you, Oliver,” she says, her words thick with emotion. “You have no idea how much I needed your kindness tonight—how much I needed a soft place to land.” When she focuses on me again, she’s smiling but her eyes are bright with unshed tears.
I want to pull her into my chest and tell her everything’s going to be okay. To promise that I’ll always be that for her. But I have no right to pretend I’m a saint and am in no position to make promises, so I swallow back all my words and leave her alone and teary-eyed in my kitchen while I get her blankets.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SAVVY
The sun coming in through the balcony doors pulls me from sleep before I’m ready. I burrow beneath the blankets, reviewing everything from last night.
Chuck fucked my brother over and fucked me over in the process. I’ve seen him fight too many times to doubt it, and I’ve watched Nathan get screwed too many times to be surprised.
The only difference is that this time I was part of the problem too. And it’s not even about my money anymore. I have to figure out a way for him to pay back this debt. At least Oliver bought us some time.
When I pick up my phone, I see I have missed messages. Three from Chuck. One from Julie. Nothing from my brother.
I open Julie’s first. She’s apologizing for sleeping through my call and wanting to know if I’m okay. I’m tempted to admit I stayed with Oliver, but she’ll read more into it than is there, so I just say I’m good and that I’ll catch up with her later. Then I take a deep breath and open the texts from Chuck.
Chuck: Where are you?
Chuck: Sorry I had to bounce. I can’t be associated with those guys.
Chuck: You don’t have to give me the silent treatment like a little bitch.
He’s such a dick. I feel like someone just yanked film from my eyes. I knew he wasn’t awesome to me, knew I needed to end things and get out of there, but suddenly I can see so clearly just how bad it got.
Savvy: You lost on purpose.
He must be messing around on his phone because his reply comes almost instantly.
Chuck: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Savvy: Bullshit.
Chuck: You know I worked my ass off to prepare for this fight.
Savvy: But you didn’t so much as try once you got in the ring.
Chuck: Would you stop with that shit? Fighting pays my bills, but it won’t if you talk like that.
Savvy: Then when you realized my family isn’t rich—like I’ve been telling you this whole time—you ran away.
Chuck: They’re saying you went home with Oliver. Is that true?
Fresh anger pumps through my blood. Seriously? That’s what he cares about right now?
At least Oliver did something to help us, I type, but then I delete it. I know Oliver called in favors, but I’m not sure that’s public knowledge.
Savvy: Why are you pretending you care? You’re the one who convinced Nathan to take that bet. How could you do that to him?