Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 83211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“If that’s the case, I’ll wear what I have on because I’m not sure you can beat today.”
Challenge accepted.
We add water and Coke to the cart. Sara makes sure to grab the lasagna noodles and jarred sauce. She sends me to grab a package of hamburger. I avert my eyes from the chicken and get in and out of that department as fast as possible.
Those poor little chickies.
“What do you like for breakfast?” Sara asks as I return with the meat. “Are you a cereal guy? Muffin guy? Pancakes guy?”
“I usually don’t eat too early. I have to caffeinate before I can eat and that takes at least three cups of coffee to do it properly. What about you?”
“My favorite are blueberry muffins. But I grabbed some in the bakery. I just wanted to make sure we didn’t miss getting what you need.”
I smack her ass. “You got what I need.”
She stands on her tiptoes to reach for a bottle of agave syrup. I pluck it off the shelf and hand it to her.
“That’s why you like me, isn’t it?” I ask.
“Because you’re tall? No. Sorry.”
I scroll through my texts until I find the one I’m looking for. “No. Not that. It’s because I have a long train and huge display.”
She laughs. “I am attracted to your iridescence.”
“I’m very symmetrical.” I lift my chin and move my face from shoulder to shoulder. “See that? Almost identical.”
“You’re basically a peacock.”
“Not just a peacock—the peacock. I’m the one that attracts all the peahens.” I pause. “It has to be Foxx.”
I take my phone out again.
Me: Good call on the peacocks.
Me: I was just thinking about it, and I really do have a lot of peacock qualities. Thanks for the compliments.
Me: Do you want to hang out sometime? You seem nice.
Me: I’m at the store now getting my brother’s key. He’s so irresponsible. He’s supposed to be the older, more mature brother, but it’s all a facade.
Me: Let me know about hanging out. I’m free tomorrow after work.
“What are you doing?” Sara asks, getting in line for the cashier.
“Waiting to see if Foxx slips up and turns off his notifications. He hates texting and always shuts our group chats down. So I’m blowing up the peacock number just to fuck with him back.”
The cashier turns on the conveyor belt. “Did you find everything okay?”
I start unloading our groceries. “We did. How are you this evening?”
“Tired. Ready to go home. I’ve been here since nine this morning.”
Sara scoots me over. “Go bag these and help her out. I’ll put the stuff up there.”
God, I love her.
“Aren’t you sweet?” the cashier says as I start bagging up our stuff. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate the help.”
“It was my wife’s idea.”
Sara stops, her jaw hanging open.
I grin. “She’s such a sweetheart.”
Did I really just think I love her? Oh fuck.
“You two are the cutest couple,” the cashier says. “I had a couple in here a little while ago, and they were fighting like cats and dogs. I mean, they were at each other’s throats, and I wondered why they were even together. Wouldn’t it be terrible to be stuck with someone you hated? And they obviously hated each other.”
I nod. “I can’t imagine. But I found the love of my life, so that’s not a problem.”
Sara laughs under her breath. “It’s gonna be a problem if you keep it up,” she says loud enough for only me to hear.
“Did you two date long?” the cashier asks.
“What was it, Sara? Three months?”
She stares at me. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sharing our love story, babe. It’s inspiring.” Not to mention, I had better get a story together for the night of the gala.
The lady checking us out goes into a ramble about her ex-boyfriend and how she thought he was the love of her life. Sara and I exchange glances while we finish getting everything sorted. She’s amused but also thrown off a little.
Good. It’ll keep her on her toes. Can’t let our fake engagement get stale.
I slide my card through the reader, ignoring Sara’s stare, and take the receipt.
“Don’t forget Foxx’s key,” Sara says.
We stop at the customer service desk and retrieve it. This one is labeled File Cabinet with his phone number.
“You didn’t have to buy all of that,” she says as we walk to the truck. “Now I feel bad for getting all those things for myself.”
I smirk. “Guess you’ll have to figure out how to pay me back, bestie.”
Her gaze heats. “I bet we can work something out.”
Yes, I bet we can.
20
Sara
“Are you nervous about tonight?” Becca looks over the empty chair between us, one hand stuck in the hand dryer. “I’m not going to lie. I’m kind of nervous for you.”
“Yes, that one. The nude. Thank you,” I say to the nail tech before returning my attention to Becca. “You know what’s weird?”