Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 89012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Our friends have always given us hell, assuming we’ve engaged in other extracurricular activities. But we haven’t. I’ve thought about it—nearly every time I see him, how could I not?—and we certainly joke about it.
But we’ve never crossed a line. The line. The one that leads to things that complicate friendships. Why? Because I know what a player he is. I’ve had a front-row seat. He knows how serious I take my relationships. He’s wiped my tears a time or three. And I’d like to think we both respect each other’s dreams and our friendship too much to entangle said lines.
Maddox hands the server his credit card. “Can I get six crispy tacos to go? And whatever this table ordered?”
Sara snickers.
“You are not paying for our dinner,” I say.
He looks down at me, amused.
“I mean it.” This time, I make my meanest face. “You can’t just waltz in here and do whatever you want.”
“That’s cute. Now scoot over and hush,” he says, elbowing me in the arm.
I move toward the wall until I’m directly across from Rebecca. “Why are you here, anyway?” I ask him.
He settles in beside me, his thick forearms crossed on top of the table as if he has nowhere else to be. His eyes are gorgeous, an unearthly chartreuse, and I struggle to pull my hazel-colored ones away.
“For dinner. Obviously.” He licks his lips. “A little birdie told me that someone called off her wedding. So when I saw that someone’s car out front as I was driving by, I had to stop.”
“That little birdie would be correct.” I wiggle my ring-free finger in the air. “This little birdie flew the coop.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m the one who called it off. I’m great.”
His lips spread ear to ear. “You were right, Maddox.” He laughs. “Go on. I’m waiting.”
“Not happening.”
The table quiets, our laughter slowly subsiding. I glance around at my friends, the people who are truly my found family, and my heart fills with warmth in places that had begun to feel cool.
“I’m trying to decide if we should throw her a divorce party,” Sara says.
“You have to be married to get divorced,” I point out.
She shrugs. “Yeah, but I don’t know what other word to use.” She turns back to Maddox. “Any ideas on what we should do to celebrate the demise of the worst decision Ashley has ever made?”
He looks at me and hums. “Well, I mean, I guess I could offer a striptease—”
“Yes,” Rebecca says quickly. Too quickly. Her red face goes from cherry to beet. “I mean, I think Ashley would love that.”
She wouldn’t be mad about it. “Speak for yourself.”
Instead of acknowledging Sara’s mumble about me being a liar, I grab my margarita and take a long drink. My elbow brushes Maddox’s arm. I ignore that too.
“Maybe I’ll throw a small bash at Mega Pint,” Sara says. “Wanna come, Maddox?”
I roll my eyes and set my glass back down. “I’m sure there are a million other things he’d like to do. Besides, we are not having a party for this. I have too many things to figure out, and … it’s weird to celebrate a broken engagement.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Maddox asks. “The part about me?”
“The last time you were at Mega Pint with us, you and your brother Banks chased off the Marines who wanted to go back to my place,” I say.
“And I’m still waiting for you to thank me for that.” He holds my gaze for a long second and then turns to Sara. “What time are we going?”
I shove his shoulder, making him laugh.
“You’re wounding me,” he teases.
“Whatever. I’m not making you feel anything other than a little guilty for ruining our Marine fun.”
“That’s debatable.”
“Behave, will you?”
Even though he’s just my friend, I’m still a woman. A woman in the middle of a dry spell at that. Maddox flirting with me, even though I know it’s just an extension of his personality, mixed with those ridiculous eyes and sexy dimples—I’m a powder keg ready to explode.
And, somehow, I think he knows that.
His grin deepens.
And I think he enjoys knowing it too. Bastard.
“On that note, I’m out of here,” Rebecca says. “It makes me nuts to watch those two pretend they’re not into each other.”
I give my friend a pointed look as she shoos Sara out of the booth so she can get out.
“Here you go,” the server says, returning to the table. She hands Maddox his card and a bag. Then she hands Sara a box.
“Thanks.” He slides his card into his wallet. “Did you get their bill?”
“I did. That was so sweet of you,” she says, batting her lashes.
Sighing, I dig around my bag and find some cash for a tip. I hand it to her before Sara can. “Thanks.”
“No, thank you.” Her eyes drag from mine across Maddox. “Let me know if you need anything else.”