Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Was she happy to hear from you?” he asked.
“I do not think so. She said I…ghosted her? What does that mean?”
He nodded. “It means you waited too long to call her, dude. If you really like a woman, you need to pay more attention to her. For example, send a text after a date saying you had a great time and want to see her again.”
I scrunched my forehead in confusion. “But I called her when I had time to go out. Why would I ask her out when I am in another state?”
“You just do, man. So she knows you’re into her.”
“I am into her. But Nash is right. I blew it.”
“Nah.” Drew stood up. “If she answered the phone and talked to you, there’s hope. Try again. Send flowers. If she knows you really like her, she’ll give you another chance.”
“Do you really think that?”
He grinned. “Bro, Nina turned me down the first four times I asked her out. And look at us now, married for like…a hundred and fifty years. Just kidding, she’s my ride or die. Don’t give up.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Anytime. Hey, I have to go dress.”
“So do I.”
I had taped my stick after watching film, so now I just had to put my gear on. I thought about Sheridan as I did, wondering if Drew was right.
Should I try again? It had been a long time since I’d wanted to go on a date with a woman. Usually I preferred drinks, sex, and a middle-of-the-night departure that ensured I didn’t have to deal with an awkward morning-after conversation when the woman asked me when I wanted to get together again.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Sheridan, though. Even though the sex had been great, it was other things about her I found myself daydreaming about.
Like her smile, which made me understand what it meant when Americans said someone had a smile that lit up a room. Sheridan’s smile did that. And her laugh, which made me want to laugh as well.
Drew was right—I had to keep trying. I liked Sheridan too much to give up so easily.
Chapter Seven
Sheridan
* * *
After the accident and my initial recovery from surgery, I’d needed something to get my mind off my troubles, so I’d created Sheri Lee. I’d thrown myself into it thinking I might not ever walk again and I’d need a source of income. Vanessa had been my best friend, sister, cheerleader, and drill sergeant—sometimes all at the same time—and together we’d created a multimillion-dollar company. Today, however, I wanted to strangle her. She was my right arm, but this was still my company, and I didn’t know why she was fighting me so hard on everything.
“Okay, let’s pause for lunch,” I said at Wednesday’s senior staff meeting. “I think we all need a break, so let’s meet back here at two o’clock.” I gazed at Vanessa as she started to get up. “Will you stay, Vanessa?”
She hesitated but dropped back down into her chair.
Everyone filed out, closing the door to the conference room behind them, and I leaned back in my chair, stretching out my back a little.
“You want to tell me what’s going on with you?” I asked her.
She arched her brows. “Me? There’s nothing going on with me.”
“Then why are you fighting me on every damn thing I want to do?”
She sighed.
“Nessa?” I never used her nickname at work, but she was my best friend and I didn’t like when we were at odds.
“Look, I’m worried about you.”
“More now than, say, thirteen months ago?”
“In a different way. You’re drowning yourself in work so you don’t have to think about anything else, and you can’t keep doing it.”
“I don’t have a choice. This is my future and—”
“There is no reason whatsoever you can’t go back to modeling!”
“You know damn well why I haven’t gone back.”
We glared at each other.
“Then fix it,” she said after a moment.
“It’s not up to me at this point. This is a legal battle.”
“The more successful we make this company, the worse it’s going to be.”
“That’s why you don’t want to do the summer swimwear line?”
“My gut tells me the swimwear line will be a huge success and the more money you make, the more this case is going to drag on.”
“What’s the alternative? I sit home and mope?” I hated when she was right, but I was between a rock and a hard place, and she knew it.
“I don’t know, but I’m worried. This has gone on too long. It has to stop. It’s destroying you, Sheridan, and it’s killing me to watch it.”
“I’m okay. I’m strong and resilient. I’ll come out the other side, one way or another.”
“Excuse me—you guys want to order from Pino’s Pizza?” My assistant, Nellie, stuck her head in the door.
I nodded. “That’s fine with me. Greek salad.”