Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“Yes, of course. I’m just… having a moment.”
“We all do.” Her eyes crinkle with amusement. “Your friends are here for afternoon tea.”
“Oh.” I spring up eagerly. “Thank you so much.”
She beams at my eagerness, the first she’s seen in days. I’ve been sleeping far too much and have been less than excited about all the delicious food she prepares, which I feel guilty about. But I just haven’t felt like myself.
Getting up, I follow Lois out the doorway and down to the sitting room, where Solana and Georgie are waiting for me. They’re studying the cute little towers of pastries and finger sandwiches Lois has prepared for today, quietly bickering about who gets what.
“There are plenty more in the kitchen,” Lois assures them with a laugh before she takes her leave. “I always make way too much.”
They thank her, and their gazes snap to me as I join them.
“Hey.” Solana pulls me in for a hug first, followed by Georgie, who then holds me at arm’s length.
“Are you okay?”
“Of course.” I force a smile. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He bites his lip in that way he does when he’s concerned. “You just… look a little pale.”
“It’s nothing.” I wave it off. “I’ve just been feeling bleh this week.”
“Well, you’re going to love this creepy-ass gift from Madame Dubois then.” Solana chuckles as she hands me a brown paper bag. “She insisted I must bring this to you.”
“Oh, God, what is it?” I peek inside and take a sniff.
“Ginger tea,” Solana informs me. “She said she had a feeling you’d need it.”
“Huh?” I murmur, my brow furrowing.
“I’m telling you, that woman scares the bejeezus out of me.” Georgie shudders. “I kid you not, last week she brought me a box of Band-Aids. Two hours later, I sliced my thumb clean open with a pair of shears.”
“Told you she was the real deal.” Solana snorts. “And here everyone thought I was crazy for bringing her into the shop.”
“Well, please thank her for me.” I set the tea aside absently.
“Okay, can we dig in?” Georgie’s eyes drift back to the food. “I’m starving.”
Solana and I laugh in acknowledgment, and we all fill our plates with entirely too much. I’m not even that hungry, but it all looks amazing, and I don’t want to hurt Lois’s feelings when she went to the trouble of doing this. Regardless, I’m fairly certain Georgie will eat the whole damned display himself if we let him.
We sit down and start to chatter between bites when a big glob of mayonnaise from one of the sandwiches squishes from the bread into my mouth and makes my stomach roil. Solana pauses, her macaron halfway to her lips.
“Are you okay?”
I nod, but another wave of nausea rolls over me, and I know I’m definitely not. I barely have the grace to set the plate aside without spilling the contents before I’m up on my feet and running to the nearest bathroom, where I proceed to puke my guts out.
I’m clinging to the toilet seat, my head a sweaty mess when I hear Solana’s voice behind me.
“Oh, God,” she chokes out. “The ginger tea…”
I blink up at her, too weak to deny my current reality.
“You have to swear you won’t tell anyone,” I beg. “Not even Georgie. Not yet, okay?”
Her eyes go wide, and she looks like she might be sick too. “Does Judge… I mean… are you sure?”
“Pretty sure.” I whimper as another wave of nausea steals my breath. “But I’ll need you to bring me a test this week and then take it away when you leave again.”
She looks at me uncertainly. “Shouldn’t you see a doctor?”
“I can’t.” I shake my head. “I just need some time.”
“Okay,” she whispers. “I’ll do it. I’ll figure something out.”
“Thank you.” I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on breathing. “It turns out I might need that tea after all.”
17
Judge
I am divided.
Ever since Vivien’s party and our fight, I’ve spent my days at the office only coming home to sleep and often not even that. The couch in my office is doubling as a makeshift bed.
It feels as though Mercedes and I are on repeat. Reliving the same hell over and over again. Sexually, I’ve never been as attracted to a woman as I am her. And attraction doesn’t begin to cover it. She has this strange power over me. Something I can’t seem to resist. And the things I do when I’m with her or near her—it’s like all these years I’ve worked so hard to maintain control, to be the man everyone knows, they just go out the window.
I care about her, but it’s not that simple. Nothing is with her. My feelings for her run deeper than simply caring for the sister of my best friend. These are feelings I should not have. I want her in ways I cannot want her.