Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
16
KODY
I knew sleeping was going to be out of the question last night, which is why I’m rolling over for what must seem like the millionth time in so many hours. I punch my pillow when what I really want to punch is Jameson and his stupid handsome face. There’s no use staying in bed. I’ve got a best friend to call and commiserate with, now that it’s a normal waking hour for her. The same can’t be said for me due to the lack of sleep and it being barely eight o’clock in the morning. I roll over, grab my phone, and see another text from Jameson.
Jameson: You make it home?
I left him on delivered, the preview on my phone doing wonders to make him feel like the asshole he clearly is. Next on the agenda is calling Kari. I fluff my pillows to prop my back up and pull the covers up so I don’t inadvertently give anyone a view of my nipples through my nightshirt.
“Wow, Kody, you look like you’ve had a rough night,” Kari answers on the first ring of our FaceTime call. I may look like hell, but she looks like she just walked off a runway.
“Don’t mince words, do you?” She is sitting on a terrace, giving me a beautiful view of where she’s at in Italy.
“Never. Seriously, what’s wrong? I know that look. Someone upset you, clearly. Was it Richie? I’ll be on the first plane out if so.” I laugh. Leave it to Kari to come to my rescue on a moment's notice. She’s that friend who has the shovel ready and a place to bury the body scoped out.
“Nope, not a word from him. I don’t think I’ll ever hear from him again.”
“Thank God. So, what happened? I mean, you’re in a small town, and you babysat a little girl yesterday. Not a lot could go wrong, if you ask me.” She insinuates that small-town living is boring. Little does she know there’s usually more gossip and drama than in a big city. Everyone knows everyone here or is somehow related. Unlike when you’re in a more populated area, where you can make an ass out of yourself and chances are you won’t see the same people ever again.
“Her father, that’s what happened. Jameson freaking Evans. The man can use his words to light up your entire body or as a weapon. Sadly, I was on the receiving end of both last night, and now I’m ignoring everyone and everything.” Which I won’t be able to much longer. I didn’t get paid for watching Josephine yesterday, and now it would feel super skeezy if I did. That means today, I’ve got to find a job because I’m not sure it’s going to work out should I have to be around Jameson that much.
“Honey, you know you’re supposed to avoid certain types of men. The ones you work with, the ones who have never settled down, and the ones whose name starts with the letter J.” Kari started this when she first met Johnny. He was a walking red flag, confirmed bachelor, a complete dick to Kari when he slammed into her on a busy sidewalk. She called him an asshole for not watching where he was going. He laughed and then asked Kari for her number. “You know what that means?” Kari says with a smile.
“Red flag,” we say in unison as Johnny appears behind Kari, hands wrapping around her in a possessive way.
“Not this shit again. Do I need to remind you two that not all men with the name beginning with J’s are arrogant pricks?” He presses a kiss to the side of her neck. I avert my eyes, giving them a moment of privacy. This is how they always are when they’re together; it doesn’t matter where they are. They could be in a crowded room full of onlookers, and the only people they see is each other. I look around my room while they have their moment, knowing it won’t last forever. Especially with Johnny in a business suit and carrying a briefcase. That usually means he’s coming or going. I’m betting he’s leaving for a meeting, judging by his tie alone. There were many times I’d be at their place, and Johnny would walk through the door, his tie was off, and I was leaving quickly. He never made me feel like I was a burden. Neither did Kari, but their love for one another is palpable. And when your own marriage was basically in name only, especially at the end, well, it’s hard to be around them.
“Kari is yours now, Kody. Hopefully, this J character isn’t a total douchebag.” He winks at the phone. Kari squeezes his hand, and then Johnny is walking away.
“Okay, tell me everything. Don’t leave a single thing out. I mean, if he has you this flustered, it must have been good.” Ugh, she’s not wrong. I came home last night and took the hottest shower ever in an attempt to erase the feeling of Jameson’s hands on my body. It didn’t work, not at all, and when Shaun yelled good night through his closed bedroom door, I felt ten times worse. Jameson is Shaun’s boss. This could go from bad to worse.