Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Shilpa and Ash stop at the table. “Am I seeing things, or were you just talking to Scarlet Reed and Candice Claymore?” Shilpa asks.
“You’re not seeing things.” I down the rest of my scotch.
“Was she invited or did she just show up?” Shilpa’s a little too good at reading people.
“She showed up.”
She hums but doesn’t comment further.
“We meeting up for morning yoga tomorrow?” Ashish asks.
“Yeah.” I grudgingly added it to my routine after my physical therapist and chiropractor both suggested it.
“Excellent. I’ll come your way.” He squeezes Shilpa’s arm, which is laced through his. “Ready to go, my love?”
“I am.” She kisses him on the cheek.
They say good night and leave arm in arm. Sometimes I’m jealous of their easy bond. They’re always so wrapped in each other, like the world outside their cosmos is inconsequential. The girls return a few minutes later to tell us they’re heading home. Surprisingly, Flip doesn’t pick anyone up tonight. Maybe he’s turning a new leaf. The four of us grab an Uber home.
“What was up with Hammer tonight? She seemed off,” Tristan says.
“I thought so, too.” Roman wears his concerned-dad expression. “Maybe starstruck?”
“Probably. Rix said she nearly peed her pants,” Tristan offers.
“Makes sense since she’s her favorite actress,” Flip adds.
I stay quiet.
On the way up to the penthouse floor, Roman crosses his arms. “Scarlet seemed happy to see you.”
“Yeah.”
“She ask to see you again?”
I rub my bottom lip and nod.
“You should go. Things are different now, Holl. She’s older, more mature, and so are you.”
I sigh. “There’s a reason it didn’t work the first time around.” And someone who shouldn’t be taking up space in my head is currently living there rent free.
“Because you were both basically kids. At least have coffee with her. Clear the air. Let go of some of the baggage you’ve been carrying around all these years. You haven’t had a serious relationship since her. That must mean something.”
I rub the space between my eyes. “Yeah, that I’m not a fan of heartbreak.”
“Just think about it, Hollis. You deserve happiness and to have someone in your life. Maybe she’s that someone.”
I don’t think she is, but the person I can’t stop dreaming about isn’t someone I can be with either. “Maybe.”
CHAPTER 7
HAMMER
Hollis
Popping by with the fob in a few.
Istare at the message for an unreasonably long time before I muster the nerve to compose a reply. Do I want to see Hollis? Yes, and no. I absolutely want an eyeful of his hotness. And I miss him. Not just his smile, or how sweet he is with Postie and Malone when he can be so gruff with everyone else, or the way his face softens when he calls me Princess. Most of all, I miss how easy things used to be. I miss talking about hockey and school and classes and what I’m excited about after graduation.
And while part of me wants things to go back to the way they were, another part doesn’t. This new version is awkward and uncomfortable, but it feels like something else, too.
I can’t tell if it’s all in my head, though.
So, as much as I want a Hollis hit, I do not want to deal with all the feelings that accompany seeing him in three dimensions. And I’ve been avoiding him again since I met Scarlet. I was super weird about the whole thing. For the past two nights, I’ve declined dinner with my dad, citing group study meetings. He’s been understanding, but I still feel like shit about it. I’ve never been good at hiding things from him, but I wouldn’t even know how to be honest about my feelings right now.
I’m so up in my head that it takes forever to compose a message.
Aurora
You can leave it at my dad’s.
I hit send just as there’s a knock at the door.
Hollis
I’m here now, so…
My shoulders sag, and my stomach does several somersaults as I flip the safety latch and open the door. I hate the way my heart rate picks up at the sight of him standing in the hall, dressed in a navy suit, looking gorgeous. “Hey.” I smile, but it’s forced.
His gaze sweeps over me, pausing at my shirt before rising to my face, one brow arched. “Hey.”
Shit. I’m braless. I took it off as soon as I walked in the door because it was an underwire nightmare. I’m currently wearing a thin T-shirt. There’s a fifty-fifty chance my nipples are saluting him. I hold out a hand. “Any special instructions?”
He glances at my open palm but doesn’t make a move to drop his fob into it. “Can I come in for a second?”
“Sure.” I reluctantly step back. He smells so damn good. Like aftershave, his body wash, and the product he uses to tame his thick, dark, wavy hair. I can’t wait to huff his sweatshirts while he’s away. I seriously need help.