Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” Lake answers her. I keep forgetting Lee is still getting used to our ways and language, which is why Lake explains, “One-night-stand means they slept together.”
“Thanks for explaining that,” I mutter sarcastically.
“You told us you weren’t interested in Julian,” Kingsley puts Jamie on the spot.
Raising an eyebrow, I look at Jamie.
She gives me a too-sweet smile. “I meant it. One mistake was enough for me to learn the lesson.”
I clench my jaw as she throws my own words back at me.
“This is the denial stage, right, Lake?” Mason asks.
“Yep, and by the look of it, it’s still in the beginning phase. We caught the show in time.”
“What would Mason say right now?” I ask, then giving Falcon, Mason, and Lake a glare, I say, “Fuckers, the whole lot of you.”
Lake begins to laugh, and soon, Falcon and Mason are wiping tears from their eyes.
Even though my entire personal life has just been pulled apart at the table for all to see, I can’t help but smile as well.
It feels like I took another couple of steps forward in repairing my relationship with the guys.
“Why are you smiling. You know they’re laughing at you, right?” Jamie whispers, so only I’ll hear.
“At us,” I correct her. “They’re laughing at us because that’s how ridiculous the whole situation is.”
“Didn’t feel ridiculous when you almost took off my head,” she mumbles. “Or when you went down on me.”
“Fuck, could you not talk about that where people can hear?”
“Why? They already know,” she challenges me.
Leaning closer, I say, “Not the sordid details, Jamie. Have a little bit more class.”
She lifts her chin. “The only time I lacked class was when I accepted your offer.”
Shaking my head at her, I take in the way her eyes shimmer and the constant grin on her face. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
She nods, and closing the distance between us even more, she murmurs, “Almost as much as the orgasms you gave me.”
I lock eyes with her, and it makes the same intensity and anticipation from the night we met, rush back to life.
“Just an inch more, and they’ll be kissing,” Lee says, making me pull back from Jamie.
I didn’t even realize the guys stopped laughing to watch us whisper.
“Let’s change the subject, please,” I say, and I smile gratefully at the waitress when she brings our order. Taking a huge sip from the tumbler, I feel the relief as the amber liquid burns down my throat.
“Is that really what Mason and I looked like?” Kingsley asks.
I suppress another groan and instead take another sip of Whiskey.
“You guys were much worse,” Layla answers. “We expected blood to flow.”
“Blood did flow,” Lake reminds them. “Remember when Mason got into a fight, and Kingsley walked out of it with a busted lip?”
“Oh, right.” Layla shrugs and gives Mason and Kingsley an apologetic look. “Didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“It’s okay,” Mason says, and when he notices the confused look on my face, he explains, “I used to get into fights with West. During the one fight, he fell against Kingsley and busted her lip open.”
West Dayton.
“Who’s West?” Jamie asks.
“The man who slammed into the back of Jennifer's car, causing her death,” I murmur deep in thought as I’m dragged back to the past while the conversation continues around me.
I remember the last time I saw Jennifer. She and Mason had come over for dinner so we could discuss our wedding plans.
I can still remember how silky her blonde hair felt between my fingers. I still remember how her smile used to brighten any room she walked into.
I still remember, and it still hurts.
I take another huge sip of my drink, and when I feel a hand squeeze my arm, I glance down with surprise. My eyes dart from Jamie’s hand to her face, and seeing compassion there, makes me feel a little better, a little less alone.
An uncomfortable silence has settled around the table from bringing up West’s name.
Giving my forearm another squeeze, Jamie says, “I’m sorry for your loss. It never gets any easier.” A sad expression makes her eyes look like deep pools of water. “I lost my parents when I was young.”
I didn’t expect her to open up about herself, but I find myself interested in hearing about her past.
“My dad died before I was born, and my mother when I was six. Della and I lived with Sue until she passed when I was fourteen. That’s one thing a person can never get used to.” She smiles sadly, and this time, I’m the one to reach for her hand under the table, just wanting to offer her the same compassion she gave me.
Jamie’s eyes dart to mine when I squeeze her hand, and for a moment, it feels like we’ve buried the hatchet.
At least for today.
Chapter 11