Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“Do this for me.”
“Chrissy, please, I don’t want to go on a double date.”
She steps toward me, and she’s so close she has to lean her head back to look up at me. “Please, I can’t believe that I’m the reason you haven’t been dating. We can go and have fun. You like Bethany, you guys always laugh and have a good time together when you come see me.”
“I really don’t want to.”
“Please? I feel so stupid that I never put two and two together with what happened with you and Alison. I never want to interfere with your happiness, and—”
I swear she’s starting to tear up, and there’s no way I can handle her crying again. “Okay, okay, fine. I’ll go, but just remember I didn’t want to do this.”
She’s not listening, though. She lets out a squeal and does a little jump, and I watch as her breasts jiggle and then I’m completely fuckin’ lost after all that. She throws her arms around my waist. “Thank you, Gabe. We’re going to have so much fun. What do you say? Seven o’clock at the Whistler?”
I nod, knowing I need to get out of here before I confess everything, throw her over my shoulder, and take her back to bed. “Yes. Sounds good.”
“Who are you fixing me up with?”
I growl. I fuckin’ growl because fixing Chrissy up with someone is the last fucking thing I want to do. I’d rather jump in front of a bus. Walk on hot coals. Fight a forest fire. Hell, fucking anything would be easier than fixing Chrissy up with some guy. “I dunno. I’ll figure it out.”
She nods happily, and I give her a hug. “I gotta go. See you. Call if you need anything, okay?”
She assures me she will and then I’m walking out the door to my truck, thinking the whole way that I’m crazy and there’s no way I’m going to survive being front and center with Chrissy on a date with another man. Fuck me, shit is getting real.
9
CHRISSY
WHAT WAS I THINKING?
I felt so guilty knowing that I’m the reason Gabe and his girlfriend broke up three years ago that I convinced him to do this double date. I should have taken the time to think about it and I would have realized what a bad idea this truly is. I was not prepared for how I’d feel, sitting at a table with Gabe while he was on a date. And Bethany is my friend, she’s amazing, and she is pulling out all the stops. I suck in a breath. Oh my God, am I going to have to listen to her at work talk about how she had sex with Gabe? I won’t survive it.
Gabe shifts in his seat and is smiling at Bethany, but it’s not the same smile he gives me. I know that look, and it’s one he saves for people when he’s forced to be nice. That’s the only thing that gives me any peace of mind right now.
“How was work today, honey?”
It’s like a hit to the solar plexus when he calls Bethany honey. I stare down at the drink menu, acting like I’ve never seen it before when Gabe snaps his fingers in front of my face. “Chrissy.”
I lift my eyes up to him, and I’m sure they’re green with envy. “What?” I ask him, surly.
He just smiles patiently. “I asked you how work was today?”
I sit up a little straighter. “Oh, you were talking to me? It was better…” I gesture to Bethany. “Bethany and I were paired today, and we work well together.”
Bethany is smiling, but she’s giving me a curious look.
I have to force myself to give my date some attention. “So, Mark… how long have you been at the fire department?”
He looks to Gabe, and Gabe nods his head as if he’s giving him permission to speak or something. Before I can comment, Mark answers. “I’ve been with the department two years, ma’am.”
I sit back in my chair. Ma’am… did he just call me ma’am?
Bethany stands up. “Come on, Gabe. Let’s dance.”
Gabe stands, albeit reluctantly, and gestures for Bethany to walk ahead of him. He practically glares at Mark, doesn’t even offer me a glance, and then walks off.
Well, there’s no way I can just sit here in awkward silence for the whole night. Mark is nice and seems to be a perfect gentleman, but he also seems to be lacking in the personality department. I stand up. “Come on, let’s dance.”
Mark doesn’t seem thrilled by my suggestion, but he gets up and follows me. I position us across the dance floor from Gabe and Bethany because I’m not trying to torture myself even more than I already am.
I put my hands on Mark’s shoulders, and he brings his hands up, but I can’t even feel them on my waist. I look down and his hands are there, but he’s not touching me. “What are you doing?”