Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
June stares down at her hands for a brief moment, her fingers fidgeting nervously, before she finds the strength to meet Avery’s eyes. “Yes. I…I’ve always had a thing for Beau.”
“And what was I?” Avery tosses both of her hands out in front of her. “Just a way to get to him?!”
“No!” June yells, upset, and tears now stream down her cheeks. “Of course not! I love you like a sister, you know that!”
“I don’t know anything, Juniper. Not one single thing. Because ten minutes ago, I knew my best friend in the world would never, ever lie to my face or do something this big behind my back on purpose. I knew that with my heart and soul. And yet…look where I am now.”
“Avery,” I chide, my voice rough.
“No.” She points an angry finger at me. “Don’t even fucking bother, Beau.” She snaps a glare at June. “Don’t either of you bother.”
Avery takes off at a run, and June chases after her.
And I, almost comically, run after both of them. It’s a full-on My Best Friend’s Wedding moment, and I’m playing the scumbag role of Julia Roberts.
I’ve hurt the two women I care about most in this world. The two women who are the reason I’m able to make this stupid movie reference at all, and I have to find a way to make it right.
Fuuuuuuck.
I ran after Avery, out of her parents’ house, down the street, and I didn’t stop chasing after her until she miraculously hailed a cab. I tried to reach her before she sped off, but I was too late and had to call a freaking Uber because Miami isn’t New York and cabs aren’t exactly easy to come by.
The instant my driver pulled up to the front of our condo building, I saw Avery heading into the entrance doors on quick feet. Of course, she didn’t hold the elevator for me, standing there, glaring at me as the doors closed in front of my face before I could get inside.
Two minutes felt like an eternity as I waited for another elevator to come back down to the lobby level.
The cart dings its arrival on our floor, and I trip on my way out as I run toward our condo door. My lungs are one wheeze short of seizing up, still out of breath from running what feels like all over the city after Avery.
I try the doorknob to no avail, and then I take out my keys to unlock it myself. The door gives five inches as I push it open but jerks to a stop, thanks to the door chain, after that.
“Avery!” I yell inside through the crack, shoving my face into the opening. “Please open the door so we can at least talk.”
Mr. Pickles, our neighbor across the hall’s Chinese Crested dog, yips from behind their door, but I ignore him and keep pleading. “I know I messed up. I know. I take full responsibility for the way I treated you, and I want to do whatever it is you need to make it up to you.”
I wait in silence, hoping to hear movement on the other side, and finally, I hear a stomping walk that ends with the door being shoved directly into my face to close it again.
I wait for a moment, the rattle of the chain bolstering some hope, and rush forward as soon as she pulls the door back. She holds up a hand to stop me, and I screech to a stop, my body halfway inside.
“Accountability is only half of the equation this time, June. Apologies won’t do me much good if I don’t even know who the fuck you are.” She shakes her head, and I suck my lips into my mouth, clasping pleading hands in front of my chest.
“Please, just let me come inside so we can talk. If you’re still mad at me after that, I’ll understand, and if you want me to go and give you space, I will.”
Just then, the elevator doors open behind us, and Beau comes sliding out, his hurried appearance not far off from my own.
I know my hair’s a mess and my chest is covered in a full-blown sweat, but looking good is hardly my biggest concern right now. I am wishing, however, I’d have been less concerned with Christmas theming and more concerned with the Miami heat when I picked this sweaterdress.
“Oh great,” Avery remarks at the sight of her brother. “The gang’s all here, I guess.”
For the first time in forever, I find myself wishing Beau away. If it’s going to drive apart the only family I’ve ever known, it’s not worth it.
It doesn’t matter how much I love him; I can’t bear the responsibility of breaking apart the Banks family. Even if that means I have to sacrifice myself.