Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Don’t let him determine your self-worth.
A waiter with a tray full of drinks rushes by me, and I do my best not to collide with him, and in the process nearly end up face-planting right into a table of four. Somehow I manage to catch myself by grabbing the shoulders of an enormous man who turns out to be one of the bouncers.
“Bit too much champagne tonight?” He smirks.
“It’s the shoes,” I reply, trying not to show how nervous I am.
He nods as I turn away and continue on toward the high-top where the man is sitting. I can feel my heartbeat pulsing like a drum in my ears.
What the hell am I doing approaching a man? Especially one like this?
I glance back at Jasmine and Taylor, who are ushering me on with both hands, grinning like they’re having the time of their lives–which they undoubtedly are.
I quicken my step, making a beeline for the man, who just gets more and more gorgeous as I grow closer.
Better to just get this over and done with as quickly as possible so I can go back to my seat.
There’s an empty stool beside him, and with a deep breath, I slide up onto it and say, “Hi. I’ve come to the conclusion that you’re the best-looking drink in the bar, and have decided it’s okay if you buy me a man.”
Instantly my heart sinks into my toes.
Wow. Way to go, Rain. Totally blunder your opening line.
I notice what the man’s had in his hand is a woman’s necklace–a diamond in the center of a silver heart. He looks up at me, and his eyes stun me with their brilliance. He’s even more handsome than I realized, but he’s looking at me like I’m the world’s biggest moron–which is just how I feel.
“It’s okay if I buy you a man?”
“Yeah, I may have screwed that one up a little.” I sigh, extending my hand. “My name’s Rain.”
“No it’s not,” he replies, slipping the necklace into his pocket, leaving my hand hanging as he takes a sip of his drink.
“Um, excuse me?”
“Your name is Leaving. Because that’s what you’ll be doing right now.”
“I, um–”
“I don’t care how hot you think you are–and you are hot–but I want to be alone right now.”
Ice cold dagger, straight through the heart.
I don’t even know what to say. All I manage to mutter as I begin to turn around is, “Okay, yeah…sorry for bothering you…”
That was brutal.
Jasmine and Taylor are already wincing when I come back to my seat. Jasmine scooches over and makes room for me.
“What did he say?”
I replay the story to them and they both groan together at the exact same time.
“Well, on the bright side, he did say you were hot.” Taylor shrugs, attempting to add some levity to the situation.
I open my mouth to argue, but then realize he’s actually right.
“You know what? That’s true,” I reply, almost smiling as I lay my arm on the table and collapse on it, feeling more embarrassed than I’ve ever felt in my entire life. “Too bad I completely screwed up your pickup line, Jaz.”
“Oh, that doesn’t matter.”
“It doesn’t?” I groan, sipping my drink.
“Of course not.” She shakes her head. “Because you’re just gonna go back over there and try another one!”
I look up, aghast, and see her eyes flashing down at me. Taylor is grinning too, sipping his drink out of a pink straw tucked into the corner of his mouth.
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh you don’t, huh?” she asks, glancing over at Taylor, gives her the classic ‘Taylor Eye,’ a mixture of mischievousness and slyness mixed together in one. “This coming from Miss I’m-Gonna-Take-Over-the-Fashion-Industry? You’re just going to take your first no for an answer? See how far that approach gets you in the biz.”
“This isn’t the biz, Jaz,” I reply. “And I just…”
My voice trails off as her words sink in.
You know what? She’s right. Why am I just taking his rejection like that? Who is he to just tell me to go away? And why am I listening? Do I want to just walk out of here like that other girl? My whole night nearly ruined because of the words of one man?
Get off your ass, Rain!
“Screw it,” I say as I get to my feet.
“Yes! She’s doing it!” Taylor says enthusiastically. Jasmine also says something, but I don’t hear her as I’m already strutting my way across the bar.
The stunning man has that necklace in his hand again, spinning it back and forth as I slide up beside him. It’s truly beautiful–and quite expensive-looking–but when he sees me, he quickly stuffs it in his pocket.
“What are you doing here, Miss-Leaving? Didn’t I tell you I wanted–?”
“Wanted to be alone right now?” I interrupt, finishing his sentence for him. I nod. “Yes, you did. But I don’t believe you.”