Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Her eyes drop back to our hands, and she rests hers over mine, studying it. “I like being with you. It’s easy. You make me happy, and I feel like I can just be myself.”
“You can always be yourself when you’re with me, Aria. I like you just the way you are. And I can assure you that you are not the only one worrying about shit that might happen, but that’s why we need to be on the same page going forward. I need you to trust me to handle your parents, and I need you to trust that I’ll have your back with Anna if she tries to start drama.”
“I think if you can handle my parents, I can handle Anna.”
“Good.” I kiss her when she turns to face me. When I pull back, I cup her cheek. “Nothing changes between us, except the fact that I’m yours and you’re mine.”
“I like that,” she says quietly, resting her forehead against mine, and I close my eyes, feeling completely at ease for the first time in weeks.
Chapter 10
Aria
SITTING IN MY office, I smile as I type. A week ago, I put away the romance I was attempting to write and started building a whole new world. Even though my agent hasn’t come back to me with an offer from the publisher she pitched it to, I’m loving every single detail going into the story. The best part is, I’ve been able to add more elements of romance to this series, and without thinking, I’ve written Tide into my hero, a man who is complicated but deep down to his soul, sweet in his own way. When my phone rings, I answer without checking who the caller is and put the phone on speaker.
“Hello.”
“Aria, it’s Mom.”
My fingers slide off the keys, and I bite back a curse. Besides the occasional text or phone call, I haven’t seen my parents since the last time they showed up at my house, which has been nice. But I’m sure my luck is about to run out.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Our fall party is coming up, and I wanted to confirm that you’ll be there.” She pauses, taking a deep breath. “And I wanted to ask if you were bringing anyone with you.” Knowing that she knows I’m seeing Tide, because I told her during one of our phone calls, I close my eyes, wondering if she will ever acknowledge him and I being in a relationship.
“Can I bring three people?” The last thing I want to do is go to their party, and I definitely don’t want to take Tide to anything where my parents will be in attendance. That said, I don’t want him to think I’m embarrassed to be with him, and I have a feeling that’s what would happen if I didn’t ask him to join me. But maybe if Colton and Gia can come, it will make things a little more bearable, especially since I’ve enjoyed myself every time I’ve been around them.
“Just friends?” she presses, and I roll my eyes.
“Mom, I told you that I’m seeing Tide, but besides him, I would also like to bring a couple of friends with us.”
“Do you think that’s smart with Josh coming?” she asks, and I grit my teeth.
“If you’re worried about Josh’s feelings, Mom, I won’t come.”
“Don’t be dramatic, Aria.” Right, because I’m the dramatic one. “Bring your friends. Just make sure they know they have to dress appropriately.”
Damn, I forgot all about the fact that the party is an event where people dress up and show off. I don’t know if Tide has ever worn anything other than jeans a day in his life, which means he might be pissed about the news he has to wear a suit. “I’ll make sure they know.”
“Then we will see you there. Have a good evening.” She hangs up, and when the line goes dead, I wonder if I’ve ever heard my mom tell me that she loves me. I don’t think I have, and the only time my father has said it is when he’s been drinking, and he’d say it to just about anyone when he’s drunk. With an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach, I push away from my desk and take my cell with me to the kitchen. I grab a cup of coffee before I head out to the front porch, needing some fresh air to help clear my mind. Reading a historical romance on the Kindle app on my phone, I smile when my agent’s name suddenly pops up on the screen with a text asking if I can talk. I reply back that I can, and a moment later, my phone rings.
“Do you have good news for me?” I ask as soon as I answer.
“No, I have good news and really, really good news.” Her excitement is audible, and since Rachel is always pretty mellow, even when calling to tell me that she’s gotten me a six-figure deal, I know whatever news she has must be big. “Do you have your e-mail available?”