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)
Not wanting to start a fight, I send her a message back, letting her know I’ll get whatever Olivia needs but I’m not giving her cash. Two seconds after I press Send, a bubble appears on the screen, and a second after that, ASSHOLE appears in all caps.
“I’m guessing from your expression you’re talking to Anna,” Colton states, and I flip my cell face-down on the bar.
“She wants money to get Olivia some clothes and shit.”
“Didn’t you just take her shopping last weekend?”
“I did, which is why I told her I wouldn’t send her money but would get Olivia whatever else she needs.”
He smirks. “I’m sure she was happy to hear that.”
“You know I’m an ‘asshole’ when I’m not giving her what she wants.”
“Or you’re just always an asshole.”
“True.” I lift my beer toward him, then take another swig before asking, “How are Gia and Gino?”
At the mention of his wife and son, his expressions softened and he leans against the bar. “They’re good. Mom is at the house with Gia and hopefully forcing her to take a nap.”
“She still having a hard time sleeping?”
“She doesn’t want to miss anything with Gino, and I get it, but she’s exhausted.”
“She’s a good mom.”
“The best mom and wife,” he counters with a shake of his head. “She gives everything she has to me and our son.”
“There are worse problems to have.”
“You’re not wrong, but it’s also my job to take care of her, even if it’s having Mom at the house taking over and forcing her to rest.”
“You really think she’s doing that?” I ask doubtfully, knowing Gia and how stubborn she is.
“Probably not, but if nothing else, Mom will clean up and do laundry and shit so Gia won’t be worried about it,” he says. “Now tell me what’s up with Aria.”
“Nothing’s up. I’m just doing some work on her house.” I take a drink from my beer.
“You’re lying,” he states evenly, and given the fact that we’ve known each other and been best friends since we were kids, I’m not surprised he’s calling me out on it.
“We had a fight.” I set down my beer, then shake my head.
“A fight?” Worry etches his tone, and I know he’s thinking about all the fights Anna and I have had over the years, fights where she usually ends up throwing shit and calling the cops.
“Not a fight like I’d have with Anna, but her parents showed up, and she told me I should leave and I got pissed—”
“Why’d she ask you to leave if you’re working for her?” he cuts me off, sounding far too curious.
“We left to get food. When we got back to her place, they were there waiting for her.”
“You left to get food with her?” His frown deepens, and I pick my beer back up, as he asks, “Like a date?”
“No, she hadn’t eaten yet, and I hadn’t either, so I called in an order for Chinese.”
“You like her.” It’s a statement not a question, and I shake my head.
“Not like that,” I tell him, knowing I’m lying to him—and myself—because fuck if she’s not the first woman in years to pique my interest. She’s beautiful, and cute as fuck when she lets go and relaxes around me, and I wouldn’t mind exploring her body with my hands and mouth. I just know I’m not in the right headspace to even think about exploring things with her, and after listening to her talk about her ex-husband, I don’t think she is either. Or maybe that’s the thing holding me back—I don’t want to come on to her and have her reject me because she’s still fucked up over her ex.
“Keep telling yourself that.” His comment pulls me from my thoughts, and I look up to find a smirk on his face. “When can Gia and I meet her?”
At his question, a plan starts to form in my mind. “What are you guys doing Saturday afternoon?”
“Nothing.”
“All Aria’s shit just got delivered today and is still in boxes, and I told her I’d help her unpack this weekend.”
“Let me get this straight. You offered the woman you’re working for to help her unpack boxes on your day off… and you don’t like her?”
“Never mind. Forget I said anything.” I sigh.
He grins, crossing his arms over his chest. “Gia and I will be there.”
“Now I’m thinking I don’t want you two to come.”
“Oh, we’re coming.” He smiles.
Fuck me, why did I say anything? “This isn’t an invitation for you or Gia to ask her a hundred and one questions.”
“You know I have zero control over what my wife does or says, so I’m not gonna make any promises, but I can tell you I’ll be cool.”
Knowing Gia, I have no doubt she’ll be cool too, but I also know she tends to protect the people she cares about, so I don’t know what might happen. I still need to find a way to smooth things over with Aria before Saturday, and I’m not sure how that will go.