Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
“No problem. I just hope it’s enough to help you get the justice you deserve.” When I meet his gaze, I notice the dark circles under his eyes. He looks beat down and exhausted. Helping him makes me feel good, but I won’t assume anything will come of it, considering who’s involved.
“We’ll talk soon, okay?” he says before leaving with his lawyer.
“That went well,” Serena says, tucking her brown hair behind her ears.
“I guess. Do you wanna grab some lunch?”
She checks the time on her phone. “I actually need to be at the airport in an hour.”
“Okay, no problem.” I appreciate that she interrupted her busy schedule for me and flew here.
“What are your plans today?” Serena glances at me as we walk toward the elevator.
I shrug. “Nothing much.”
“And before your flight tomorrow?”
I shake my head.
“You can say no, but you should come to Sacramento with me, then fly home from there instead. Liam and Maddie came home from the hospital with the new baby yesterday, and I know how much they’d love to see you.”
A smile touches my lips at her great idea. “I didn’t think about that. Damn, it’s like you’re a genius lawyer or something with all this amazing logic.”
She snorts and rolls her eyes. “I can drop you off at their house. Check if you can get on my flight. It leaves at noon.”
We walk outside, and I follow her to the rental car as I contact the airline. Serena drives to my hotel, and by the time she parks, I’ve already purchased a flight and rescheduled my departure.
“I’ll wait here while you grab your things and check out of your room.”
“Great,” I say, eager to get out of Vegas.
It takes less than ten minutes to pack my small bag and turn in my hotel key. Even Serena is surprised when I return in record time.
“Damn,” she mutters. “You’re fast.”
We chat as we make our way to the airport, and she updates me on life in California, her son, and how busy the law firm is these days. After we get through security, I watch as tourists feed bills into the slot machines, trying their last chance at winning big. After living in this city for so long, I’m still desensitized to the bright lights and noises of the machines. It brings me back to Liam’s gambling problem and how it brought Victoria into his life. I can’t help but shake my head as we walk toward our gate.
Serena and I grab something to eat while we wait to board. As I stare out at the crowds of people, I replay what happened in that conference room. Then my thoughts quickly move to Gemma. She has no idea what she does to me and may never understand how deeply I care. I never mentioned I’d be missing work today and haven’t spoken to her since Friday night, so there’s no telling what she thinks about me being gone. I push the thoughts away before Serena notices my silence and asks what’s on my mind.
“Liam’s gonna be so damn surprised when he opens the door and sees you standing there. I’m excited to witness the shock on his face.”
“Can’t wait, honestly. Maddie FaceTimed me after he was born, but it’s not the same as seeing him in real life.”
“You’re right. I spoke with them yesterday, and they’re both worried sick about you, so it’ll be a fun little reunion. Plus, I don’t think I would’ve been able to sleep tonight after hearing those in-depth stories about Victoria and knowing you were in the same city as her.” Genuine concern is displayed on her face.
“I didn’t care to stay, anyway. The city harbors too many awful memories for me to ever enjoy it these days. I’m relieved to leave early.” And never return if I can help it.
Our plane arrives, and once we find our seats, it doesn’t take long before we’re in the air. For the entire two-hour flight, I stare out the window, and my mind wanders back to Gemma and everything that’s happened since I returned to Lawton Ridge.
I wish I could pull her into my arms and kiss the hell out of her to show her what she’s missing. When Robert treats her like an afterthought, I want to tell her I’d always put her first. I might not be rich with a mansion or a successful business, but I’d give her the damn world. Too bad she’s engaged and too blind to see how wrong Robert is for her.
Once we land, Serena and I take a shuttle to her car. Within thirty minutes, she’s pulling into Liam and Maddie’s driveway. Excitement rushes through me as I think about seeing my best friends again.
Before I get out, I turn to Serena, who’s smiling wide. “Thanks for everything. You’ve been such an enormous help. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you.”