Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“You would rather have me spend the night sweet-talking someone?” He gasps as if outraged. “It was a physical urge I had to scratch, so I took care of it in the most mechanical way that I knew how to.”
“So, you went to the strip club on four occasions, and…”
“Twice.”
I frown. “You did the four girls twice?”
He looks around. “Keep your fucking voice down,” he whispers. “I went to the strip club twice and had a threesome with two girls both times.”
My mouth falls open and I sit back. “Wow. Go you.”
I stare at him for a moment, and it’s official. I must be tapped. A normal woman would be outraged, but this information has me strangely mollified. He wasn’t intimate with anybody. It was just sex.
“I nearly called your therapist last week,” I admit.
“Why?”
“I just wanted to check if you were okay.” Shit, shut up, shut up.
He sits forward, as if excited. “You were worried about me as recently as last week?”
“That was before I found out you went to Ibiza with Robert.”
“On a platonic group holiday. Don’t make it sound like something it wasn’t, Eliza.”
“Hmm.” I sip my Diet Coke. “I don’t care what you do anyway.” I lie.
He gives me a slow, sexy smile as his eyes hold mine. “I know.”
He’s so onto me.
I sip my drink as I look around. This was a bad idea.
Our meals arrive, and we eat in silence for a while. He’s completely at ease, while I’m deep in regret about my little slip up about asking who he slept with. Why did I ask that? Now he knows I care.
“You know, my mother knows everything,” he says.
I frown as I chew. “What do you mean?”
“She knows that we fell in love, and she knows that we broke up.”
My mouth falls open. “But she’s never said anything. I must have seen her ten times, and I speak to her every second day.”
“Because she was afraid that if you knew she knew, things would be weird between you. She was scared that you were going to leave her, too.”
I put my hand over my heart. “That makes me so sad. I would never leave her.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Just me, then.”
“I was forced to leave you, Nathan, it was never by choice.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter now.” He bites his lasagne off his fork. “We are just friends, after all.”
“Precisely.”
His eyes hold mine, and I know he’s trying to make me crack without actually saying anything.
“Where is your new apartment in San Fran?” He changes the subject.
“In my old neighbourhood, around the corner.”
“It’s okay?”
“Yes, smaller than my last one but it will be fine.”
He twists his lips as he listens. “How long is your lease?”
“Twelve months.”
“Twelve months?” He snaps in an outrage.
“Yes,” I reply calmly. “Is that a problem?”
“No.” He bites the food off his fork with force. “Why would it be?” he asks through gritted teeth.
I inwardly smile, and we eat in silence, once more.
“What time does your plane leave?” I ask.
“Five.”
“Okay, you probably should get going soon,” I reply happily.
He stares at me, deadpan. “I should.”
“You should ask your friend Tiffany for the bill.”
“I will.” His bottom teeth catch his top lip, and I know he’s trying desperately to hold his tongue. “I mean, there’s no reason to stay in New York tonight, is there?”
“No.” I shrug. “There really isn’t.”
He narrows his eyes. “I guess I’ll see you around then.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I shrug casually, as if I don’t have a care in the world.
“Where are you going tonight?”
“Out with my work friends for dinner and drinks. It’s my farewell dinner. I’m really looking forward to it.” His eyes hold mine, and it’s really hard not burst out laughing at his attempt to hide his tantrum from me. I can read him like a book.
“Well, have a safe trip.” I stand.
“We need to split the bill.”
Nathan doesn’t split bills. This is the first time in ten years I have ever heard him say that to anyone. “Okay, great. How much do I owe you?”
“Sit back down while I work it out.” he whispers angrily.
“What’s wrong with you?” I ask innocently.
“Nothing.”
“Really? Because you look like something is wrong.”
“Nothing. Is. Wrong.” He growls.
I smile. “I’m glad you’ve changed and are now so empathetic. This is a real improvement, Nathan. This will be great for your new relationships going forward.”
He glares at me and I think I have a new favorite hobby—goading Nathan Mercer is fun.
Come on, fight me. I dare you.
I take my money from my purse and put it onto the table. “It was lovely seeing you.”
He narrows his eyes.
I put my hand out to shake his, and he squeezes it so hard, he nearly breaks my fingers.
“Have a safe trip home,” I say.
“I will.” His eyes hold mine. “Have a nice life.”
“I will.” I smile sweetly.