Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Thank you, honey. See you in the morning.”
She blew her partner-in-crime a kiss, then headed toward the stairs.
“I’m, uh, gonna use the bathroom,” he said, suddenly looking like he might topple over.
I followed behind him down the hall to make sure he didn’t smack into anything, and once he got himself inside with the door shut, I headed upstairs to grab a spare pillow and sheets.
I had just finished prepping the couch when he came up behind me, looking a bit green.
“All set. You should get some sleep.”
Sinking to the couch, he sighed and pulled the covers to his chin, his eyes shutting immediately. There was that innocence again that was so goddamned endearing. I seriously hoped someone treated him like he deserved someday. I wished that for Mom too, even though trusting in that concept might prove difficult for the both of us after she was treated so poorly by my father.
Christ, why was I thinking about this shit right now? Ridiculous.
Just as I was about to back away, Seth’s eyes sprang open, and his hand reached out to encircle my wrist. His fingers were small and delicate compared to mine, and I stood frozen in place, wondering if he needed me to stay—and I would if he asked. Maybe he felt like the room was spinning and I needed to move a bucket toward the couch in case he got sick.
“Sorry if I put you out.” His words were a bit garbled, so I leaned closer to hear him. “Bonnie is like a mom to me. Not that I’m trying to steal your mom. Just…I really like her, and you’re not too bad either.”
My pulse started beating erratically. “Yeah…you’re not too bad yourself.” The hugest smile broke across his face as his eyes became slits. Jesus, this guy. “And Mom obviously thinks your pajama parties are a hit. I’m sure she’ll want to have more when she gets into her new place.”
“That’s good,” he murmured, “because it’s too quiet in my apartment sometimes.”
He looked so vulnerable right then, I wasn’t sure he would’ve confessed such a thing if it hadn’t been for the booze in his system.
“It’ll be quiet for me too, soon enough,” I admitted, and whoa, what the hell was happening?
He squeezed my wrist, likely in support. “Look at us. Our own little lonely-hearts club.”
I burst out laughing because he was too damned much, plus it helped ease the weird tension swirling between us. “For whatever it’s worth, if you ever need anything—after Mom’s gone, I mean—I’ll be around.”
He grinned and mumbled a thanks before his hand fell away and his eyes closed again.
“Night,” I said, then shut off the light and got the hell out of the room before I said something else I couldn’t take back.
It took me a bit to fall asleep, as I replayed our conversation, making sure I didn’t say anything stupid or leading. Not that he’d remember. Yeah, I was banking on that.
9
Seth
I started to wake at the sound of water turning on in my apartment. My heart immediately dropped to my gut because I lived alone and no one should be there, but then, robbers didn’t typically take the time to wash their hands…
My eyes opened slowly, my surroundings unfamiliar for a moment, and then it all clicked. I was at Jake’s. I drank wine, lots and lots of wine, and ate food, and did makeovers with Bonnie.
Then Jake had come home, and oh God, please don’t let me have made a fool of myself in front of him. I didn’t think I did, but things were a little murky, and there was a dull throb in my head. I did remember trying to get him to say an actor was hot, which made me want to try and sneak out, to be honest. Why had I asked him that?
I sat up quietly and tried to peek over the back of the couch. The movement must have caught Jake’s eye, because he looked at me and smiled, and oh, the view was nice. The smile was nice, of course, but he was also wearing shorts, with the waist of his briefs showing, and no T-shirt. There was a dusting of hair on his chest, his abs were nice but not overly cut like he spent his whole life in the gym, and I wanted to cuddle him. Wanted to feel his arms around me and see what he smelled like, and maybe what he tasted like, and, oh, now he was frowning. Why was he frowning at me?
“Hmm?” I said.
“Are you okay? You’re staring at me funny, and I said your name twice.”
Because of course he had. I was such a creeper. My cheeks heated. “Yeah. Fine. Sorry.”
“I didn’t mean to wake you. I have some coffee going, and I’m about to put breakfast on. I figured you and Mom could use some food in your stomach after the night you had.” The right side of his mouth kicked up.