Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I tried not to think about it as I parked and headed inside. I’d barely made it through the front door before Caroline came rushing over in her high heels and tight miniskirt. “You came!”
“I did, but I’m not...”
“Staying long. I know, but you’re here now.” She took a step back and surveyed my outfit with a playful grin. “And you’re looking good, girl.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
“I do!” She motioned me to the back of the restaurant as she said, “Come on. Let’s go sit.”
I followed her over to our table, and as soon as we were seated, one of the waitresses came over and asked, “What can I get you ladies tonight?”
“I’ll have a cheeseburger loaded, fries loaded, and a Jim Beam and coke,” Caroline answered.
“Oh, you’re not messing around.”
“Girl, I’m starving. I haven’t eaten a bite all day.”
I glanced down at the menu and checked the specials. When I spotted something I could eat, I looked over to the waitress and said, “I’ll take the Peppercorn Steak Salad with ranch. And no croutons, please.”
“Sure thing. What about a drink?”
“I’ll just have a Moscow Mule and a water.”
“You got it.”
The waitress double-checked our orders, then turned and started toward the kitchen. Caroline waited until she was several feet away before she leaned over to me and whispered, “I’ve been thinking about something.”
“Oh? What about?”
“You.” She pressed her lips together with apprehension, then asked, “It’s been three years or so since you left your douchebag husband, right?”
“Yeah, give or take.”
“And you haven’t dated anyone since?”
“No.” Our conversation came to an immediate halt when the waitress came over and placed our drinks on the table. Once she was gone, I leaned over to Caroline and whispered, “What are you trying to get at?”
“I’m just trying to figure out how you’ve done it. I mean, damn. Three years is a long time to go without.” Concerned marked her face as she asked, “Don’t you miss it?”
“Miss what?”
“Sex,” she hissed. “How have you been able to go without for so long?”
“It’s not as hard as you might think.”
Sex with James wasn’t all that spectacular. In fact, it was awful. I often thought of him as the three-minute wonder. I never could understand how he could be intimate with me so many times and still have no clue what I liked or didn’t like—not that it mattered. There was no way I could enjoy having sex with him after he’d beat the hell out of me.
I couldn’t stand for him to touch me, much less make love to me. I simply did it to appease him and hoped it would put him in a better mood. It was clear from her line of questioning that she hadn’t had the same kind of experience. “How can you say that? I’d lose my mind.”
“I’ve managed to survive.”
“That’s just sad. Please tell me you at least have a vibrator to keep you company.”
“Hmmm.” I grimaced as I admitted, “Afraid not.”
“What! You’ve gotta be kidding me!” Her eyes were wide with disbelief. “You’ve gone all that time without anything? Not even a toe-dip in Wonderland? Nothing?”
“Nope. Not a thing.” I shrugged. “But like I said, I survived.”
“Surviving isn’t everything, Jules. A woman has needs!”
“You got that right,” a man’s voice boomed behind me.
When I glanced over my shoulder, I was mortified to find Hayes standing there with Q. They both had amused looks on their faces, making me wonder just how much they’d heard of our conversation. Caroline didn’t seem all that concerned when she smiled and said, “Hey, I wasn’t expecting you guys until later.”
“Yeah, that was the plan, but we came early to grab a bite to eat. Had to get one of Flynn’s famous burgers.”
“Oh, they’re the best! I got one myself.”
“Well, you girls enjoy your dinner.” Hayes looked over to Q and the other two brothers that were with them as he said, “Come join us at the pool tables when you’re done.”
“Sure thing.” Caroline motioned her head over to me as she said, “We’re looking forward to it.”
Q looked right at me, but he didn’t smile. He didn’t speak. I couldn’t tell what he thought as he followed Hayes and the others over to the pool tables. I continued watching them as they prepared for their first game, and my stomach sank when his eyes met mine in a cold, dead stare. He held my gaze for only a second before turning his attention back to his brothers.
I’d finally done it.
I’d gone too far when I told him about my past and pushed him away.
I should’ve been happy, but I wasn’t. Instead, I felt sick and had to fight the urge to cry. I wanted to get up and run out of that bar, but just as I was about to make up an excuse to leave, the waitress appeared with our food.