Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“So,” I said, “Who was that girl Tristan was arguing with? An ex of his?”
A flash of pain briefly claimed Nuala’s features before she snorted. “She wishes. No. That was Kiera. We used to be close, but we had a fight a few months ago, and she’s iced me out ever since. The rest of the girls sided with her. I don’t even know why she came here tonight. Tristan must’ve posted about the party on social media or something.”
“What was the fight about?”
Nuala chewed on her lip. “I’d rather not talk about it.” The microwave pinged, and she turned to remove the soup before going to grab some bowls. I glanced at Rhys, and he shrugged as if to say, If she doesn’t want to talk about it you can’t force her.
I wondered if he knew anything about the fight. Something hardened inside me. Who did that girl think she was, turning the friend group against Nuala and then showing up to a party at her house? She sounded like an entitled bitch. My mother hen instincts kicked in. If Tristan hadn’t already approached this Kiera girl and told her to leave, I might’ve done so myself. Nuala was such a cheerful, kind, inoffensive person. I didn’t understand how anyone could treat her badly. That would be like stomping on a fairy’s wing just for the heck of it.
“Wait until you taste this soup,” Nuala said, forced cheeriness in her voice. “It’s to die for.” She passed a bowl and spoon across the counter to me, then another bowl to Rhys, before pouring one for herself. I lifted a spoonful to my mouth and groaned as soon as the spicy goodness met my tongue. A tantalising mixture of chili, cumin, paprika, and a hint of garlic assaulted my senses, and I gave a quiet moan.
What? I already said I was a foodie, and this soup was the nicest thing I’d tasted in a while.
Nuala laughed. “I take it from your moan of ecstasy you like it.”
“It’s amazing,” I said, glancing at Rhys for a second and finding that his eyes, slightly hooded, were on my mouth. Oh, crap, was there soup on my lips? I grabbed a napkin and quickly dabbed them, embarrassed. When I looked at him again, he was focused on his own bowl of soup.
The three of us ate quietly for a few minutes, the room filled with sounds of our quiet, contented slurping. As soon as I became aware of it, I couldn’t hold in my amusement, a giggle escaping me.
Nuala glanced at me. “What’s so funny?”
“I don’t know. The three of us are just very into this soup. The slurping sounds are cracking me up.”
Nuala chuckled in response. “You’re right. We’re like a couple of aul’ ones in here having our soup when we could be back out there partying.”
“Nah, this is better,” Rhys said, and I shot him a smile.
“I agree,” Nuala concurred with a grin.
“Well, what do we have here?” came a voice, and I glanced up to find the guy from last night, Aidan, entering the kitchen. His dark auburn hair looked freshly styled, and he wore a slate grey shirt that brought out the deep brown of his eyes. He was an attractive guy, but he didn’t really do it for me. Maybe it was because he seemed fully aware of how good looking he was.
“We’re having chili soup from the hotel,” Nuala told him as he eyed our bowls. “Want some?”
“Hmm, maybe a small taste,” he said, surprising me when he slid in next to me and grabbed the spoon from my almost finished bowl before bringing it to his mouth. My eyebrows shot all the way up into my forehead as I stared at him.
“Oh, it’s good,” he said, going in for a second spoonful.
“Um, I’d planned to finish that,” I said, vaguely annoyed.
“Don’t worry, Moretti. I’m not contagious.” How did he know my last name already? One of the brothers must’ve mentioned it.
“Right, but I might be,” I shot back. “You just used my spoon, dude. Gross.”
Aidan patted his chest. “I’ve got the constitution of an ox. I’ll be fine.”
“Not the stamina, though,” Nuala countered with a grin. “Well, at least that’s what I heard from Laura Pembridge.”
Aidan feigned outrage. “That’s defamation of character! I’m calling my lawyer.”
Nuala chuckled. “Don’t be so hasty. I’ve heard Laura is a compulsive liar.”
“Yes, she is,” Aidan exclaimed before turning to me. “She’s a liar, Moretti. Do you hear me? A dirty little liar. Don’t let her sully your view of me. I can go for days, days, I tell you.”
“That’s far too long,” Rhys commented dryly, surprising a laugh out of me.
“Right?” I said, grinning at him. His eyes met mine, and I got a little lost again. He really was handsome. I felt like putting him in a lumberjack shirt and encouraging him to grow a beard. That look would suit him perfectly.