Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Zahra shook her head and waved her hand. “I’m done. I gave him every chance to make a move and he didn’t. I don’t throw myself at men. I’m officially moving on.”
Vienna felt bad for her. Zahra really didn’t date, and she’d crushed on Bruce for a long time. She’d done everything she could to show the man, and he seemed to reciprocate her feelings, but he never asked her out. He danced with her when they were at the Grill, the local bar where they went to dance and hang out together. Bruce even seemed to warn other men off her, but he never pursued Zahra further.
“More power to you,” Stella said staunchly. “Bruce had his chance. You deserve better. If he doesn’t go after you, he isn’t the right man for you.”
“I’m perfectly fine on my own,” Zahra said. “I’ve got good friends. Even if they are crazy and want to get up at the crack of dawn to go climbing around on rocks.”
“And then go bike riding,” Vienna reminded, just to watch Zahra’s famous dramatic reaction.
Zahra didn’t disappoint. She slid down in her chair with a groan.
“After we climb,” Shabina said, “we can take a break and then take the bikes and go on the trail. I’ve mapped out some really great loops for us.”
“Bikes.” Zahra groaned dramatically again, this time louder. She folded her arms on the table and put her head down on her arms. “Why are you all so energetic? Did you bring my ebike?”
“No. You’re going to pedal just like the rest of us,” Stella said firmly. “Considering you can run rings around us most of the time with your short little legs, no one is going to let you get away with riding an electric bike.”
“I’m not going to be your best friend anymore, Stella. I’m giving up the position. In fact”—Zahra sat up and pulled out her phone—“I’m going to go on Instagram and see if anyone else wants the position. You’re a pain to keep up with. All this hiking and climbing and biking nonsense. Where is that app? What does it look like? I forget.”
Stella burst out laughing. “No one believes you’re going to give me away, Zahra. You can’t post anything on your Instagram account. I have to do it for you.”
Zahra groaned again. “Fine. I’ll keep you as a best friend. Just so you can do the social media crap I don’t want to do.”
“Don’t worry, Zahra, tomorrow we can lounge around the pool and rest,” Shabina said. “I’ll hand you drinks and fan you.”
“Thank you.” Zahra blew her kisses. “See, Stella, that’s what you’re supposed to do when you have a bridal shower. Not climb and bike and hike all over the country.”
“We’ve got the kayaking day after tomorrow,” Vienna said. “We meet the guide at the Hoover Dam Lodge parking lot at six a.m., and they’ll shuttle us to the launch site. We have to have our IDs and can’t be late or they won’t let us launch at the Hoover Dam, so make sure you don’t forget them and you get up on time. And yes, Zahra, we have to get up before it’s light again.”
“I suppose since I’m in a tandem kayak with Stella, I can make her do all the work for the first few hours while I sleep.”
“Like I’d let you get away with that. The kayak would suddenly turn over,” Stella said. “You’d find yourself in the water, dog-paddling around.”
“You’d be that mean,” Zahra said.
“Yes, I would,” Stella said.
Vienna’s phone vibrated and she dragged it out of her pocket, a little surprised. She’d taken her vacation and few people called or texted other than those in the room with her. “Zale sent me a text. He left his truck in the Blue Diamond overnight parking lot. He wants me to clean it up and get it back to the rental place for him.”
“I thought you broke all ties with him,” Shabina said.
Vienna heard the concern in her voice. The others looked at her the same way. She shrugged and studied Zale’s text. It was clear to her that something had happened to him and Rainier. She wanted to leap up and try to find him, but she knew it would be impossible. There was no doubt in her mind that he was hurt. That “clean it up” for him meant there was blood in the truck. She swore under her breath. This was going to be her life with him.
She looked up to meet Stella’s eyes. Stella knew. She was marrying Sam. This was Sam’s old life. He might not participate now, but he had in the past. He’d shared little pieces of what it had been like with Stella.
“I don’t mind driving his truck to the rental place for him if he doesn’t have anyone else to do it. I can Uber back to the Airbnb.”