Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“There’s that,” Aiden says with an easy laugh, and he’s either way too laid back to be offended or knows I’m an ass and forgives me anyway. “I wouldn’t know, since the last few years I had to have warm goat’s milk to get to sleep, as bourbon was in short supply in Yemen.”
I take another sip of coffee and force myself not to roll my eyes. Because Aiden, the big hero who saved lives during a massive civil war in a ravaged country, doesn’t deserve my malice.
My gaze darts over to Josie, and she’s still looking at me like she wants to strangle me. And that pisses me off that she’s pissed at me when Aiden clearly isn’t.
“Well, I’m sure Marek could use your support right now,” Aiden says in a school professor sort of tone. “There have been a lot of medical studies on the psychological stressors affecting physical abilities, and I know the hunt for the Cup is important to the team. I might suggest he see a professional counselor, possibly with both Gracen and Lilly…”
Aiden keeps talking but I tune him out. Instead, I let my eyes drift slowly over to Josie, and they harden when they make contact.
She can read my irritation loud and clear. You told Aiden about Marek and his personal problems?
Josie flushes with guilt, and that pisses me off further. I feel like that was a confidence that she was fortunate to have because she was my girlfriend, but Aiden is nothing to Marek and has no right to know something so personal.
I set the cup down on the counter and walk into the living room. “I’m going to go get a shower,” I mutter.
“Reed…wait,” Josie says as she pushes up out of her chair, but I don’t pause. If she forces me to talk to her, I’m going to lose my shit.
I’ve had too much crashing down on me this morning, and more than anything, I’m pissed and frustrated with myself that I even have doubts. Reed Olson is confidence personified, and the fact that Josie has me reeling with insecurity now is causing my temper to boil. It’s best I remove myself from her presence until I can calm down.
I walk out the door and shut it quietly behind me. No sense in making a big scene.
Down her steps, up mine, and right in through my front door. I head into my kitchen, needing a cup of coffee, since I only got two sips at Josie’s house. I barely make it to my Keurig before Josie’s storming in my door and stomping across the living room toward me.
“What the hell is up your butt?” she fumes at me.
“Classic deflection,” I mutter as I grab a cup from my cabinet.
Josie comes to stand on the other side of the counter island. “I’m not deflecting anything.”
“You’re feeling guilty because you told Aiden about Marek and you know that’s not cool,” I point out, totally deflecting like I just accused her.
“Oh cut the shit,” she snaps at me as her hands go to her hips. “So I told Aiden. Big deal. I was worried about Marek and wanted his perspective. It’s not like you said it was a secret. Now let’s get back to the real issue. What is up your butt? You’ve been a bit of a jackass for a week now.”
This is true. Ever since doubts started creeping in, I’ve been pissy. Mostly at myself, but it’s easier to take it out on Josie.
“Josie,” I say tiredly, not wanting to get into it right now. I need at least two cups of coffee before I spar with her. “Just go do your work with Aiden. You shouldn’t have left him over there.”
“I didn’t leave him over there,” she retorts sharply. “I made him go home because now you’ve got me upset and I need to know what’s going on.”
Oh great. Just one more thing to lay on my conscience. I’m now ruining Josie’s work with my surly attitude.
My need to deny culpability is strong. “Nothing’s wrong. Just tired is all.”
“I said cut the shit, Reed. You’ve been different for several days, and clearly something is going on inside that head of yours. I am not going to sit here and keep wondering what it is or whether I did something wrong.”
I jolt in surprise. “You did nothing wrong.”
Josie physically bristles, but she can’t hide the sadness in her eyes. “Ahhh…so it’s going to be the old ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ thing?”
Fuck, I look at Josie standing there pissed and confused, knowing I brought this down on her and she did nothing to deserve it. This wonderful woman, who turned into so much more than what I thought she would ever be, deserves nothing but the best.
“No, Josie,” I say quietly as I set my cup down and walk around the counter. I put my hands on her shoulder and say, “It’s not me, it’s totally you.”