Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“Okay, you’re right,” I said with a little laugh. “I rock.”
“Thatta girl,” he replied, smiling. “Where’s that grandson of mine?”
“Which one?” I asked cheekily. “You have like fifty of them.”
“I know,” he muttered conspiratorially. “They’re multiplyin’ like rabbits.”
“I think Rumi’s inside,” I told him, hugging him as he gave me another kiss on my head.
He walked away, and I roamed around a little until I saw Olive, Gray, and Rumi’s cousin Charlie sitting at a picnic table.
“Hey, did you just get here?” Olive asked. “Where’s Rum?”
“Why does everyone keep asking me where Rumi is?”
“I don’t know,” Charlie replied dryly. “Maybe because you two are always attached at the hip.”
“No we’re not.”
Gray started laughing. “Right.”
Then Rumi was there, introducing Emilia to everyone and acting completely infuriatingly normal.
I wanted him to act normal. I didn’t want people asking me what was wrong and where the tension was coming from and looking at me with pity in their eyes… but did it have to be so easy for him? We chatted for a while and I kept an easygoing smile on my face, replying in all the right spots, and ignoring the urge to look at him every second. Eventually we all went in to grab dinner and that went fine, too. It was no big deal. I wasn’t jealous that Micky had come to get Emilia for dinner. I made all the right jokes and replied to all of the conversations.
See us? We were just friends. Just like always. We hadn’t been fucking in secret. I hadn’t walked in on him fucking someone else. We hadn’t gotten into a screaming match just minutes before we’d shown up at the barbecue. Look at how normal we were. Nothing to notice.
I found Bird and sat with him and Rumi’s little brother Titus for dinner. It was simple with them and if I had to listen to them discuss sports and debate who would win a race—Titus was on the track team but Bird thought he could win because he was scrappy and full of spite—well, it was better than worrying if someone would pick up on a facial expression that I didn’t know I was making.
Honestly, I just wanted to go home. I’d made my appearance and said hello to the people who expected it, and I was ready to go home, get in my pajamas, and watch a movie or something. I was tired of hiding the gaping hole in my chest that seemed to be growing every time Rumi swanned by like he didn’t have a care in the world.
I was done with dinner and bringing my plate to the garbage when something in the clubhouse changed, some disturbance in the air, a small undercurrent of something happening that no one was talking about. I looked around for Rumi, but couldn’t see him anywhere. Then I looked for Micky, who was easily spotted in a crowd. He wasn’t there either.
Nana was still sitting with some of the women. Pop was talking to someone across the room. Bird was still arguing with Titus.
I was scanning the room when Rumi came back inside and headed straight for me.
“What’s up?” I asked as he got close.
“Nothin’.” He shook his head in dismissal, but I could tell that he was wired. He was practically vibrating with tension.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he murmured, glancing over his shoulder. “Are you good?”
“Am I good?” I asked in disbelief.
Rumi sighed. “I don’t want it to be like this with us.”
“Like what?”
“Weird.”
“It’s not weird.”
“It’s super fuckin’ weird.”
“Really? Because you seem fine.”
He stared at me in surprise. “Are you fuckin’ jokin’ right now?”
“Nope.” I glanced around, but no one was paying any attention to us.
“You want me to make shit public?” he asked in confusion. “You want me starin’ at you and wearin’ every fuckin’ emotion on my face?”
“Of course not,” I replied quickly.
“Well, you can’t have it both ways,” he murmured. “You wanted me to give you some space, and I’m doin’ that.”
“Then why are you over here?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Because some shit—” He stopped, pressing his lips together. “Just wanted to check in with you.”
“I’m great,” I replied flatly. “Having the time of my life.”
“You’re the one that wanted this.”
“I didn’t want any of this,” I replied instantly. “You think I want to feel this way? Fuck, Rumi.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, letting out a huge breath. He looked over my shoulder, and his expression changed as he nodded. “I’m—it’s been a weird fuckin’ night.”
I turned to see Micky coming toward us.
“Give these to Emilia,” he barked, tossing me his keys. I was so surprised I almost didn’t catch them.
“What? Wait, why can’t you give them to her?” I’d barely gotten the words out of my mouth when he and Rumi were striding away.
“Thanks, No,” Rumi said, barely meeting my eyes as he glanced at me over his shoulder. “I’ll call you later.”