Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 71632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
I sit on the bed beside her, too wrapped up in her story to pay any more attention to my unpacking. “But it wasn’t just that, was it?”
She shakes her head. “Two days later, he rolled in looking fine on that motorbike and asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. So, I got dressed, and we went for a ride.”
“What kind of ride,” I ask, and she grins.
“Believe it or not, not that kind. He took me sight-seeing, and we had lunch, and we talked a lot. For someone so broody and quiet, he wasn’t hard to talk to, we got along almost ... effortlessly. It was the first time I’ve ever been able to let my guard down, and just talk to a man, no sarcasm or attitude. Just me.”
Wow.
That’s a big deal.
Chantelle hides a lot of who she really is behind her bubbly personality and sarcasm, but she’s actually quite broken deep down. She’s had a hard life, and she holds it well, but there is a softer, far more fragile side to her she rarely lets people see. I’m shocked to hear she let Boston see it after such a small time.
“That’s a big deal for you, letting him see what’s behind the sassy girl we all know and love.”
She nods, huffing. “He just, I don’t know, got me. Like he could see behind it all. It was an awesome day, Sas. Like really awesome. And we caught up again the next day, and he let me come by his house, and something felt good, you know? Really good. We had a few drinks, a swim, and he fucked me in that pool. So damn slow, and good, and I think I fell a little bit in love with him after it.”
“It’s called lust, honey, but I can see why you’d feel it so soon. It sounds incredible. So, why are you so pissed?”
She looks down at her hands, and for the first time in a lot of years, I see a flash of something cross her face. Jealousy? Insecurity? Confusion? I’m not sure what it is, but it’s real, and it’s rare to see real from her.
“Hey,” I say, scooting closer. “Talk to me.”
“Well, Penny came in to work with his sister. He has two carers, so they both only work part time. It was her day, so she arrived that night and the other lady left. She came outside, saw us, and she was really nice, you know. But then he went inside to get another drink and was gone for ages. Like ages. So, I went in, and they were in the kitchen, and she was crying, and he was talking to her, all soft and different to the way he talks to me. And he just kind of shrugged me off when I asked if she was okay. He asked me to leave. He didn’t even look at me.”
My heart breaks for her, because that would suck. But this, right here, is exactly why I tried to warn her the other night. Boston and Penny, they definitely had a little something, maybe just a connection, maybe a real friendship, or maybe nothing more than a working partnership that goes really well. Either way, it was there, and I felt it immediately. But, this isn’t entirely on Chantelle considering, at this point, it seems like Boston is the one pursuing her.
“Oh, honey. It could have been anything. She might have had a really hard day, you don’t know what is happening in her world ...”
Chantelle shrugs, still staring at her hands. “Of course, and I really like Penny, so I hope it wasn’t anything bad, and I don’t mind that she turned to him. It was the way he reacted. The way he turned cold. And the worst part, is that he didn’t make any contact after it. Not for days. I felt used. And stupid. So, last night, he finally called ...”
I don’t really like this situation already, but I nod and listen, because that’s the right thing to do.
“He said he’d been busy and asked if I wanted to catch up. I said sure, I’d come over there and he said no, he’d come here. I should have hung up the phone and told him where to go, but I didn’t, I let him come over. And we had more amazing sex. But he left afterward, and I’ve ignored his calls since. He’s using me, isn’t he? It’s clear he has some sort of attachment to Penny, but she’s kind and sweet and he’s a big broody biker who likes to fuck. He isn’t going to get that from her. Basically, I’m his own personal version of a club whore.”
Ouch.
If it was anyone else, I’d probably say she was right. But Boston isn’t like that, he truly isn’t. He’s got a good soul, you can see it in him. I don’t think he’d use Chantelle, and if he did, he wouldn’t have made the effort to take her out and spend time with her. No. If I were to put my money on what’s going on, I’d say Boston has found himself attracted to two women.