Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 39424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 5
CHLOE
For the last week, I’ve looked over my shoulder everywhere I go. I’ve held my breath in anticipation of seeing Elias again, but I haven’t caught one glance of him. He’s not come around, I’m sure of it. It seems my body is completely attuned to him, and it knows he’s not been anywhere close to me, so of course I’ve started to regret confronting him last week.
Maybe if I’d just let it go, he would still be turning up.
I let out a sigh without even thinking about it. I should be focusing. I love when we meet for book club, and tonight we’re discussing Kat Baxter’s Awaken My Heart. I was so looking forward to this story, and it didn’t disappoint.
I’m drawn from my own self-pity with Olivia’s exclamation.
“Come on, you guys! It’s been fifteen years. It’s time that Daddy Whitmore got laid.”
Abby is the first to react. “Olivia! Can you be any louder?” She’s looking around with her cheeks crimson. “I mean come on. Do you have to scream it out for the whole town to hear?”
Olivia just laughs. “It’s all in good fun. So what did you guys think about the book?”
“I loved how much he loved his wife,” Abby says.
Emerson chimes in, “Yeah, but he deserved his happily ever after.” And she leans in, making her voice a lot quieter than Olivia’s. “And yeah, fifteen years is crazy when you think about it, but it just makes the whole love story better.”
“Five stars!” Olivia exclaims.
“Agree,” Abby and Emerson chime in.
Olivia turns to me. “What about you, Chloe?”
I can’t look any of them in the eye. “It was a great love story.”
Abby tilts her head. “But? I hear a but in there, right?”
“No, I mean it was perfect. It was beautiful and a really good heartfelt book.”
All three of them are staring at me, and I start to ramble. “I just… I don’t know. Do people really get their happily ever afters? I mean, I know it’s fiction, but I’m just wondering I guess, why can’t that happen in real life?”
My eyes widen when I realize what I just said, and I put my palm to my forehead. “Shit, that was dumb. Of course, it happens. Look at you guys. You all found the one. Maybe—” I shrug. “Maybe it’s just not meant to happen for me.” I wave my hand in front of my face. “Forget it. I’m being all emotional, ignore me. I loved the book. I’ll probably read it again.”
I’m hoping that they move on, but Olivia gives me a look, and I know she’s not going to let it go. “What’s up with you?”
We’re sitting at the Whiskey Whistler for our book club meeting, and Olivia, Abby, and Emerson are all staring at me. “Nothing,” I mutter.
Olivia barks out a laugh. “Yeah, pull the other one. What’s up, really?” She holds her hand up. “And don’t try to feed me any bull crap because I see right through it. Something is bothering you.”
“I… uh, nothing is wrong with me,” I lie, looking straight into her eyes. I’m a horrible liar.
She looks as if she’s going to question me further, and I shake my head. “Forget it, really. It’s been a long week, and this book just hit me in all the feels, that’s all.”
I stand up. “All right, next round is on me. What’s everyone having?”
I wait for them to tell me their orders and then I go to the bar. I could have waited for the server to come, but I needed to take a breath. When I get back to the table and hand out the drinks, I sit down and start sipping on my white wine.
The conversation continues around me, and I try to jump in so I don’t have to answer any more questions about what’s wrong with me.
The longer the booze flows, the louder the girls get, and before long, I’m genuinely laughing with them. When Emerson and Olivia go to the ladies room, I take the opportunity to talk to Abby. “Can I ask you something?”
She smiles. “Of course you can. What is it?”
I try to act nonchalant even though it’s the last thing I’m feeling. “You know Elias? Davis’ friend?”
Her eyebrows lift. “Elias?”
I really try to act like me asking about him is not a big deal. “Yeah, they uh, served together, right?”
“They did.” She gasps. “Oh, Chloe, no. You’re not interested in him, are you?”
The way her nose is scrunched up, it’s obvious she thinks it’s a bad idea. I’m quick to reply, “I’m just wondering what happened to him, that’s all.”
She tilts her head and levels me with a look. “You mean the scars? He’s a hero, Chloe.”
I hold my hands up. “I know he is. I’m messing this up. I’m not trying to gossip or anything. I’m just wondering about him, that’s all. Just… is he okay?”