Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
My phone chirps, letting me know there’s a message waiting. Taking a deep breath and mentally pulling up my big girl panties, I grab my phone and swipe at the screen.
Ramsey: Stop avoiding me.
Ramsey: Palmer!
Ramsey: I’m on my way over. You better answer the door.
I laugh because Ramsey and I are so much alike. I would have said the same thing. I would have caved earlier than she did, but we are one and the same. A knock sounds at the door, and I know my best friend has a key, so she shouldn’t be knocking. This is her way of making me let her in. Not just into my apartment but into what’s been going on in my head this past week. She doesn’t know something happened with Brooks, but I’m sure she’s got a pretty good idea that my mood has something to do with him.
Plastering a wide smile on my face, I pull open the door. “Hey, I just got your messages.” Not a complete lie since I just read them.
“Just now?” There’s skepticism in her voice as she enters my apartment.
“Yeah, I’ve been up to my eyeballs in editing.” Also not a lie. I’ve had a lot of shoots recently, and I’ve been editing for hours each night. I don’t mind it. I love my job, and it kept my mind busy.
She eyes me, looking for signs that I might not be telling her the truth. I focus on keeping my features schooled and my breathing even. “You’ve been avoiding me all week.”
“No. I’ve been working all week. Big difference.” I turn and lead her into the small kitchen. “You want something to drink?”
“I’m good, thanks. So, what are your plans for today?” she asks.
“As of an hour ago, nothing. Unless you count laundry and the grocery store.” Just the thought of the grocery store has Brooks coming to the forefront of my mind.
“That.” Ramsey points at me. “What was that look? Something is going on with you.”
“Nothing is going on with me. I’m dreading going to the store on Saturday. It’s always packed on the weekends. I usually try to go on my Wednesday afternoons if I can to avoid the crowds.”
“Well, I’m yours the entire day. Let’s go grab some breakfast, and we can brave the store together.”
“Do we have to?” I whine.
“No. You can starve or eat out this week.”
“Neither sound appealing.”
“Why don’t you get what you need to do the meal prepping that Brooks taught you.”
“It’s basically just making a bunch of food and putting it into containers.”
“Don’t tell Brooks that.” She laughs.
“Fine. Let’s get moving, but I want real breakfast. We’re going to Dorothy’s Diner. I want French toast and bacon. Lots and lots of bacon.”
“Done.” She waves for me to follow her.
Sliding my feet into my flip-flops, I grab my purse, keys, and phone, and we head out the door. “I’ll drive,” I tell her.
“How’s your car doing? Any more issues?”
“Nope. Declan fixed me right up.”
She smiles at that. I can see the pride she has for her cousins, who are more like brothers to her.
“How was riding home with Brooks last weekend?” She waits until we’re in the car and on the road to drop this question on me, and to be honest, I’m grateful. I have to keep my eyes on the road, which means I don’t have to look her in the eye.
“Fine. I’m glad it kept you and Deacon from having to drive to my side of town.”
“You should let him know you’re interested.”
“Ramsey. No. We are not doing this today.”
“But you picked him, Palmer.”
“Not this again. We were hanging out. I was trying to distract you from what was about to happen. You told me I had to pick. My eyes landed on Brooks, and he’s who I chose.”
“Liar.”
“Fine. You’re right. I picked him. You said I had to choose, and if I had my pick, it would be Brooks. That’s not reality, Ramsey. I know that you and my brother are in this perfect bubble of love, but that’s not me, and that’s not me with Brooks. He’s not interested.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Don’t make me turn this car around,” I say in what I hope is my best impression of my mom's voice.
Ramsey bursts out laughing. “I bet your mom, and I can guarantee Aunt Carol said that a million times over the years.”
“Together, I’d say you’re right.”
“I won’t keep pestering you about it. You have to understand you convinced me to go out of my comfort zone and do that photo shoot. You knew that Deacon and I were good for each other before we did. You helped us find one another, and now look where we are. He’s my future, and I want you to have yours. I have this feeling in my soul, much like yours, that Brooks is that person for you. He’s your forever, Palmer.”