Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“So, in theory, your list is complete.”
She cups my cheek. “Yes, Noah. You completed my list for me the night of my senior prom.”
I take her hand and kiss her palm. “That night, I should’ve told you how I felt.”
“Well, I know now.”
I close the door and hustle to the other side. Once I’m in and have started the car, Peyton says, “Do you have one?”
“No. I didn’t even know what it was until my dad talked about Cindy someone being on his list, and then he said my mom has one.”
Peyton shakes her head.
“Did you know?”
“No, but it doesn’t surprise me.”
“I swear, I don't even know my own parents.”
Peyton laughs. “Come on, let’s go get some lunch. And we’ll make you a list.”
“No need,” I say as I pick up her hand and kiss the back of it. “You’d be the only name on it, so why waste the ink and paper.”
“Ah, you love me.”
At the red light, I lean over and kiss her. “Eh, you’re all right.”
The slap across my chest echoed, and it stings, but it was so worth it.
7
PEYTON
Since we were already in town, as Noah likes to call Los Angeles, we trekked over to Xander’s gym. Deep down, I sort of liked the idea of Xander being the one to give me my shots, mostly because I know how much Noah stresses about things that hurt me. This one time, I had a knot in my back, and I needed him to press the Theragun against my skin. He did and I flinched. It hurt, but so did the knot and it prevented me from sitting at my desk. After fifteen minutes, we stopped and when I looked at my husband, he had tears in his eyes. Noah’s sensitive when it comes to me, and I don’t know if it’s because of our history or because of the accident. Maybe it’s because I’m his wife. I really don’t know.
What I do know is Xander’s more than capable of jabbing my stomach with a needle. The problem is going to be time and distance. I’m certainly not driving to L.A. twice a day and I don’t expect him to drive out to Malibu. Best case scenario, it’s an hour drive. That’s with zero traffic. This area hasn’t been traffic free since the seventies. I wasn’t alive then, so I’m speculating.
Noah pulls into the parking lot, shuts the car off and comes around to let me out. I’ll never tire of him being this gentleman, and hope our son follows in his footsteps or our daughter sees how she should be treated. Instead of walking into the gym, Noah retreats to the rear of our car, opens the back and then closes it. When he comes back to where I’m standing, I see the bag in his hand and roll my eyes.
Hard.
“Really? You just happened to have your gym bag in the car?”
Noah looks at me sheepishly and runs his hand through his hair. “I . . . uh . . .”
I shake my head and walk away. This was probably his plan all along, offer up Xander to stick me so Noah can get a workout in, when all he had to do was say he wanted to work out with my uncle.
We head inside. The gym’s bustling. Weights clank, music plays from the speakers overhead, and almost every machine has someone on it, getting their cardio workout in. After my accident, my uncle managed my rehabilitation once I was out of the hospital. I knew he’d push me to levels other professionals wouldn’t and he’d know when to stop. He had me walking ahead of schedule, which I’m thankful for.
“Hi, welcome. Are you here for a tour?” A peppy tall blonde comes toward us, dressed in workout gear. She doesn’t look at me, only Noah. “I’m Clover.”
Clover? If that isn’t a California name, I don’t know what is.
“Hi, I’m Peyton Westbury.” I stick my hand out, forcing her to shake it. “This is my husband, Noah.” I emphasize “my” because she needs to know I see her looking at him. “We’re here to see Xander.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Mr. Knight is with a client. I’ll happily show you around though.”
“Xander’s my uncle,” I tell her. “Can you please let him know his niece is here.”
Clover smiles, but it’s a very meh smile. She apprises me and then she twinkles her eyes at Noah.
“Ugh.”
“Stop, feisty.” Noah quietly reprimands me.
“She twinkled her eyes at you.”
Noah laughs. “How does that even work?”
I roll my eyes, hoping he knows I’m not impressed with Clover.
Minutes later, Xander comes out of the backroom. He claps his hands once when he sees us. We meet him halfway, exchange hugs and then follow him to the back where his office is. “To what do I owe the pleasure and does Yvie know you’re here?”