Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“I’m going to the restroom.”
Rian nodded, but his gaze was otherwise too preoccupied to spare her a passing glance.
Once inside the bathroom, she leaned on the counter and looked at herself in the mirror. She’d cut her hair last year to a stylish bob and found the short length far more accommodating to her hectic schedule. The dark strands were a hell of a lot more manageable now.
She adjusted her t-shirt and smoothed her hand over her jeans. Maybe she should have dressed up a little bit? What was the point, though?
That thought was immediately followed by the image of Tanner and Jonas.
It had been two years since she had seen them, and the last time had been awkward enough. Two years ago, they’d come over for Thanksgiving for a quick hello, and when she’d seen them, she’d hid like a coward.
The fact she knew Tanner had probably told his twin what they’d done was just too humiliating. So really, she’d seen them since leaving for college, but they hadn’t seen her.
Rian had tried to ask what her problem was and why she was avoiding the twins on several occasions, but there was no way she would tell him why she felt the need to stay away. Even after all these years, her brother was liable to break something—like Tanner Ashbury.
Why was she avoiding Jonas, though? She supposed it was just the way it worked out since the brothers were close and always hung out together. In any event, she had no doubt Tanner had told Jonas what had happened between them, and every time she thought about them having that conversation, humiliation filled her.
Four years of successful avoidance didn’t stop her from missing them something fierce, though. But now, she was back in Hayven Hill, and she couldn’t avoid them. She’d have to put her big girl panties on and face the music.
The incident in question might have happened years ago, but it still felt so fresh in her mind.
She looked at herself one last time in the mirror and headed back out. Sasha grabbed her cell and looked down at the screen. The air left her when she slammed right into a wall, or at least, it felt like a wall given how hard and wide it was.
She stumbled back and reached out to steady herself on instinct. The firm, muscular forearm she currently gripped sent a flash of electricity through her. Slowly dragging her eyes up the individual buttons of the white button-up and over the wide shoulders, she stared into hazel eyes that were far too familiar for her comfort.
There was shock in Jonas’s gaze as he stared down at her. The feel of his hand on her waist startled her, not because he had obviously gripped her to make sure she didn’t fall, but because that simple touch had butterflies going crazy in her belly.
“Holy fucking shit.” His clear shock most likely matched hers, but then his expression morphed into happiness. “Sasha Marsh.” Jonas grinned broadly and pulled her against his chest.
He had gotten bigger since the last time she had seen him, but then again, that had been years ago. He was a man now, and a very nice looking one at that. Time had certainly been good to him.
Sasha found herself closing her eyes and inhaling the scent that reminded her of all the times they had run to the lake together, played video games, and stayed up late watching scary movies.
They were her happy memories, ones that had been buried deep when she withdrew from them because she hadn’t known how to react. He pulled her away but kept his hands still on her hips. When she looked up at him, those lovely memories vanished as that vile, little thought surfaced, the one of Jonas knowing what she did with Tanner.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if the rejection from a man she loved hadn’t been so harsh. She stepped away and suddenly felt extremely awkward.
“How have you been? School’s done, right?”
Clearing her throat that suddenly felt like cotton was lodged in it, Sasha could only nod. “Yeah.” She licked her lips and looked over at Rian, but he was still otherwise occupied with Michelle. “I, uh…”
God, this was a hell of a lot more uncomfortable than she figured, but then again what did she expect after not seeing him for so long? Come on, Sasha, this is Jonas. You have been friends with him your whole life. Besides you’re adults now, and you have no one to blame but yourself for this wall between the two of you.
Straightening her shoulders she smiled up at him and said, “Yeah, finally finished after four years and got my BA.”
“That’s fantastic, Sasha.” He took a step toward her, and her nerves had her wringing her hands together. “Rian told me you were moving back but never said a date.” He ran his hand over his hair, a gesture that reminded her so much of Tanner.