Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 48271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
“I came to see you, silly. You left me no choice since you haven’t returned my messages.”
I curse myself as I’m reminded of her texts. I meant to respond but forgot. Given our understanding, you would think my lack of response would dissuade her from showing up here, but I guess not.
“Sorry, I’ve been busy.”
“Too busy for me?” she pouts, pursing her lips in an effort to turn me on, but it does quite the opposite.
“Yeah,” I respond bluntly, refusing to beat around the bush. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t respond. I meant to. Things have changed and—”
She shrugs off her trench coat, letting it drape in the crook of her elbows, exposing scantily clad lingerie. “You were saying?”
Christ.
I quickly avert my gaze, my jaw tightening in frustration. “Put the damn jacket back on, Max.”
She bristles at my tone. “What the hell is going on with you?”
Before I get the chance to respond, Ellie emerges from the apartment. “Hey, what kind of seasoning do you want for the popcorn?” she asks, her attention on the small glass bottles she holds in her hands. “We have dill pickle, chipotle, and—” her voice falters mid-sentence when she catches sight of Maxine standing before me in nothing but lingerie.
This is not fucking happening right now.
Elle’s face cycles through every emotion. First shock, then hurt, then … anger.
Fuck.
“Jesus, Gunnar,” Maxine snaps, pulling the trench coat back on as if this is my fault. “You could have warned me.”
“I’ve been trying to,” I grit, unsure how she hasn’t comprehended that yet.
“Gunnar?” Elle’s voice is small, reflecting the turmoil of emotions warring across her face. “What’s going on?”
“Just a misunderstanding, sweetheart,” Max answers before I can, her tone laced with bitterness. “Nothing to worry yourself over.”
“Watch it, Max,” I warn.
Her tone puts Elle on the defensive. “I’m sorry, who are you exactly?” she asks, looking ready to brawl if necessary.
Jesus, what a fucking mess.
“I’m his favorite tourist,” Maxine retorts with a smug smile. “Who are you?”
“She’s more,” I cut in, refusing to let this go on any further.
Max challenges that response with a lift of her chin. “So much more that you couldn’t tell me about her before I came?”
“I didn’t invite you here,” I remind her. “We had an arrangement. A casual one. Don’t make it out to be more than what it was.”
Her eyes narrow into tiny slits as her ego deflates like a balloon. “Fine. Have it your way, but don’t come crawling back to me when you get bored with her.” She storms out of the shop before I can hit back, the echo of her heels trailing in the aftermath of her fury.
My attention shifts to Elle, and I find myself struggling to look her in the eyes as she descends the stairs.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize weakly, knowing the words are inadequate. “I had no idea she would show up here.”
Her demeanor is deceptively calm as she stands before me. “Who is she?”
It’s a question I desperately wish to evade, but I don’t because she deserves to know. “Just someone I met a couple of years ago. She travels here for work sometimes.”
Her eyes flare in surprise. “Wow, a couple of years…”
I shake my head, knowing where she’s going with this. “It wasn’t like that. I’ve only met with her a few times.”
“Why didn’t you ever mention her to me?”
“Because it didn’t mean anything.” That might make me sound like a dick but it’s the truth. Maxine was a scratch to an itch, just like any other.
“So, what does that say about me?”
My brows knit together in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“You never mentioned me to her either. Is that because I don’t mean anything to you?”
My blood heats at the question, my eyes narrowing. “I’m not dignifying that with an answer.”
She tilts her chin, refusing to back down. “Why not?”
“Because you fucking know better.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah, you do,” I snap, my temper flaring. “You’re just pissed off right now, and I don’t blame you, but don’t make this out to be about my feelings for you, Elle. It has nothing to do with that. It never did. Besides, it’s not like this is the kind of thing we have ever discussed before, and if I’m being honest, I really don’t want to fucking start now.”
A bitter laugh escapes her lips. “Well, too damn bad, we’re going to talk about it because I would like to be prepared for any other ‘meaningless’ women who might saunter in here expecting a quick fuck by you. How many have there been, Gunnar? Three? Four? Ten? Were they all your ‘favorite tourists’?”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Now you’re just being ridiculous.”
“How am I supposed to know? Like you said, we’ve never talked about it before.”
“And we aren’t going to now because it doesn’t fucking matter,” I retort sharply. “It never mattered. You matter. We matter. This matters. No one else.”