Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 103102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
And I nod back. If he does love her, then he should let her go, to be with a person who actually suits her.
It’s a good deal, though. If it gets him to keep his distance from Lexi.
Because Lexi said her boyfriend break is for two weeks, and I’m sure she’ll be back with Jake at the end of it. Our dinner with Willa and her partner is in four weeks. So whatever happens with River in the next three weeks? Is just more data I can use to support the app. It’s win-win-win.
“Okay. Three weeks.” I offer my hand. “Do we have a deal?”
Chapter Nine
Deanna
Love is a concept with a million definitions. There’s really no way to prove any one idea fits the bill.
But I know him enough to know his image of love:
The pure, true love we see in songs, movies, books.
The selfless love that causes someone to put another person first. Not the familiar version—of course I believe in that—but one that also marries sexual attraction. One that extends beyond infatuation.
Over another round of drinks, I outline the concept.
River signs his own losing ticket. He insists he can trust me to be honest. That I’ll know when I feel it.
Then we set the terms.
Three weeks. Until the week before our investor dinner.
Of course, at any point, either one of us can admit defeat: admit love is magic or not magic.
And just for fun—and maybe because of the drinks—we throw in another term. If I lose, I have to get a tattoo of his choice. Somewhere visible. Somewhere that will mark me as a rebel, not a professional woman. He has full right to my left arm.
And I have full right to his currently un-inked arm.
Even with the buzz, I know it’s silly, but I love the idea of seeing Love Sux on his arm.
Once I’m satisfied with the terms, we shake on it.
“It’s your funeral,” I say.
“This is the place for it.” He releases my hand, finishes his drink, stands with a million-dollar smile. It’s similar to his I’m getting some from Lexi smile, but it’s different. too. Sure. Smart. Sexy.
It melts me in places that are usually ice cold.
Which is ridiculous. That smile is for Lexi, not me, but the logic fails to penetrate.
“Another round?” he asks. “Or would you rather admit Lexi isn’t coming?”
“I’m not in charge of what Lexi does.”
“Did you tell her we’re here?”
“She knows.” Well, she knows I’m keeping him busy at a bar. Just not which bar.
“Of course.” He glances at my purse without comment. “To celebrate our wager then.”
Right. Our deal. He fails to convince me, admits defeat, helps Lexi stay with Jake. Win/win for me, lose/lose for him. “You’re going to face her hate?” I nod toward Wednesday Addams at the bar.
“She’s not as scary as she looks.” Despite Alice’s intense glare, River approaches the bar with the necessary mix of confidence and compassion. He offers her some sort of apology and places two bills on the bar.
She fixes the drinks and accepts the cash, but she keeps the glare.
Does he deserve it? Should she move on?
People are puzzling. As with any puzzle, there’s a certain thrill to putting the pieces together, but when the pieces refuse to fit—
Computers are easier. Logic. Rules. If A means B, and B means C, A always means C.
If Deanna is too cold for her ex-boyfriend, and her ex-boyfriend claims he wants a high-achieving woman, then Deanna is too cold for most men.
But I already knew that. I just didn’t want to believe it.
Lexi: All done. Great talk with Willa. She bought Jake’s absence no problem. Are you keeping River warm for me?
She sends a truly unholy combination of emojis.
Right. Willa bought Jake’s absence—for one night. But she expects to see him, to see them as the poster couple, soon.
Deanna: What do you mean warm?
Another unholy row of emojis. I understand eggplant and water drop (way too visual), but what the hell do the dancer and the chili pepper mean?
Is she making up dirty texts?
Lexi: I think it’s different this time. I really felt something when I saw him. A need all the way to my core.
That’s not different. That’s normal for her. I’ve heard this speech a million times.
Lexi: You won’t get it, I know, but I felt that magic. Like the Sting song. There’s no other way to explain it.
When did people start talking about Sting again?
Deanna: What about Jake’s magic?
Lexi: It’s not shiny anymore.
Of course it’s not! That’s not how relationships work. They aren’t magic and they aren’t shiny, but I’m not going to talk her into the theory today.
Lexi: Where are you two? I’ll come.
Deanna: Oh no. I forgot to leave my keys.
Lexi: I’ll grab the spare.
Dammit. There’s a spare in my room and another in Dad’s office. I keep backups of backups and now it’s biting me in the ass.