Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
There were a few “oohs” and polite nods as Mila arched a brow, looking surprised.
“Oh, for some reason I thought the two of you were quite close.”
This bitch. If she thought I was backing down, she was mistaken. I laughed lightly and furrowed my brow.
“That must be why you asked if we’re banging in front of a small crowd of people,” I said sweetly. “Which we are not.”
I could tell she was working to keep her smile in place. This meeting had been scheduled weeks ago; it was a coincidence that it was happening just a couple of days after the fundraiser. But Mila had been hoping to use this opportunity to dig a hole and then push me in it.
“Well, you know me,” she said lightly. “Always a straight shooter.”
After a moment of awkward silence, the managing editor of the Chronicle, Brett Bailey, cleared his throat and said, “Okay, I think we can wrap this up.”
I’d rant to Sam, Luke, or more likely, both of them about this after work. But for now, I had to remain calm and collected. As Mila shook hands with the board members and passed out business cards, I got up and left the room.
It was 4:45 p.m., and I decided to call it a day. It was a little early for me to leave work, but it was too late to start anything new. I locked up my office, put on my trench coat, and headed for my car, eager to get home and unwind.
I had three missed calls from Sam. Something was wrong. I responded to a text from Luke about dinner and then dialed Sam.
“Hey,” she said, sounding on the verge of tears. “Have you ever eaten cat food out of the can?”
“Um…no, why do you ask?”
“I quit my shitty job today.”
I was just stepping onto the elevator as I cried, “Good for you!” A couple of people side-eyed me and I said, “Sorry.”
“I just couldn’t take it anymore,” Sam said miserably. “And I have no job prospects, a car payment, and rent.”
“You’ll find something. You did the right thing.”
She sighed heavily. “Thanks for saying that. I need someone to tell me I’ll get through this. My sister told me I’m a dipshit.”
“Then she’s a dipshit,” I said quietly as the elevator opened and I walked out. “They were treating you like shit, Sam.”
“I think maybe I want to do something that’s not insurance.”
“Any ideas?”
She groaned. “Not really. I thought I might try dog walking for now so I don’t starve.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“I do love dogs.”
It was raining outside. I pulled my hood up over my head as I started the walk to my car.
“I’m taking you out tonight,” I said. “Dinner and drinks wherever you want.”
“That sounds amazing. Maybe a buffet so I can shove food in my pockets for tomorrow since I have no income now.”
“Stop,” I said, laughing. “I won’t let you starve. You can stay with me if you need to.”
I jogged the rest of the way to my car, the rain coming down harder now.
“Where are you?” Sam asked.
“Leaving work and it’s pouring. Text me what time to pick you up and I’ll be there, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I unlocked the door to my apartment about forty minutes later, soaked from the walk to my car and a stop for gas on the way home. It was storming, practically raining sideways. My heels made a squishing sound with every step I took, and I couldn’t wait to get them off.
“You just fucked me,” a deep voice said. “Good thing I was just warming up.”
Ford. My heart raced at the sound of his voice, not even concerned with how he’d gotten into my home.
“Warming up, my ass,” Luke said. “Hey, Nori.”
He’d called me that when we were kids, and he still broke it out on occasion. Ford looked over at me and grinned.
“Nori? Looks like you walked here in a monsoon. You need a towel?”
I shook my head as I kicked my shoes off on a rug and slid out of my drenched coat, leaving it on the rug by the shoes.
“What are you guys doing?” I asked.
“Playing Call of Duty.”
My gaze stopped on a bottle of beer.
No. I couldn’t watch my brother spiral again. I glared at Ford.
“Did you bring beer?”
“Hey, it’s fine,” Luke said. “I’m having water.”
Ford looked from the beer to me. “I didn’t know it was an issue.”
“It’s not,” Luke assured him.
“It is,” I said, crossing my arms. “He’s a recovering alcoholic.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.” Ford put his controller down, picked up the beer and took it to the kitchen.
Luke scowled at me. “Stop acting like my mother.”
“How did this happen?” I asked, shaken by seeing Ford in my home.
Our kiss had kept me up the past three nights. I’d dreamed about coming home to find him shirtless and hard, asking me if I was ready for the most incredible night of my life.