Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“Always so feisty,” I joked. “That’s what I like most about you.”
She turned her head and sighed. “Go back to your seat, Will.”
And I did. Because I liked when Clarke bossed me around. It was hot.
I sat across from Shane, trying to ignore the bulge in my pants, wishing Clarke didn’t hate me so damn much.
After we touched down at McCarran Airport, we took a limousine to the Bellagio and checked into the hotel. We rode the elevator as a group, saying our goodbyes as my friends got off on their respective floors. Which left Clarke and me alone.
Clarke leaned against the wall with her eyes closed. I wished she would have listened to me on the plane. She looked wasted. We still had dinner in a few hours at the steakhouse and an entire night of drinking. No way could Mia handle Clarke on her own.
When the doors opened to our floor, I slung my bag over my shoulder and grabbed the handle of Clarke’s suitcase. She swayed to the side, forced to grip my arm to maintain her balance. Our eyes met, her blue irises watery and bloodshot. I dragged her off the elevator and down the hall, switching my bag to my left shoulder, so I could roll her suitcase and help her walk.
“What’s your room number?”
She slid her hand into her jeans pocket and handed me the keycard. Of course we were room neighbors. Fate had a sick sense of humor. No matter how much distance we put between us, we somehow found our way back to each other.
I jammed the keycard into the slot on her door and pushed our way inside the room. Clarke tripped on her foot and fell forward, forcing me to let go of her suitcase to grab her. She squirmed in my arms but didn’t fight me as I held her against my chest and kicked the door closed behind us.
Deadweight in my arms, Clarke’s body slumped against mine as I carried her toward the bed. I lowered her onto the mattress and helped her strip off her shoes before she laid her head back on a stack of pillows.
I sat beside her, brushing my fingers against her warm cheek. She had one eye open, her chest rising and falling with each breath she took.
“Get some sleep,” I told her. “I’ll wake you up when it’s time for dinner.”
She leaned into my hand and sighed. “Thanks, Will.”
I stayed with her for ten more minutes until I was sure she was sound asleep. Pocketing the keycard, I lifted my bag from the floor and glanced at her one last time before I left her room.
Chapter Four
CLARKE
I woke up in a hotel room, alone and with the worst headache. With the curtains drawn, the only light in the room came from a lamp on the bedside table. The clock read 7:52 PM.
Shit.
I slid my legs off the mattress, scanning the room in search of my purse. My heart leaped out of my chest as I tried to recall how I got to my room.
Is this my room?
Yeah, I guess.
My suitcase and purse were on the opposite side of the modest sized space. The decor was modern and tasteful, definitely worth the pretty penny they charged to stay at the Bellagio.
I hadn’t drunk this much in years, not since the last time I was around Will. Being around him again stirred up memories of the past I tried to forget. We’d met during one of the worst times of my life. But he also brought me some of my greatest moments of joy. Until he fucked me over and left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
I removed my cell phone from my purse and sighed at the list of text messages and missed phone calls from Mia.
Off to a good start, Clarke.
I never hid my disdain for Will around Mia, and she never asked why I had an immediate dislike of her older brother. They were as close as two siblings could be. Best friends in their own way. I was an only child and kind of envied the relationship they had.
I dialed Mia, who answered on the second ring. “Hey, what happened to you? I thought you and Will ended up killing each other.”
“Not yet,” I joked. “I think Will put me to bed. I just woke up. Sorry for being a total lush on the plane. I thought I could hold my liquor.”
She chuckled. “I know how you are around Will. It’s all good.” Mia paused for a second before she said, “Is Will with you?”
“No, why?”
“I can’t can’t get in touch with him. Ethan’s tried a few times. We even stopped by his room. Do you have any idea where he might have gone?”
“No. Maybe he’s gambling.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “I’m sure he’ll turn up.”