Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Lily
I still feel like I’m being spun around on the dance floor, dress flapping up with every turn, and when Beau brought me back into his fold, my arm around his waist, his on my shoulder as we moved together perfectly, it definitely felt like I was living a dream.
We danced to three songs in a row before it started getting crowded at the bar and he had to get back to work. Beau left me with a heated look and said, “If I don’t get to tell you good night, I’ll text you.” He kissed my forehead before leaving me. I rocked back on my heels, giddiness consuming me. No one could stop me from feeling this happy.
“Someone sure looks like she’s still spinning,” Amelia jokes. These girls. They’ve been my friends for what seems like forever.
“I’m glad you’re having a good time, but I think it’s time for me to head home. Thank you for inviting me,” Wren says. She’s not wrong—we all lead busy lives, and mine starts when the rooster crows tomorrow.
“Always, come on. I’ll settle the tab, then we can walk out together.”
“Good luck with that. We tried to, but it was already paid.” Amelia drinks the last of her margarita. It makes me grab mine to do the same thing, suddenly parched after all the dancing Beau and I did.
“I’ll have to thank him for that later.” I look for him but see he’s talking to the deejay. My gaze homes in on his body, memorizing everything I can about him. His dark brown hair with specks of gray at his temple, dark brown eyes that are framed by long minky eyelashes that I’m ridiculously jealous of, skin darkened by the sun, and tattoos that travel up both arms. His black shirt, perfectly molded to his upper body, jeans, and a pair of worn-in boots complete Beau, giving me the need to fan myself.
“In more than one way,” Amelia jokes, causing us all to laugh.
“Alright, crazies, let’s go.” The three of us loop our arms with each other, so we don’t get lost in the maze of people drinking, dancing, and having a good time.
“We should have driven together,” Wren says when we finally make it to our cars.
“Probably, but sometimes we all go in different directions, which reminds me, I think I’ll be stopping to get a cheeseburger, fries, and milkshake,” I tell the girls.
“Not me. All I want to do is grab a shower and go to sleep,” Amelia and Wren chime in, at practically the same time.
“Well, I guess this is me, then. Love you girls. Thanks for coming out tonight even if we didn’t spend a lot of time together. Next time, we’ll do something at one of our houses. Promise.” I hug each of them, we say our goodbyes, and walk to our own vehicles, my eyes never leaving them until we’re all in our cars. There’s no way I’d let anything happen to us, not if I can help it, and the mace I carry on my keychain will take a bear down, so I’m sure it would take a person down, including an ex-boyfriend.
I blow out a breath, not even wanting to entertain that thought at this moment. The phone calls seem to never end, and if I hadn’t had this number forever and also use it for my business, Kissme Sweet Shop, then I’d have changed it the first day he called four times every hour on the hour until I answered the phone, yelling and screaming at him. That didn’t stop him from having flowers delivered to the shop and to my apartment. To think we only went on a handful of dates… But I guess some guys can’t take a hint. It’s probably my own fault by trusting an up and coming dating site. Being twenty-eight, a small business owner, I wanted something to shake up my world, just not this bad. And what would have happened if it went on any longer? He’d probably be even worse. A chill slides down my spine as I finish ordering my food at the drive-thru, completely on auto pilot, not even sure where my head has been during the drive, while ordering my food and talking to the employee, which isn’t good at all. Shit, especially if Chad decides to make an unexpected appearance tonight.
Thank goodness I’m only minutes away from my apartment, in case my thoughts keep wandering. I finish out the drive staying aware of my surroundings but also with my stomach rumbling because my food smells that good.
When I round the corner to my apartment complex, slide into my designated parking spot, I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s lit up the entire way to my door. No nooks and crannies are darkened, and I can finally get comfortable and eat the dinner I didn’t have before going out. Which was dumb on my part, but I made sure to drink plenty of water in between sips of my margaritas.