Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Will turns to me and glares.
“That’s beside the fucking point.”
“Right. Sorry.” I nod and then sigh. “She’s happy. Like, really happy. Let her try this, Will. There’s not really much you can do about it anyway. And she’ll have more respect for you if you respect the way she feels and support her. At least she knows that you’re there if she needs you.”
“Why do you sound like your aunt?” he demands and then blows out a breath. “I’m so mad at her for keeping this from me. I want to fly out there and shake some sense into her.”
“Yeah, ‘cause that’ll help,” Lucy says, rolling her eyes. “None of us are children anymore, Uncle Will. No matter how much you wish we were.”
“You’re our kids,” he says with a shrug. “We will always worry about you.”
“It wasn’t my responsibility to make her come back.” I shrug when he turns his gaze to me. “It just wasn’t. But she’s smart, and it sounds like she has a plan. Let her work her plan and be happy.”
He sighs, as if the wind has just been let out of his sails. But he doesn’t say a word as he walks out of the office.
He doesn’t even walk into his own office.
He just leaves.
“That sucks,” Lucy says. “All of our parents are so overprotective.”
“He’ll get over it.” I shrug again and watch him disappear into the elevator, then turn back to London. “But he might not come back today.”
“I figured.”
“I’m going back to work,” Lucy announces and leaves the office, closing the door behind her, and I make my way around London’s desk, pull her into my arms, and sink into her.
She moans in that way she does that makes me want to devour her as she wraps her arms around my neck and holds on.
Finally, I pull back and kiss her nose. “Been missing you lately.”
“Yeah?” She rubs her fingers through the back of my hair. “That’s nice to hear because I’ve missed you, too. I got used to sleeping with you at night. Now, no one is snoring next to me.”
“I don’t snore.”
“Sure, you do. It’s okay. I kind of like it.”
I kiss her again, another long, slow kiss that makes me want to take it much, much further, right here on her desk. But I remember what she said in Montana about remaining professional, and I pull back.
“Do you have plans for tonight?” I ask her.
“I promised Caleb that he and I would go on a date to the movies.” She winces and bites her lower lip. “It always sounds like a good idea at the time, until I have to keep the promise. But you’re more than welcome to come over after. We’re going to a matinee after school so we don’t get home too late.”
“I might do that. I have plenty of work tonight to keep me busy, though.”
She nods. “Yeah, I’m still catching up from being gone, too. But seriously, come over later. We can work together.”
I nod and kiss her forehead before pulling away. “I’ll do that. Have fun at the movies.”
I loved this condo when I bought it just a few short months ago. Now, it’s too quiet and too lonely.
Being without London and Caleb sucks. I respect London’s decision to not sleep together when Caleb is in the house, but I want to be with both of them.
She texted a little while ago to let me know that their date turned into dinner out, as well, and she would text me when they got home.
It’s almost eight now. I should just stay in and see her tomorrow at work.
But I want her. Any way I can get her.
My phone pings, and I see that it’s from London.
London: We’re home! Finally. I’m so sorry it’s later than I thought, but feel free to come over any time.
Without responding, I grab my jacket, keys, and my laptop and hurry down to my car. I like that her place is less than thirty minutes from mine, and before long, I’m waving at the security guard at the gate and driving down her long driveway to the house that’s lit up.
I raise my eyebrows in surprise. Not only are the lights on, but someone came and hung holiday lights on all the trees and the house. Wreaths hang in every window.
She finally got her decorations.
With a grin, I walk to the front door and knock, and just a few seconds later, I hear Caleb ask, “Who is it?”
“Santa Claus,” I reply.
“Oh, boy!” Caleb opens the door and then giggles. “I knew it was you.”
“And here I thought I could trick you. Did you and your mom have fun at the movies?”
“Yeah, it was totally awesome. And then we got tacos. I had four of them.”
“That’s a lot of tacos.” I hang my coat in the hall closet and kick off my wet shoes before following Caleb down to the kitchen, where London’s filling the dishwasher. The inside of the house is decorated, as well, with lots of lights and bows and garland. I have to admit, it’s pretty great. “Hey, beautiful.”