Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 572(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 572(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
“Overwhelmed,” I finish for her. “But in a good way.”
“I’m dating Viktor,” she says with a huge smile on her face. “I’m dating you.”
“You are dating me.” I nod my head. “What are your plans for the day?”
“I have to visit Zara, and then I’m open. What about you?”
“I want to attend a meeting, and then I was hoping that …” I say, and then she smirks at me.
“That I would come back over and continue this make-out session?” She winks at me, and it’s just like her.
I throw my head back and laugh. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I was thinking,” I tell her and kiss her again.
“That sounds like a plan,” she says and then I walk her to the elevator and kiss her before she gets in. “It’s about time you got your head out of your ass,” she says with a smirk. The doors close, and I put my head back and laugh.
I walk back into my apartment, and I can say it’s the happiest I’ve been in forever, and now my phone is ringing.
“Hey,” I say, answering it when I see it’s Matthew. “Is Zoe with you?” he says, his voice going low.
“She just left, yes,” I tell him. I’m going to have a conversation with him.
“Good. My father and I would like to come by and see you if you have time,” he says, and I know exactly what they want to talk about.
“Come on over,” I tell him. “I’ll be here until about ten.”
“We’ll be there in ten minutes,” he says, and he disconnects. Well, I guess it’s going to happen sooner than later. I don’t even think it takes them ten minutes when the buzzer goes off after I finally got dressed. I open the door when they knock, and I’m shocked to see Evan and Max are with them, too.
“Hey,” I say and move out of the way as they walk in.
“I’m not here,” Max says. “I’m here to make sure that one,” he points at Matthew, “is okay.”
I raise my eyebrows, and then Evan says, “I’m here because Zara says that I’m not allowed to go back until everyone leaves here.” I shake my head.
“I’m here because my father wants to have a sit-down,” Matthew says.
“Jesus,” Max says, going over to the couch and sitting down. “You sound like he’s the godfather or something.”
“It’s fine,” I tell him and look at Cooper who hasn’t said anything. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, I’m good,” Cooper says, and I look at them.
“Do you want to sit at the table?” I ask, and suddenly, I get nervous. Maybe I should have called Jeffrey to have at least one person in my corner.
“That would be good,” Cooper says and goes to the table and pulls out a chair. I sit in front of him and then look at Matthew sitting between us. I look over at Evan who goes to the couch and lies down. “I’m not here to start anything or get off on the wrong foot.”
“I understand,” I tell him.
“I thought she was okay,” Cooper starts. “She was always busy, she did lots of sales, and her skipping the games was not unusual.” I nod at him, and my mouth is suddenly dry. “Then with everything yesterday, it clicked into place.” I let him talk, knowing he has to get it off his chest. “When you showed up at the hospital and took her into your arms, she let you. She clung to you.”
“She was going to fall,” I point out.
“Yeah, I got that, but you didn’t let her.” Cooper points at me.
I look down and then look back up. “I’m a recovering addict,” I say. “First thing they tell you when you go into rehab is do not fall in love. Dating should be the last thing you want to do. And if I’m honest, I didn’t want to fuck anything up.” I look at Matthew. “I was given a second chance, and I didn’t want to mess it up. I was finally able to see how much damage my drug use did to me and the people around me.”
“Where does Zoe play into all this?” he asks, folding his hands on top of the table.
“I love her,” I tell them without skipping a beat. “There is no question about how I feel for her.”
“So now what?” Cooper asks me. “You love her, and she obviously loves you.”
“I had a plan to finish my one year and then go after her.” It’s not a surprise.
“But now that plan has changed?” Matthew asks, and I nod at him.
“I think I’m strong enough to have her by my side and continue my recovery,” I tell them.
Cooper shakes his head. “I don’t want you to think. I want you to know.”
“Then I know,” I answer him. “I know that with her I can be the man she should have. I know I don’t want to be with anyone else.”